Most of us are familiar with the concept of a breast implant, but did you know that there are many alternatives to this invasive and sometimes risky procedure that have appeared in recent years? If you haven't, you're certainly not alone, but this article will give you the inside scoop on breast implant alternatives, specifically a procedure that has recently risen to prominence: the mastopexy.
To simplify things, we'll refer to them how they're most commonly known, breast lifts. There are many reasons why a woman would want this procedure. She might be unhappy with the size of her breasts, or they may have begun to sag with age or through breastfeeding. However, before you get too excited, it's important to remember that breast lifts do not significantly change the size of breasts.
Who are they for?
They are geared toward women who want their breasts to be fuller, whose nipples fall below the breast crease, whose nipples and areolas point downward, have stretched skin and enlarged areolas, or women who have one breast that is lower than the other.
Things to be aware of
Since this procedure is cosmetic, most insurance companies will not cover it unless it's part of an overall mastectomy procedure. Most often, it's performed as an outpatient procedure and takes around three hours to perform.
When compared to a typical breast augmentation procedure, complications from breast lifts, such as bleeding, infection and scarring, are pretty rare. Another advantage that breast lifts have over breast augmentation is that when they're done-they're usually done. With breast implants, a woman will typically have to return to the doctor at some point in her life to have them replaced, as they are not permanent.
However, it's easy to forget that a breast lift is a serious medical procedure, and may in many cases be overkill for a woman who simply wants to perk up her breasts a little bit. There is a recovery period that will last for several weeks after the procedure, and any type of heavy lifting is out of the question for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
Sometimes a touch-up procedure will be required to address differences in symmetry between the two breasts, but unlike a breast implant, this procedure rarely causes a loss of sensation in the breasts.
Risks of the surgery can include bleeding, infection, inability to nurse a baby after the surgery, large scars, and an uneven position of the nipples. In addition to these complications, a special supportive bra will also be required for the first several months to reshape the breasts.
Unfortunately, after going through this, your breasts will not be immune to the hazards of life. Aging, pregnancy and weight gain can make the breasts sag again during the course of a lifetime, making the gains from this procedure virtually nil.
Are there alternatives?
Fortunately, there are alternatives out there for women who want to improve the appearance of their breasts without resorting to such drastic actions. There are a variety of creams and natural alternatives for women who wish to improve their breasts, and they don't carry the risk of bleeding, infection, and don't require a months-long recovery. You might want to consider other options before going under the knife.
