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Breast Lift

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Welcome to our Breast lift surgery information page. In this page, written with Dr. Khalifeh, Dr. K will discuss and educate you about your best options for breast lift surgery.

Breast Lift Surgery, or mastopexy, is a procedure to raise and rejuvenate the appearance of the breasts. This is different than the small perk-up that can be obtained with a breast implant alone, and is designed for more extensive drooping breasts, since more incisons are required than a simple breast implant.

A custom designed breast lift by Dr. Khalifeh will elevate and reshape the breast tissues to restore a youthful, lifted look. A breast lift may be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation to restore or enhance natural breast volume, but if you have enough tissue, that may not be necessary. Similarly, if your breasts are too large, a breast lift may be combined with a breast reduction surgery. In either case, the tradeoff will be obtaining rejuvenated breasts with the downside being the required incisions (more on that below)

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Why do some women need a breast lift?

Over time, a woman’s breasts can lose their youthful firmness and shape due to several factors:

  • Gravity
  • Pregnancy
  • Fluctuations in weight
  • Breastfeeding
  • Age
  • Genetics 
Your areola may have gotten larger in size over time. A youthful appearing areola has a diameter of around 3.6-4.2 centimeters. If necessary, Dr. Khalifeh will reduce the size of the areolas during your breast lift procedure. Once your breast lift is complete, your breast profile will appear uplifted, youthful, and natural.

What is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a procedure to raise and rejuvenate the appearance of the breasts. This procedure involves lifting and reshaping the breast tissue and removing excess skin. A breast lift is designed to elevate the breasts and restore a more youthful appearance. Our breast lift may also be combined with breast implant surgery, at which point the procedure is known as an augmentation mastopexy. A breast lift can work miracles for you, including:

  • Elevate the breasts due to sagging caused by the effects of aging and gravity
  • Firm the breasts if they have lost substance due to pregnancy and subsequent breast-feeding
  • Re-align your nipples and areolas if they point down or to the side
  • Restore an overall youthful look to your breasts

The Cost of a Breast Lift Surgery in Washington DC:

We like to provide accurate pricing whenever it is possible to so (example: lip fillers, every patient has the same cost). But for more complicated procedures such as breast lifts, every patient is unique, every procedure is personal. A blanket cost estimate for a breast lift would likely be impractical, since the cost difference may be three fold between one case and another. But we will list a few common examples to at least give you an idea of what your procedure may end up costing. After you obtain a consultation with us, we will of course give you your personalized quote based on Dr. Khalifeh’s recomendation.

Here are some pricing exmaples from a few cases we have done in december 2022. Pricing is subject to change and to be customaized to your medical suitability and needs.

  • example one: thin woman, thin tissues, lift only under oral sedation and local anesthesia: $5,750
  • example two: medium sized woman with medium sized breasts, lift only, under general anesthesia: $8500
  • example three: medium sized woman with averge droopiness requiring breast lift and a breast implant: $10,750.
  • example four: large woman desiring breast lift with breast reduction surgery: $12,500

Dr. Khalifeh: Extraordinary Results

At DC Cosmetics, double board-certified Dr. Khalifeh has garnered respect for his surgical techniques and outstanding level of artistry. He can lift and reshape breasts affected by time, genetics, or pregnancy. Dr. Khalifeh is widely recognized as being the premier breast surgeon practicing in Washington DC.

Dr. Khalifeh has extensive experience performing breast lift surgery, and uses advanced surgical techniques to achieve fresh, natural appearing results, with minimal scarring. He is a published author and professor who educates young surgeons on breast augmentation. Click here to view a scientific publication he co-authored: Mastopexy Publication. Dr. Khalifeh specializes in mommy makeovers with breast lift procedures and you can explore many examples of his impressive surgical work in which these two procedures are combined.

Dr. Khalifeh employs minimal scarring techniques to lessen the major downside of a breast lift procedure – the extent of the incisions. To view images of breast lift scars as they fade, you can review images of a scar fading over three years.

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What to Expect With Our Washington Breast Lift

A breast lift is typically performed under general anesthesia and takes about three hours to complete. Based on preference and availability, your breast lift will be performed at either our fully certified, private, outpatient surgical facility or at the nearby Sibley Memorial Hospital. You have the option of returning home under the care of another person or spending a night in hospital care.

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Before & After Breast Lift Surgery

*Tummy Tuck Before and After Photo Disclaimer: there’s no guarantee of specific results and that the results can vary

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View more breast lift photos

What is the procedure?

The breast lift technique that Dr. Khalifeh will choose depends on:

  • The size and shape of your breasts
  • Your skin’s quality, elasticity and the quantity of extra skin
  • The position and size of your areolas
  • The degree of sagging skin to be addressed

A breast lift is often performed with incisions around the areola, and down the lower center of the breast mound.  Based on your condition, we may recommend breast augmentation surgery to enlarge your breasts for an elegant lifting effect. However, in cases of severe drooping, a breast lift must be performed.

Breast lift: the procedure

The breast lift procedure is straightforward, and the methods used will vary based on your goals and the existing condition of your breasts. The basic procedure is:

  • Consultation

    The first step is a consultation where we will discuss your goals and provide you with a full understanding of the procedure, recovery, and the end result.

  • Anesthesia

    To perform the surgery, you will be put under general anesthesia for your comfort.

  • Incisions

    Dr. Khalifeh will then proceed to perform one of three possible breast lift incisions:

    • Around the areola, vertically down from the areola to the crease of the breast
    • Around the areola itself
    • Around the areola, vertically down from the areola to the crease of the breast and horizontally in the breast crease 

  • Reshaping your breasts

    Dr. Khalifeh will then reshape your breasts by lifting the underlying breast tissue and reshaping it. He will reposition the areola and nipple to a more youthful position on the breast mound. If necessary, areolas that are enlarged are reduced by excising skin around their perimeter. Dr. Khalifeh will also remove excess skin.

  • Closing the incisions

    Once Dr. Khalifeh has completed reshaping your breasts, the newly reshaped breast tissue is covered by skin. Some of the incision lines are concealed, and others are visible. While these incision lines are permanent, they fade significantly over time. The sutures Dr. Khalifeh uses are layered deep inside the breast tissue. This creates and supports your newly shaped breasts. To close the skin, he may use skin adhesives, sutures, or surgical tape.

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Video Testimonial of a Mommy Makeover (With Breast Lift) Patient

Recovery After a Breast Lift

Generally, post-operative instructions call for rest and limited arm movement to speed the healing process. For a desk job, the typical time off work required is five days. Some specific points you can expect as part of the recovery process are:

  • You will need to wear a specialized surgical bra for several weeks after surgery, though you may wear a comfortable sports bra of your choice in about one week. No underwire bras until full healing has been achieved
  • You may have a small tube temporarily placed under your skin to help drain the fluid that collects after your breast lift procedure
  • You will receive specific instructions in relation to caring for your breasts, medications to take orally or apply to your breasts to aid in the healing process and reduce the chance of infection
  • Do not smoke for six weeks following surgery because smoking inhibits your body’s ability to heal
  • After your recovery, Dr. Khalifeh may order a mammogram for comparison purposes
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Am I a Candidate For a Breast Lift?

Our breast lift is ideal for a woman who doesn’t smoke, is physically healthy, is at a stable weight, and is troubled by any of the following:

  • Breasts that have lost their volume and shape
  • Pendulous or flatter, elongated breasts
  • Areolas and nipples that point down, low on the breast
  • Enlarged areolas and stretched skin

If you have stretch marks on the upper breast area, a breast lift does not remove them. If you are interested in more volume on the upper pole (top area of the breast), you may consider breast augmentation with breast lift surgery or natural fat grafting. A woman who wants smaller breasts can combine a breast reduction with breast lift surgery.

C. P.

My experience from consultation to aftercare has been amazing. I did a lot of reasearch on surgeons beforehand and chose Dr. Kalifeh based on reviews and before…

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RealSelf User

Amazing! Dr. Khalifeh xceeded my expectations – my breast lift is very natural and perky!! He was very attentive and caring from the very first appointment all …

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FAQ

  • How much downtime comes with a breast lift?

    You will need at least five days of rest to recover after surgery, after which you can gradually resume your activities, but must avoid vigorous physical activities for about six weeks.

  • Will insurance cover a breast lift?

    Unfortunately, a breast lift is a cosmetic procedure, and is not covered by insurance. A breast reduction, when it has caused physical problems, may be.

  • Will the placement of my nipple and areola be affected by a breast lift?

    If your nipples are overly large, pointing downwards, or lower on the breast mound, they will be corrected to be on the center of the newly reshaped, firmed, breast mound.

  • How long before I can return to my exercise program, or having sex?

    You will need some patience, as you cannot return to exercise for four to six weeks, although you will likely feel well enough to return to work or social activities within seven to ten days. You will have to refrain from sex for about three to four weeks to ensure your incisions have fully healed.

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