Most women can benefit from a breast lift at some point in their life. As you get older, your skin loses elasticity, and the constant pull of gravity takes its toll. Breastfeeding, rapid weight reduction, and even exercise can all contribute to sagging and drooping.
Regardless of what you may hear, no cream or special exercise will fully restore your breasts to their former splendor. A breast lift treatment can be one of the only ways to restore sagging skin, tissue shape, and firmness. Some women are hesitant to have surgery because they are concerned about unsightly scars. As a result, the Crescent technique is a perfect solution for those who want to conceal the surgery while enjoying the benefits.
Plastic surgeons refer to it as a “crescent breast lift” because the skin removed is in the shape of a crescent.
What is a crescent breast lift?
A crescent breast lift, also known as a crescent mastopexy, is a type of breast lift surgery that involves removing a crescent-shaped piece of tissue from above the areola. This technique is commonly used to correct minor sagging or ptosis of the breasts.
Crescent Lifts are ideal for women with minimal sagging and extra skin. Women who have breast augmentation usually also have a crescent breast lift.
Your plastic surgeon will create a crescent-shaped incision along the top part of your areola and remove the skin. If you’re having breast augmentation, the implants will be installed after that.
This technique adds volume and hardness to your nipple while lifting it to a more youthful position. You should have more symmetrical, non-drooping breasts after the lift.
Even shortly after surgery, the crescent lift scar will be barely visible. It will fade and become harder to see with time, even when you are naked. Your provider will raise and tighten your breasts through an incision along the upper section of the areola.
Crescent lift operations are popular among women who want augmentation as well as a lift.
Comparison with a traditional breast lift
A traditional breast lift (mastopexy) is a treatment that removes extra skin and tightens the surrounding tissue to address sagging. These changes, when combined, reshape the breast and give it a more even, appealing contouring.
Benefits of a crescent breast lift
The Crescent method increases the size and hardness of your nipple while raising it into a more youthful position. After the lift, you should have more symmetrical, non-drooping breasts, and the crescent lift scar will be scarcely visible even after surgery.
Some of the benefits involved in the Crescent Lift include the following:
- Minimal Scarring
- Improved shape and position
- Quick Recovery Time
The crescent breast lift procedure
There are several methods available to correct the size of the breasts, one of which is the crescent mastopexy. This procedure is the best option for removing the least amount of skin of all the techniques.
This is commonly used to alter nipple position after breast augmentation to improve symmetry. The crescent incision can be placed anywhere around the perimeter of the nipple complex, allowing the nipple to be moved in any direction. If you place an implant without doing this, asymmetry may increase, resulting in disappointing results.
Preparation
You may need to do the following in preparation for your Crescent Lift Procedure:
- Obtain laboratory testing or a medical evaluation
- Take specific meds or make changes to your present medications
- Get baseline mammography before surgery and a follow-up mammogram to help detect any future changes in your breast tissue.
- Quit smoking
- Aspirin, anti-inflammatory medicines, and herbal supplements should be avoided because they can cause excessive bleeding.
Details of the procedure
To make sure each breast is in the same position, a temporary suture is used to measure the distance from the sternum to the top of the areola, which is used to measure and mark where the top of each areola should be.
Anesthesia
The Crescent Breast Lift requires general or local anesthesia and is usually performed at an outpatient clinic or hospital.
Post-procedure care
Following surgery, dressings and bandages will be put on the incisions, and an elastic band or support bra should be worn to support healing and reduce swelling. In addition, a small tube may be inserted beneath the skin to drain any fluid that accumulates for a few days after surgery.
Patients can usually start no-impact lower-body workouts after one to two weeks. Patients can generally resume impact activities four weeks after surgery, and upper body exercises six weeks after surgery.
Your surgeon will give you detailed advice on how to care for your breasts to aid in healing and limit the risk of infection.
Who is a good candidate for the crescent breast lift?
Crescent Breast Lifts are conducted every day throughout the country, if not the world, and is considered highly safe and common. Having said that, there are a few requirements that a potential patient must achieve to be a candidate for surgery.
Here are the five common criteria needed to be a good candidate for the Crescent Breast Lift:
- Not happy with your breasts
- Good health
- Not smoking
- Skin has retained some elasticity
- Done having children
Pregnancy can seriously alter the shape and size of your breasts. If you decide to get pregnant again after your lift, your results may be compromised. It’s usually best to be done having children before deciding to move forward with mastopexy surgery.
Risks and complications of a crescent breast lift
In the list below, we detail the possible complications and risks that are involved with Crescent Lifts and other forms of breast lift techniques.
1. Bleeding
Fluid accumulation and bleeding or hematoma formation can occur after surgery.
2. Infection
As with any surgery and procedure that involves incisions and invasive techniques, infection is a possibility, even if it’s rare.
3. Changes in nipple sensation
Because of the incisions and adjustments that occur during most breast lifts and surgical procedures, there is always a chance of a reduction or change in nipple sensations.
4. Poor wound healing
As part of surgical procedures and other breast-lifting techniques, poor wound healing is one of the possible risks involved – even if it’s highly uncommon.
5. Unsatisfactory results
For any breast lift procedure, including the Crescent Lift, the chances of having an outcome you’re not satisfied with are one of the risks involved. Asymmetry, irregularities of breast contour and shape, and the possibility of needing corrective surgery are part of the risks associated with lifts.
However, when using a certified and trusted surgeon from a verified practice, the risks and complications are rare compared to the success stories.
Cost of the crescent breast lift
The average cost of a breast lift is between $3500 to $5000. This average cost is only part of the full cost. The full cost will depend on several factors, like anesthesia and operating room facilities.
Factors that determine the cost
Crescent Lift costs may depend on the following factors:
- Anesthesia cost
- Hospital or surgical facilities
- Medical tests
- Post-surgery clothing
- Prescriptions for medication
- Surgeon’s fee
Conclusion
As far as breast lift techniques, the Crescent Lift is a popular choice due to the minimally invasive techniques and the fact that no implants are usually inserted. After all, though – the choice and procedure are up to you and the desired outcome you seek.
Sources:
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/preparation
https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/breast/breast-lift-guide/