Recovery and Downtime
The process of recovery for a breast lift begins before the surgery. There are multiple steps to take to ensure everything goes well and heals well afterward.
Before the Surgery
If you are deemed a candidate with realistic expectations, you come back in for a preoperative visit with Dr. Linville to go over the final plan.
There you will receive some medications. These will help enhance your recovery and decrease your discomfort after the operation.
After the Surgery
A typical mastopexy can take anywhere from two to four hours depending on your specific plan, and Dr. Linville does not typically leave drains. Dr. Linville is involved in every aspect of your care and pain control. He uses several modalities to enhance your pain control and comfort after surgery.
Home Recovery and Downtime
If this is your only surgery, you go home the same day of surgery and see Dr. Linville in the office on the first day after surgery.
No lifting or exercise is permitted for two weeks afterward, but light walking is encouraged. You should not strain yourself and stay at a low speed. If you feel tired, don’t push yourself. It is essential to listen to your body’s signals during this time.
After two weeks, you may begin to lift and exercise moderately, and at six weeks you may resume vigorous exercise.
Dr. Linville will also see you several times during and after recovery. During these checkups, he monitors results and adjusts accordingly.
Does Insurance Cover a Breast Lift?
In most cases, a breast lift is treated as a cosmetic procedure. For this reason, insurance companies tend not to cover it. However, if you have a demonstrable medical need, you might be able to have insurance cover a breast lift. For example, patients undergoing breast reconstruction after a mastectomy might qualify for a covered breast lift.