Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, restores a more youthful appearance to a woman's breasts. Over the years breasts can lose their shape and firmness due to pregnancy, nursing and loss of skin elasticity, causing them to sag. Mastopexy will raise and reshape breasts, slowing the effects of aging and gravity. This procedure can reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.
Mastopexy is commonly performed in conjunction with breast augmentation (implants) to increase breast firmness and size. This may appeal to women who have lost breast volume after pregnancy. Pregnancy and nursing often result in stretched skin and therefore decreased volume. If you are planning a future pregnancy, it is advisable to postpone your breast lift as pregnancy will likely cause further stretching.
As with all plastic surgery, realistic expectations and emotional stability are important. Though breasts of any size can be lifted, women with smaller breasts enjoy longer lasting results.
The Procedure
Though not a simple operation, mastopexy is normally safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. Mastopexy is occasionally performed in a hospital, but more often is done in an outpatient facility. Breast lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia. Local anesthesia may be used with a sedative if the incision is small; you'll be awake but relaxed, and will feel minimal discomfort.
The surgery may take between 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
A more common approach involves an incision along the natural contour of the breast where excess skin will be removed. The nipple and areola are then repositioned. The skin surrounding the areola is brought together to reshape the breast, with stitches around the areola and the lower breast area.
Possible Complications
As with any surgery, there are possible complications. A patient may suffer an adverse reaction to the anesthesia (rare), or experience bleeding and infection following a breast lift, causing scars to widen. Poor healing and wider scars are more common with patients who smoke.
Because milk ducts are left intact, mastopexy will not affect your ability to breast-feed.
For best results, follow your physician's advice both before and after surgery.
After Surgery: What to Expect
After surgery, your stitches will be covered with gauze and an elastic bandage or a surgical bra will hold the breasts in place. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild discomfort for a couple of days. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication. A soft support bra replaces the bandages or surgical bra after a few days. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra at all times.
After a week or two, the stitches will be removed. Some noticeable, permanent scarring is normal, but easily covered by your bra or bathing suit. The scars may be red and lumpy for a few months, eventually fading and becoming less obvious. The procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts.
To ensure proper healing, plan to stay at home for at least a week before returning to work. You will need to avoid lifting anything over your head for 3-4 weeks and avoid strenuous sports for a month.
When reviewing information about specific plastic surgery procedures, it is important to understand that the circumstances and experience of every individual are unique. If you are considering plastic surgery, please ask your plastic surgeon for further information about the particular procedure and what you can expect.
Abdominoplasty The removal of excess abdominal fat with tightening of the abdominal wall. Also called tummy tuck.
Arm Lift To contour the upper arms by removing skin and fat
Augmentation Mammaplasty To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Blepharoplasty To remove the excess skin and fat of the upper and lower eyelids
Body Lift To tighten and improve contour of the back, thighs, and abdomen
BOTOX® To soften the lines around the eyes and forehead
Brachioplasty To improve contour and reduce excess skin and fat of upper arms
Breast Augmentation To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Breast Enhancement To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Breast Enlargement To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Breast Implant Revision To improve overall shape and size of breasts following previous cosmetic breast surgery
Breast Implants Saline or silicone devices to enlarge breasts
Breast Lift To uplift breasts following pregnancy, the aging process, or congenital deformity
Breast Reconstruction The surgical procedure to remake breasts for a woman who has lost a breast due to cancer
Breast Reduction To reduce the size of breasts that are too large and heavy
Brow Lift To elevate the forehead and eyebrows following the aging process
Calf Augmentation/Implants To enlarge size of calves
Cellulite The dimpling or cheese appearance of skin following pregnancy or develops with age
Cheek Implants Implants to enlarge cheeks
Chemical Peel Various acid treatments to improve texture and fine wrinkles of the face
Chin Augmentation To enlarge and improve contour of chin
Chin Implant Silicone or other type of material device to enlarge chin
Collagen Natural bodies tissue used in healing
Collagen Injections A filler to elevate folds or wrinkles to soften facial appearance
Dermal Fillers A filler to elevate folds or wrinkles to soften facial appearance
DSL Laser Hair Removal
Ear Pinning/Surgery To correct ears that are too projecting or dumbo like in appearance
Endoscopic Brow Lift Technique to elevate forehead, low brow position and heaviness of upper eyelids
Face Lift To tighten skin of face and neck and reposition soft tissue of cheek and jowls
Facial Implants Implants to enhance contour of cheeks, chin, and mandibular angle
Fat Injections Fat added to areas of body to enhance volume and contour
Flap Surgery Tissue from one area of body added to another area to correct a body defect
Forehead Lift To elevate forehead and eyebrows
Gynecomastia Excess breast tissue of male
Hylaform® A filler to enhance facial lines and depressions
Incision A cut made in skin
IPL™ Photofacial/Fotofacial Light therapy to soften facial wrinkles and pigmentation
Labiaplasty To remove excess labial skin
Laser Hair Removal Laser to remove unwanted hair
Laser Skin Tightening Laser light to burn skin that causes new collagen formation and less wrinkles
Laser Skin Resurfacing CO2 laser therapy to correct facial wrinkles
Lip Augmentation To add fillers or fat to enlarge lips
Lipodissolve™ Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Lipoplasty Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Liposculpture Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Liposuction Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Male Breast Reduction To remove excess breast tissue and skin on a male
Mammaplasty To enlarge the breasts
Mastectomy To remove breast including breast tissue, nipple, areola, and some breast skin
Mastopexy To uplift the breast and reposition the nipple/areola
Mentoplasty To enlarge the chin and improve the chin’s contour
NeckLift To tighten the skin of the neck
Nipple Reduction To reduce the size of the nipple
Nose Job To improve the shape and contour of the nose. Also called rhinoplasty.
Obagi Skin care system that transforms skin into younger and healthier skin
Otoplasty Surgical technique to pin back ears that are too protruding
Pec Implants Implants to enlarge male breasts
Ptosis Droopiness that overhangs the pupil and may interfere with vision
Radiesse A filler to elevate depressions or wrinkles or add volume to face
Refirme™ (ST)
Restylane® Injections A filler to minimize depressions and wrinkles of face
Rhinoplasty Surgery to improve, shape, size, and contour of nose
Rhytidectomy Surgery to tighten facial and neck skin and make face more youthful. Also called face necklift.
Rosacea Skin condition that causes redness
Saline Implants Implants comprised of a silicone shell and saline content
Sclerotherapy To inject spider veins that result in their disappearance or lightening
Sculptra® A long lasting filler
Silicone Implants Implants comprised of silicone
SkinCeuticals : Skin care products to prevent damage, protect healthy skin, and correct previous damage
Skin Expansion Technique to stretch skin of breasts or body
Suture Material to bring skin or underlying tissue together
Symmastia Condition where two breast meet in middle of chest
Thermage® Laser therapy to improve texture of facial skin
Thigh Lift/Thighplasty Surgery to improve contour and shape of thighs
Thread Face Lift Surgical technique to tighten facial and neck skin using threads
Topical Solution Liquid applied to the skin
Tummy Abdomen
Vein Therapy Techniques to improve appearance of large varicose veins or small spider veins
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