Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
What is Breast Lift?
Over time the negative effects of gravity, aging, pregnancy, breast-feeding, or weight loss may cause a decrease in our skin’s elasticity resulting in sagging or looseness of the breast. A breast lift is a surgical procedure designed to elevate the breast giving it a firmer youthful contour and a natural, more youthful appearance of the breast.
Benefits of Breast Lift Surgery
A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is more youthful and uplifted. A woman’s breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness due to:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Weight fluctuations
- Aging
- Gravity
Breast Lift procedure
During this procedure the shape will be improved by raising the breast and relocating the nipple and areola, they are not removed at any time throughout this process. Any excess skin will be removed where the incisions has been made. A lollipop incision will be used during a breast lift procedure. This is a combination of a a few different incision; periareolar (around the areola), inframammary (through the fold of the breast), and vertical (from the areola to the breast fold). For this procedure patients can undergo general anesthesia or twilight anesthesia. Twilight anesthesia is an IV sedation anesthesia in addition to a local anesthetic. A breast lift will take 2 to 4 hours to complete.
Breast Lift before and after
surgery expectations
Breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of your breasts or round out the upper part of your breast. In instances where excess sagging occurs and volume of the breast has been lost a Breast Lift with Augmentation may be recommended. Specially if you want your breast to look fuller.
When will I see results?
The results of your surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade.
How long do results last?
The results from a breast lift procedure may last forever. However, the results may vary depending on the patient’s skin texture and elasticity. The final results will appear over the next few months as breast shape and position continue to settle. Incision lines are permanent but will continue to fade over time. Your breasts can continue to change due to aging and gravity.
Breast Lift surgery should only be considered after the child bearing stage has been completed. Changes that occur in the breast due to pregnancy and after pregnancy (Breastfeeding) can minimize or reverse any improvement made during surgery. Likewise, significant weight loss after breast surgery can negatively impact breast appearance.
Breast Lift Recovery
During your breast lift recovery, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions after the procedure is completed. You’ll need to wear an elastic bandage or support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts as they heal.
It may take 10 to 15 days before a patient can return to their regular daily activities, in some instances it may take up to 4 weeks. And another 6 to 8 weeks before a patient can return to strenuous activity; such as running or lifting weights. Patients may experience some swelling, bruising, and a moderate amount of pain during the healing process. The first three months after surgery the patient should avoid wearing an underwire bra. Scars from a breast lift procedure may take up to one year to mature.
Breast Lift risks
- Bleeding or hematoma formation
- Infection
- Poor healing of incisions
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or permanent
- Breast contour and shape irregularities
- Fluid accumulation
- Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
