Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

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 most often performed in the hospital outpatient facility. Breast lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia. The surgery takes between 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. The most common approach involves an incision around the nipple areolar complex allowing excess skin to 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. With current techniques, the scar is limited to a circular scar around the areola in some cases or more often extends vertically (lollipop scar.)

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 and does not effect nipple sensation.

After Surgery: What to Expect

After surgery, your stitches will be covered with steri-strips. You may wear a support bra. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild discomfort for a couple of days. You will receive prescriptions for pain medication at your pre-op visit so you will have the medication on hand if you need it. You will have steri-strips over the incisions. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra at all times. After a week or two, the stitches will be removed. Scars mature over time, but are easily covered by your bra or bathing suit. The scars will be red and raised for the first few months, eventually fading and becoming less obvious. The procedure can improve nipple assymetry, although some assymetry often persists. 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 heavy for 3-4 weeks and avoid strenuous sports for a month.