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 with age. This can cause them to sag. Mastopexy will raise and reshape breasts, slowing the effects of aging and gravity. This procedure can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple if the patient desires.

A breast lift does not increase the fullness of the upper portion of the breast. It simply allows removal of sagging breast tissue and repositioning of the nipple. For this reason, breast lifts are commonly performed in conjunction with breast augmentation (implants) to increase the fullness and improve the shape of the breasts. When considering this operation, patients should carefully read the information on breast augmentation as well as this information. If you are planning a future pregnancy, it is advisable to postpone your breast lift as pregnancy will likely cause further stretching and droop to the breasts.

Procedure

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center which means you will go home after the procedure. You will follow up for a post operative visit the next day. The incisions are around the nipple, vertically beneath the nipple and sometimes also horizontally in the crease of the breast. The breast tissue is re-contoured and some breast tissue and skin is removed. The nipple and areola are then repositioned. The nipple is not removed at any point. The skin is closed with dissolvable sutures. The wounds are dressed with cloth tape and a compression bra is placed on. Drains are usually not needed for this operation.

Recovery

Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild discomfort for a couple of days. The pain is generally well controlled with oral pain medication. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra at all times until otherwise directed.

Patients follow up on post operative day one for general re-evaluation and then at one week. At that post operative visit, the cloth tape is removed and replaced with flesh colored dressing tape which falls off on its own with in the following week. Your incisions will be noticeable immediately following surgery but they will gradually fade and flatten for up to a year after surgery. If your skin has a lot of stretch marks or is extremely thin, this is a sign of poor skin elasticity. Patients with poor skin elasticity may be more prone to widening of the scar after surgery. A small percentage of patients will require a scar revision to improve the appearance of the scars. Your skin will also be firm and numb at the outset. It will soften and normal sensation will return gradually over the following weeks to months.


Recovery is generally one to two weeks. It is important to limit lifting weight and lifting your arms above your shoulders as much as possible the first two weeks. Patients usually return to light activity within two to three days after surgery. Full activity is resumed within two or three weeks but no vigorous bouncing type activities (jogging or horseback riding) are recommended for 6 weeks. Although the breasts usually look good almost immediately after surgery, there is an improvement in the shape over the following several months. Breast lifts can cause a “boxy” look to the breast for the first couple months. With patience, the breasts will eventually round out at the inferior pole giving a natural look.

Possible Complications

There are potential complications associated with having any surgery including bleeding, prolonged bruising and swelling, infection, temporary or permanent numbness, weakness and unfavorable scarring as previously mentioned. Infection or collections of blood or fluid in the wound may delay recovery and could result in skin loss, fat wasting or pronounced scarring. This could result in the need for additional corrective surgery. The blood supply to the skin may be compromised or damaged as a result of the surgery which could lead to wound breakdown or skin loss. If this happens and the wound does not heal favorably on its own, a scar revision or skin graft may be needed.

Although these complications are relatively rare, wound problems are much more likely with patients who smoke, especially wound breakdown and nipple loss. Therefore, we require patients who use tobacco or nicotine substitute products to completely quit for a minimum of four-to-six weeks before and after breast lift surgery.

The procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts.

Because some milk ducts are disrupted during the surgery you may not be able to breastfeed following the surgery. Some women successfully breastfeed after having the surgery but this is difficult. For best results, follow your physician’s advice both before and after surgery.

Overall, the procedure provides very gratifying results with immediate reduction of the excess skin and fat and improved contour. The type and amount of lift recommended will be identified at your complimentary consult.