Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
A Mastopexy, also known as a Breast Lift, is a surgical procedure used to raise and reshape drooping breasts through the removal of excess skin and the repositioning of the nipple and remaining tissue. Over time, the effects of gravity and natural loss of skin elasticity begin to have an effect on the appearance of a woman’s breast. Post-pregnancy and breastfeeding women may also experience the need to reshape or realign their breasts.
A breast lift can restore the shape and firmness of the breasts and reduce the size of the areola. Breast implants can also be placed either above or beneath the chest muscle, in conjunction with a breast lift if the patient also desires an increase in volume and size.
Who Is a Suitable Candidate for Breast Lift?
The ideal candidate for breast lift surgery is someone who is unhappy with the projection of their breasts, breast shape, and breast volume but is otherwise in good general health, does not smoke and have realistic expectations about the outcome.
What to Expect from Breast Lift?
Breast lift surgeries are performed in our state-of-the-art surgery centers and are typically outpatient procedures performed under general anesthesia. There are several surgical techniques used in breast lift procedures. Generally, to begin your surgeon will make a periareolar incision and possibly a vertical incision to be able to lift and reposition the breast tissue. Depending on your needs, the periareolar incision will run along the underside of each areola in a half-moon shape, or around the entire circumference of each areola. The use of a periareolar incision is ideal for correcting mild deflation and sagging.
Moderately sagging breast tissue may require both a periareolar and vertical incision for correction. This technique is referred to as the ‘lollipop’ incision and involves the first incision along the edge of the areola and one that extends down vertically from the bottom of the periareolar incision to the edge of the breast crease.
If additional excess skin needs to be removed the lollipop incision in addition to what’s called ‘anchor’ incision allows for a more comprehensive reshaping of severe deflation and sagging. The anchor incision is a horizontal incision that extends along the breast crease. Once your LIPSG surgeon has created the ideal positioning of the breasts during surgery, your incisions will be closed with internal dissolvable sutures and you will be wrapped in a bandage and compression garment, also known as a surgical bra.
Timeline for recovery
Recovering from a Breast Reduction can take anywhere from two to six weeks. Everyone recovers at a different rate, but the most important factor determining how long recovery takes is what you define as recovery. You will only need to take a week off from work if you have a sedentary job or two weeks off from work if you have a very active job.
After 6 weeks, at this point, you can stop wearing your compression bra all the time and return to most of your normal activities. The pain and swelling should be mostly gone, and your scars should start flattening over the next few months.
