Breast Lift ( Mastopexy )

There are millions of women around the world who are unhappy with their breast contour. While some believe that they just have to “deal” with it for their entire lifetime, others decide to undergo a procedure called mastopexy, popularly known as a breast lift.

A breast lift is a cosmetic procedure conducted to tighten the saggy skin around the breasts and to lift them up for better contour. It works by tightening the tissue around the breasts and removing excess skin to provide desired shape and support by resulting in breast reduction and lift.

A breast lift is an outpatient procedure that lasts over a period of two to three hours. It is typically performed under general anesthesia. That is, the patient remains unconscious during the entire duration of the procedure and does not feel any pain or discomfort.

Why is mastopexy required?

The breast of a woman may change its shape and lose its tightness and youthful contour over a period of time. The youthful firmness and shape are lost because of many reasons and some of them are listed below:

• Breastfeeding
• Aging
• Change in weight
• Pregnancy
• Gravity
• Genetic reasons

Mastopexy or breast lift can help women regain the firmness of their breast and achieve that youthful shape again. This surgery not only helps support new breast contour but also helps reduce the size of the areola that may enlarge over a period of time.

Best Candidates For Mastopexy

Breast reduction and lift or breast augmentation and lift can be opted by a woman of any age, provided that the breasts are fully developed. Anyone who wants to change the following aspects for cosmetic reasons can undergo a breast lift surgery:

• Position of their breast
• Appearance of their breast
• Loose skin around their breast
• Position of their nipples
• Sagging breast
• Lost firmness of the breast
• Lost elasticity of the skin around breast
• Body figure

Women who wish to get a fuller appearance for their breast or reduce their size altogether should discuss their requirement with the surgeon before the procedure. There are other alternative surgeries that can help achieve that objective.

Women who look forward to reducing the size of their breasts while lifting them up can opt for breast reduction and lift. Women who wish to increase the size of their breasts while lifting them up can opt for breast lift and augmentation.

Breast lift with implants is used in case of women who wish to increase the size of their breasts. Breast implants contain silicone gel that adds volume to the breast and makes them appear fuller.

During breast lift with implants or without implants, you will be first asked to lie down on the operating table before the anesthesiologist injects general anaesthesia to put you into sedation or temporary sleep. Once you are unconscious, the surgeon will start by marking the desired location of the nipples.

Next, the surgeon removes the extra and saggy tissue around breasts and then lifts the breast tissue to the desired and marked position. It is at this step that breast implants, if desired, are also inserted and the skin of the breast is secured with bandages.

Depending on whether you would want your breast size to increase or decrease, the cosmetic surgeon will take specific steps to achieve the desired objective while lifting the breasts. You will be transferred to the recovery room after the procedure and later discharged on the same day as soon as you are out of the influence of the general anaesthesia.

• After breast lift surgery, you will be asked to stop doing things that may up your risk of complications such as bleeding and scarring. For example, you may be asked to avoid medications that increase bleeding, stop smoking, and lifting heavy weights for at least four to six weeks after the surgery.
• You may also be given a few medications to relieve pain and advised to support the breasts until the tissue heals completely. Typically, the stitches are removed within two to three weeks of the surgery and a minor follow-up procedure may be conducted to remove any difference in the size of the breasts if required.