Breast Lift
A breast lift, also called mastopexy raises and recontours loose, sagging breasts. You may decide you would like a breast lift because you have lost volume and tone in your breasts after having children. Another frequent reason for having this procedure is the loss of a significant amount of weight.
A breast lift improves the appearance of your breast in several ways. It elevates your breast tissue, removes excess skin from the lower portion of your breast and then reshapes your remaining breast skin. At the same time, it relocates your nipple and areola (the pigmented skin surrounding your nipple) to a higher position. If your areolas have stretched over time, they can be reduced in size. Women who have their breasts lifted often may decide to also have them enlarged. If this is the case, an implant is placed behind the breast tissue or chest muscle.
A commonly performed breast lift technique uses incisions that follow your breast’s natural contour. The resulting scar, which is permanent but will fade to some extent over time, encircles the areola and then extends vertically down the breast and horizontally along the crease underneath the breast. There are other breast lift techniques that may eliminate the horizontal incision, the vertical incision, or both. The use of any particular pattern of incisions depends on individual patient factors and your surgeon’s recommendation.
Following surgery, your breasts will be wrapped in a gauze or dressing or placed in a surgical bra. You may be instructed to wear a supportive bra for several weeks. Swelling and discoloration are to be expected but will gradually subside. You may experience decreased breast or nipple sensation, which is usually temporary. You should be able to return to work within a week or two.
