Mastopexy (or Breast Lift) reshapes the breasts and repositions the areolas. This procedure is usually performed on women who have been pregnant multiple times and breastfed their babies, or on bariatric surgery patients who have lost a significant amount of weight. In either case, the deflated look or excess skin in the breast area can be disconcerting to the individual, who may desire aesthetic improvement. When performed on bariatric surgery patients, the procedure is usually combined with breast augmentation (enlargement) to better fill the empty space vacated by the fat loss.
Procedure
The breast lift operation can be performed under light or deep IV sedation combined with a local anesthetic. The excess skin below the breast is generally removed and the nipple is then moved higher to better center it in relation to the elevated breast tissue. The skin above the breast is pulled around to create the new breast mound and to tighten the remaining area of skin around the glands and fatty tissue of the breast for a more youthful appearance. The areolas can also be resized if necessary. Small drains may be used on larger lifts to reduce swelling for the first day or so following surgery.
Recovery
The full recovery time of this procedure is usually around a month, but patients can generally return to desk jobs within 10 days. A supportive bra must be worn everyday for the full recovery period to ensure proper healing. Pain medication is prescribed for the week following surgery, as well as antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of infection. Although scarring is likely, most of the scars associated with breast lift surgery are readily hidden by a normal bra. We recommend solid silicone sheeting and/or liquid silicone gel after a few weeks to optimize fading of the scars.
Be sure to check out the breast surgery before and after photos and patient testimonials!