Breast Lift


Factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and gravity take their toll on a woman's breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breast lift, known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Breast implants can be used in conjunction with a lift to increase both the firmness and size of the breasts.

A breast lift can help a woman regain here confidence in her body. The best candidates for a breast lift are healthy, emotionally-stable women with breasts on the smaller side, but it can be performed on women with all sized breasts.

Since it is often pregnancy and nursing that cause breasts to sag, it is suggested to wait until you are done having children to have the procedure performed. If you do become pregnant, the operation should not affect your ability to breast-feed, since your milk ducts and nipples will be left intact.



In the right hands, breast lifts are safe and the results, predictably excellent. Unfortunately the procedure does leave permanent scars, though they will be covered by your bra or bathing suit. For women who want to minimize the scars, the Vbeam pulsed dye laser and Fraxel laser can be used when the stitches come out. 


Breast Lift Consultation

In your initial consultation, it's important to discuss your expectations frankly with your surgeon, and to listen to his or her opinion. Every patient--and every physician, as well--has a different view of what is a desirable size and shape for breasts.

The surgeon will examine your breasts and measure them while you're sitting or standing. He or she will discuss the variables that may affect the procedure--such as your age, the size and shape of your breasts, and the condition of your skin--and whether an implant is advisable. You should also discuss where the nipple and areola will be positioned; they'll be moved higher during the procedure, and should be approximately even with the crease beneath your breast.

Your surgeon should describe the procedure in detail, explaining its goals, risks and limitations. He or she should also explain the nature of the anesthesia to be used and the unique advantages of using the type of facility where the surgery will be performed.

Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.


The Surgery

Breast lift surgery usually takes two to three hours and though techniques vary, the most common procedure uses an anchor-shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast.

The incision outlines the area from which breast skin will be removed and defines the new location for the areola and nipple, which become higher. The skin surrounding the areola is then brought down and together to reshape the breast. Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downwards from the nipple area, and along the lower crease of the breast.

Some patients, especially those with relatively small breasts and minimal sagging, may be candidates for modified procedures requiring less extensive incisions. One such procedure is the "doughnut (or concentric) mastopexy," in which circular incisions are made around the areola, and a doughnut-shaped area of skin is removed.

If you're having an implant inserted along with your breast lift, it can be placed directly under the breast tissue, or deeper, under the muscle of the chest wall. The advantages of each of these approaches will be discussed at time of consultation.


What about after the surgery?

After surgery, you will notice some bruising and swelling. You’ll be instructed to wear an elastic bandage or a surgical bra which will shortly be replaced with a soft support bra. There is commonly some temporary numbness in the breast skin which improves as the swelling subsides.

It generally takes a day or two to get up and around and most patients return to work in about a week, assuming no heavy lifting is required.


Over time, a woman's breasts begin to sag and the areolas become larger. All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk




Incisions outline the area of skin to be removed and the new position for the nipple.




Skin formerly located above the nipple is brought down and together to reshape the breast. Sutures close the incisions, giving the breast its new contour.




After surgery, the breasts are higher and firmer, with sutures usually located around the areola, below it, and in the crease under the breast.





If your expectations are realistic, chances are you'll be satisfied with your breast lift.