Breast Lift
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure used to enhance and reposition a deflated or droopy breast. Incisions on the skin and around the nipple are used to reposition the nipple, elevate the breast, and increase breast projection and contour. Mastopexy is often combined with breast augmentation to enhance both volume and shape.
Treatment Time
Procedure time varies. If done in isolation a mastopexy can take 2-3 hours. If combined with a breast augmentation, then it will take between 4-5 hours.
Incisions
Incisions can be around the nipple only (periareolar mastopexy), around the nipple and vertically towards to inframammary fold (vertical mastopexy), or around the nipple with a vertical and horizontal component at the inframammary fold (Wise pattern mastopexy).
Benefits
Mastopexy allows significant reposition of a droopy or ptotic nipple, contouring the breast, and lifting the breast with increasing perceived volume. Most patients describe an increased sense of self worth and body image.
Technique
Incisions are made as described above ensuring there is good blood flow to the nipple. A large portion of the breast is elevated off the underlying pectoralis major muscle and repositioned using strong deep sutures. Drains may be used if a Wise pattern mastopexy is completed.
Recovery
After 2 weeks all incisions are healed and the majority of swelling and bruising has subsided. Initially the breasts are over projected and tight however over 2-3 months they regain their natural shape.
Risks
The main risks of mastopexy include bleeding, infection, fat necrosis, decrease or loss of nipple sensation, nipple death, and over or under correction. Risks depend heavily on which type of mastopexy is done and whether the mastopexy is combined with a breast augmentation.
Who are the best candidates?
Patients who are finished having children or breastfeeding, otherwise healthy, non-smokers, and have droopy or ptotic breasts. Often patients want to correct droopy breasts and increase the volume, so a mastopexy is completed in conjunction with a breast implant.
Adjunct Procedures
Patients who desire a correction of droopy breasts but also an increase in breast volume are best served with a mastopexy augmentation. Breast surgery can be combined with abdominoplasty, liposuction, or fat grafting.