Breast Lift - Mastopexy

A breast lift can successfully reposition saggy, droopy breasts into firmer, shapelier ones that are located higher on a woman's chest. As a result, a better-proportioned body is produced, enhancing the patient's appearance and potentially elevating their self-esteem.

During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss the changes that you would like to make to your appearance. Because plastic surgery is a highly personal decision, you'll want to take time to address all of your concerns and desires.

At this time, your doctor should explain the breast lift surgery procedure, including what kind of anesthesia he/she will be using. Your medical history should then be discussed, and a visual examination performed.

Your surgeon should also measure your breasts and take photographs, and he/she may possibly require a mammogram (breast x-ray). The physician should also discuss the new placement of your nipples and ask if you want to reduce the size of your areolas (the darker skin around the nipples).

Be sure to ask all of the questions you have about breast lift surgery, and request to see breast lift before and after photos of the doctor's past patients. You may also choose to inquire about patient references. The key to making an informed decision is learning everything you can about your options, risks, and benefits. See Questions to Ask Your Doctor below.

Once the surgery is scheduled, you should receive specific pre-surgery instructions on what you may eat and drink, and whether or not you should smoke.

Several different techniques can be used during breast lift surgery, depending on the degree of sagging that you experience. Breast lift surgery consists of removing excess skin from around the areola, and possibly also from the bottom of the breast, and then tightening the skin. The insertion of breast implants for additional volume and smoothing of the skin may also be required for an optimal outcome. With these surgical steps, the position of the nipple, areola, and breasts can be elevated to a more youthful position.

The specific breast lift techniques may vary, but they generally fall into two categories: the concentric (or doughnut) mastopexy for women with smaller and less droopy breasts, and the more common anchor-shaped mastopexy. In general, the more tissue that is cut, the more shaping that is possible. For women who experience extensive sagging, the skin has stretched so much that a smaller incision will not remove enough tissue to lift the breast. In these cases, the larger incision is necessary.

For women with smaller and less severely drooping breasts, this procedure (which requires fewer incisions) may be possible. In some instances, the physician may administer a local anesthesia with a sedative instead of general anesthesia.

Concentric circles (like a doughnut) around the areola are drawn and cut. The doughnut-shaped skin around the areola is removed and the nipple and areola repositioned higher. Then, the outer skin is stitched around the areola. Sometimes the skin that is sewn to the areola may wrinkle because there is more skin than needed. Often, the wrinkling will subside in just a few weeks to months after surgery as the skin envelope adapts to the new shape and weight of the tissues.

If your surgeon does not think that this technique will produce the desired results, he/she may instead elect to make a cut that descends from the areola down to the bottom fold of the breast where it meets the chest. A strip of skin is removed along this cut and the two sides stitched together. Even with this additional vertical cut, these breast lift scars are less extensive than the more common anchor-shaped breast lift.

For women with larger or more severely drooping, sagging breasts, the anchor-shaped breast lift surgery is more effective.

The physician will draw a key-hole shape above the nipple and areola. At the bottom of the key-hole, he/she will draw an anchor shape from the right to the left side of the breast.

The skin in the (upper cross-hatched) area of the "anchor" will be removed along with some excess breast tissue. The nipple and areola are moved up to the (lower cross-hatched) "key-hole," then the skin is sutured around the areola, vertically down to the chest, and side to side along the newly-created bottom fold of the breast.

Breast lift surgery usually takes about one to three hours to complete. The length of the procedure varies according to the technique used.

Usually, breast lift surgery is performed in a surgical suite on an outpatient basis, so an overnight visit isn't necessary. This allows you to return home within a few hours of the surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of your own home. However, if a large amount of tissue is removed from the breasts, it may be necessary to spend the night in the hospital so your recovery process can be monitored by a medical staff.

Most often, breast lift surgery is carried out under general anesthesia. If the procedure requires fewer incisions, a patient may be given a local anesthetic combined with intravenous sedation under observed anesthesia care.

After the operation, you will notice an immediate and dramatic change in the shape of your breasts. Most women are very pleased with what they see after surgery. Some numbness is normal after surgery and may persist permanently.

Your breasts will probably be sore for two or three days. The pain is greatest within the first 48 hours, but improves with each day and can typically be relieved by pain medications.

The gauze dressing will be removed after a couple of days, and the stitches are removed about two weeks after breast lift surgery. Your breasts will be bruised, and you may experience temporary numbness around the nipples as well as random shooting pains. These conditions generally subside within several weeks.

For the first few days, you need to limit your activities and movement in order to prevent breaking the stitches and stretching the breast lift scars. Most women can return to work about two weeks later, although overhead lifting and strenuous movements should be avoided for several weeks to ensure proper healing. Your physician will provide you with a schedule for resuming your normal routines.

You will wear a surgical bra that supplies support to your breasts for a few weeks to a couple of months after your breast lift surgery (an under wire bra is not recommended as it may cause a blister on the delicate postoperative tissues).

Most bruising, swelling, pain, and loss of sensation should subside within three to six weeks. However, it may take up to a year for your breasts to settle completely into their new look and feel. Over time, your breast lift scars will fade but may remain red and bumpy for many months.

Finally, you should continue with monthly self-examinations for breast cancer as well as regular mammograms as advised by your doctor.

After the surgery, the breasts are fuller and shapelier. Breast lift surgery generally yields faint lines where the surgical incisions were made. You may also notice slight size or shape differences between your breasts. It is important to keep in mind that the body is never completely symmetrical.

A breast lift will not keep you firm forever. Your breasts, however, will be more youthful and full than they would have been without the surgery. The effects of gravity, pregnancy, and weight changes will continue to affect your breasts over time.

In general, the best candidates for breast lift surgery are women:

• 18 years of age or older
• With stretched skin
• With less breast volume than they had in previous years
• Not intending to lose a great deal of weight, get pregnant, or breastfeed
• Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• In good health
• Wanting to improve their appearance
• Realistic in their expectations

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your surgeon if he/she considers you an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery.

No surgical procedure is completely risk-free. There is the potential for complications associated with any surgery involving anesthesia, including complications such as bleeding, and infection. The patient is also susceptible to:

• Permanent and noticeable scarring
• Unevenly aligned nipples, mismatched breasts
• Sores or numbness around the nipples
• Dead tissue around the nipple and areola (rare)

Perhaps the most common risks are the quality of healing and your acceptance of the resulting scars. With a breast lift, the most significant tradeoff for better-positioned breasts is the appearance and permanence of the surgical scars that may take some time before they flatten and become pale.

Breast lift costs vary, depending on the doctor, the location, technique used, and the difficulty of the specific case. The national average of 2007 surgeon fees for breast lift was $4,711 (Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Surgeon's fee may range from $4,700 to $9,000 for a breast lift depending on just what type of procedure is actually performed.

It is critical to select a physician who is adequately trained and experienced in breast lift surgery. See our Physician Locator feature to find a surgeon in your area. We include detailed profile information for many of the listed doctors. Also, read "How to Select a Plastic Surgeon" for a more detailed discussion on choosing the right doctor.

1. Are the desired results I described realistic?
2. Where is the surgery performed?
3. What kind of anesthesia is used?
4. How much does this procedure cost?
5. What is your experience in performing this procedure? (Ask the plastic surgeon how long he/she has performed this procedure and how many he/she has performed in the past year.)
6. What percentage of patients experience significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
7. Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not satisfy our predicted goals? Also, if the procedure must be repeated/corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
8. May I see "before and after" breast lift photos of recent patients?
9. May I have the names and contact information for several recent breast lift patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the surgeon.)
10. May I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on videotape or ask to view one in real life.)
11. What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity?
12. Who will be assisting the doctor during the surgery? What are their qualifications? Does the plastic surgeon perform the entire surgery?
13. Do you offer patient financing information?

• Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements)
• Tell your doctor about all medications, herbal supplements or natural supplements you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription)
• Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking, and vitamins
• Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery
• Arrange for someone to drive you to and from the location of your surgery
• Try to schedule surgery at a time other than during your menstrual period

The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to breast lift surgery and should not be used to determine whether or not you will have the procedure performed, nor is it a guarantee of the results you will receive. The best way to determine your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.

iEnhance offers information about patient financing to women who may not otherwise be able to undergo breast lift surgery. By filling out our online application, you may qualify for a loan.

You can also use our payment calculator to see what your monthly payments might be if you financed this procedure.

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