What is Breast Lifting?

Breast lifting or mastopexy is a procedure to address changes of the breast which are associated with aging, weight loss or after pregnancy in which the breast tissue loses support, the skin is lax and the volume may be lost. The vast majority of patients that would benefit from a lift, also benefit from breast augmentation with an implant. Many plastic surgeons recommend "staging " or separating the operations into two separate operations: one operation to replace the lost volume with an implant,(either saline or silicone gel) and the second operation two to three months later to tighten skin, reshape the breast and elevate the position of the nipple. I believe in most situations, the operation can be performed at the same time to minimize cost, operating room risks, and recovery time. A youthful breast is associated with fullness, especially in the upper aspect or upper pole of the breast, nipple centered over that fullness, and skin tight enough to create a conical attractive shape. Mastopexy surgery is designed to recreate this youthful shape and fullness. Occasionally, when there is adequate volume, a mastopexy can be performed without an implant, but in my experience this operation is limited to patients who desire a slight reduction in the size of their breasts. The type of procedure performed and the extent of the scar is determined by how much skin is removed. The scar may be limited to a circumareolar scar which goes completely around the areola and is concealed by the natural change in pigment from the darker areola to the lighter breast skin. With greater degrees of skin laxity or ptosis (drooping of the breast), a tennis racket or lollipop-shaped scar may be required with the circular part around the areola and the vertical extension below the areola to the natural fold under the breast. Occasionally with the greatest amount of skin laxity, a full inverted T or anchor-shaped scar wil be required with a scar around the areola, extending vertically to the fold underneath the breast and a scar in that fold underneath the breast (inframammary fold).