What is Breast Lifting?

A breast uplift (mastopexy) is performed as an outpatient. There are three basic types- either a crescent shaped removal of breast skin only above the areola. This I frequently perform in conjunction with a breast enlargement in someone whose breast are ptotic (droopy because of pregnancy or weight loss). Separately, it can even be done under a local anesthetic in the office. This lifts the nipple-areola up to one inch only. It does not reshape the breast. The scars usually heal well but can be red, raised and spread and in a small amount of the patients can even elongate the areola. The second, more extensive uplift is one that results in a scar around the areola( "donut uplift"). The areola is marked smaller. This is performed under general anesthesia administered by an MD anesthesiologist as an outpatient. The main negative is that this may result in a minimal uplift/reshaping of the breast and may result in a flattening of the breast with bad scars and stretched out areola. The final or full uplift (mastopexy) results in a scar at least around the areola, down the breast and possibly even around it (like an anchor type and as in a breast reduction). This is done as an outpatient under general anesthesia administered by an MD anesthesiologist. Minimal breast tissue is removed and primarily skin with reshaping of the breast and uplifting it. The procedure takes about two hours and the patient is placed into a bulky bandage for about five days and then into a bra which she wears day and night for two weeks. Light activity is permitted after several days and full activity after two weeks. The pain is usually minimal. The usual complications like infection, bleeding, loss of sensation can occur but are minimal. Scarring is the main negative and the scars heal well in about 80% of the patients (flat, minimally spread and white). In 20% though, the scars are red, raised off the surface and the scars are spread. Something can be done to minimize them though. Usually, breast sensitivity or the ability to breast feed is not interfered with.