Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?

Every surgical procedure involves certain risks and the possibility of complications such as infection and poor healing, and these and other complications can occur even when the surgeon uses the utmost care, judgment and skill.

a. There are scars -- every effort is made to conceal or to make them as inconspicuous as possible. Scars may be unattractive and of a different color than the surrounding skin. Scar appearance may vary within the same scar, and may be asymmetrical from one side of the body to the other.

b. There may be delayed healing of the incisions. Some areas of skin may die, requiring frequent dressing changes or further surgery to remove the non-healed tissue.Fat necrosis, or death of fat tissue under skin, may cause firmness, nodules, or contour irregularities. The use of tobacco products (smoking, chewing tobacco, nicotine patch, nasal spray, etc) increases the risk of wound healing complications and additional scarring. Smoking in particular may make recovery from anesthesia more difficult, with coughing and possibly increased bleeding.

c . There may be bruising from blood or fluid collections (seromas) that can last for up to several weeks. These may feel like soft or hard bumps under the skin. Rarely this requires drainage with a needle or more extensive reoperation.

d. It is possible, although unusual, to experience bleeding during or after surgery. The development of a collection of blood under the skin (hematoma) may require reoperation and may delay healing and cause scarring.

e. The nipples may feel numb or may have heightened sensitivity after the surgery. This usually resolves within several weeks, but may last longer and may be permanent. Chronic pain may occur very infrequently from nerves becoming trapped in scar tissue.

f. There may be skin contour irregularities, such as depressions, wrinkling, and residual skin at the ends of the incisions (dog ears) after the procedure. These usually resolve with time but may require minor surgical correction.

g. Deeper structures, such as the ribs, lungs, nerves, blood vessels, and muscles may be damaged during the course of surgery, although this is extremely rare.

h. Blood clots are rare, but may occur after any surgery.

i. Breast feeding may not be possible.