What is Breast Lifting?

Breast lifting is a procedure that restores the shape and aesthetic appearance of the breast. These aspects are changed due to breast feeding and/or the aging process. The breasts develop "involutional "changes where the skin elasticity is diminished, resulting in stretch marks.The internal structure of the breast is altered as well. As a result, the breasts become "saggy " with loss of fullness in the upper portion, lower nipples, and loose, "saggy " skin. Lifting, known as mastopexy, aims to reshape the breasts by remodeling the breast tissue and redraping the skin over it. The result is an improved aesthetic shape, more upper fullness, and better nipple position.

How is breast lift surgery done?

Through well planned incisions, the breast tissue is reshaped into a more rounded contour, the skin is redraped over this new breast shape, and the nipple is repositioned to a more aesthetic location.

What is the recovery period like?

These procedures can be on an outpatient basis. Patients should be out of bed and walking around the day of surgery, driving in about 2-3 days, and returning to office type work in 3 -5 days. Heavy lifting and full work outs should be performed in 3-4 weeks. Most patients rate the discomfort as  2-3 out of a scale of 10.

Who is an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery?

Healthy patients who have changes in their breasts from pregnancy, breast feeding, and/or aging can be considered candidates for mastopexy. There must be adequate breast tissue to achieve the deisred size and volume. Otherwise, an implant may have to be considered, as well.

Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?

While not a complication, scars are a side effect that has to be considered as they are visible after surgery. Bleeding and infections are rare events. Skin or nipple loss are other extreme, infrequent complications that can compromise a good result. Loss of skin and nipple sensation are other events that must be noticed. Risks of anesthesia and blood clots in legs are also complications that must be pondered when considering any surgery.