Mastopexy

Breast Uplift

What is mastopexy?

This is an operation which is used to lift breasts by removing excess or surplus skin. It reshapes and improves the shape of the breast making it more firm.

Who requests a breast lift?

Following pregnancy and lactation (breast feeding) breasts can lose their fullness and firmness and begin to droop, and mastopexy will correct this.

It is also requested by patients after excessive weight loss when the breasts can become saggy and pendulous.

Some people are not in the above group but have very droopy breasts.

It can also be performed to correct asymmetry of breast size and/or nipple areola position whether congenital (from birth) or acquired (as part of a process of breast reconstruction).


Did you know!

Did you know! If the breast tissue volume is small, then mastopexy alone may not give a satisfactory result in which case this can be combined with breast augmentation to achieve volume and fullness.


What type of anaesthetic is used?

This is usually performed under general anaesthetic.

How long will I stay in hospital?

Usually an overnight stay.

How much time off work do I need?

Usually three to four weeks.

How long is the operation?

One to two hours.

How is the operation performed?

The operation will remove surplus skin while leaving the breast tissue intact. The breast tissue itself can be remoulded using stitches to give a better shape. An effect of removing the surplus skin lifts the breast up and makes it appear firmer.

The nipple is also put in a higher and more aesthetically pleasing position.

Where are the scars on the breasts?

There are different incisions patterns that are used for breast lift. These include vertical scar incision which leaves a scar around the nipple and a vertical scar going down from the nipple towards the base of the breast; or inverted ‘T’ incision which leaves a scar around the nipple, a vertical scar and a horizontal or transverse scar at the base of the breast; or a circum areola incision which leaves a scar just around the nipple.

What are the risks of having the operation?

The problems that can arise are similar to that with any surgery including hematoma (blood clot collection), infection and wound breakdown. Other problems include changes in sensation in the nipple areola complex, residual minor differences in the size and shape of the breasts, raised and stretched scars and ‘dog ears’.

With an increase in age and also the effect of gravity the breasts will develop some droop again to a variable extent in different patients.