Breast Lift |
Mastopexy is commonly called a "breast lift" and is a surgical procedure used to lift breasts that are sagging. The results are long-lasting, but aging and pregnancy may eventually cause additional sagging. View this procedure in 3D:Breast Lift with Breast Implants Who Can Benefit From Mastopexy?If your breasts have sagged or are elongated, if your nipples point downward, or if your breasts have lost firmness, you may be an excellent candidate for mastopexy. The aging process, weight loss, and pregnancy can cause undue sagging of breast tissue, and a breast lift (mastopexy) is the best surgery to correct this. If your breasts have also lost volume or were not full to begin with, you may opt to have breast implants placed to add volume at the same time that you have a mastopexy to lift the breast tissue and correct the sagging. To read about having Breast Augmentation and Mastopexy at the same time, click here. What is the Procedure Like?Most of the time, breast augmentation and mastopexy are performed in the doctor's office on an outpatient basis, but sometimes, they are performed in a hospital. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia to ensure your maximum comfort and safety. A local anesthetic is used to numb the breast area to relieve pain after surgery. The operation may take two to five hours. Since each patient is different from the next, scarring varies from person to person. Dr. Rubinstein approaches each case with the goal of having the least scarring possible. In many cases, the only scarring left is hidden around the edge of the areola. The doctor moves the nipple to a higher position, but the tissue beneath the nipple is moved with it so that sensitivity will not be lost. Any excess breast skin is removed, and the breast is given a more pleasing shape in a higher position. In some cases, the doctor may ask you to spend the first night after surgery under observation (either in the office or in the hospital.) In the majority of cases, however, you will be allowed to go home within a few hours. The doctor will apply dressings to the breast area and wrap your chest with ace bandages. You may choose to wear a surgical bra (no underwire) after this dressing is removed. What Can I Expect During Recovery?You will need someone to drive you home after surgery, and you will need help around the house for a couple of days. After that, you should feel well enough to take care of your daily household tasks. You will be allowed to shower immediately after surgery, but you may require some assistance. You will probably have to wear a support bra for a period of time for your maximum comfort. Stitches will dissolve on their own in most cases, and in rare cases, a drain may be used for a few days to collect excess fluids. Scarring improves over time. You will need to refrain from vigorous exercise and avoid bending or lifting for a period of time, and you may need to sleep only on your back for a few weeks. You can expect some swelling and bruising after surgery, but this should clear up within a month at the longest. This may delay your ability to see how your breasts will ultimately look, however. The doctor will give you a prescription for pain medication for any post-surgical soreness that you may experience. You should be able to return to work within a week or two of surgery. Gentle sexual activity is usually okay after about two weeks, but your breasts may remain somewhat tender for a month after surgery. You may experience some temporary loss or gain of sensation which should resolve over time. What Are the Risks of Mastopexy?Mastopexy is a very safe procedure, and complications are rare. No patient begins with perfectly symmetrical breasts. The doctor makes every effort to correct the natural pre-existing differences from one breast to the other. In rare cases, asymmetries may remain, which may be improved with further procedures. Nipple sensation is generally not changed as a result of these procedures, although there may be a temporary increase or decrease in sensation. Rarely are these changes permanent. Mammograms may be harder to read after mastopexy. Dr. Rubinstein requires a mammogram prior to your surgery as a baseline so that subsequent mammograms can be compared to it. If you plan to lose a substantial amount of weight, you should postpone mastopexy until after you have reached your goal weight. Mastopexy does not affect pregnancy or breast feeding, but pregnancy may cause additional sagging after the mastopexy procedure has been performed. 
Dr. Adam Rubinstein is a featured breast augmentation and tummy tuckcontributor and also has Top Doctor ratings in facelift, blepharoplasty, tummy tucks, liposuction, rhinoplasty, breast lifts and breast implants on RealSelf.com.
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