Cosmetic breast surgery | Breast Lift
Mastopexy is the medical name for a breast lift.
In this procedure, a plastic surgeon raises and shapes your breasts to give them a firmer, rounded look. The operation also removes the excess skin around the chest and reduces the size of the areola – a colored circle around the nipple.
As you age, your breasts lose their elasticity and firmness. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and weight gain or weight loss can emphasize this process. You may want to do breast lift, if your breasts start to sag.
For the women who have lost chest volumes, this method can be combined with the procedure of breast enlargement.
Am I a candidate for breast augmentation?
Breast lift intervention provides the best results for women who have small to moderate breasts that show signs of relaxation.
It is possible to treat larger and / or heavier breasts, but in such cases, the weight of the breast can sometimes counter the effects of breast augmentation in a shorter period of time. Our aesthetic surgeons will, if necessary, also suggest the removal of excess fat from breast, so that the entire lifting process will be successful and safe for you. Since pregnancy and breast feeding often lead to enlargement of the breast, it is advised that the patient complete breast feeding before the intervention can happen. Additionally, if you have decided on implants in combination with lifting, our team of doctors will provide you with detailed consultations about the total procedure.
What does the surgical procedure of breast lift look like?
Surgeons perform breast augmentation with the use of several different procedures. The technique that your surgeon will use depends on both the size and shape of your breasts and how much lifting you need.
Before the procedure, your surgeon will probably ask you to stop taking or avoid certain medications. These include medications that are blood thinners like aspirin. If you are a smoker, it is recommended to stop smoking about four weeks prior to surgery. Smoking can interfere with your body’s ability to heal after surgery. This can cause serious complications in regards to the healing of the wounds as well as the loss of the nipple region or skin around the breast.
In general, breast augmentation involves these steps:
The first step the surgeon will mark your breast in a standing position to determine how the new elevated position of the nipple on the chest will appear. After that, in the second step you will be transferred to the operating block, where the anesthesiologists will take care of you. You will receive general anesthesia and this operation will last from 1.5 to 3.5 hours on average.
The surgeon will make a cut around the areola. The cut usually stretches towards the front of the breast, from the bottom of the areola to the fold. It can also extend along the sides of the areola.
The surgeon will lift and shape your breasts. Afterwards, the surgeon will move the areola to the correct position on the new breast form, and may also reduce their size.
In the breast surgery operation, the surgeon will remove all the extra (excessive) skin to give the breasts a firmer and tighter look.
In the end, the surgeon will stitch up the cuts. Aesthetic surgeons will try to put incisions on certain parts of the breast where they will less than visible, and almost unnoticeable.
You may choose to incorporate breast implants at the same time as your breast augmentation. Implants can increase the size or fullness of the breast. For safety reasons, some surgeons will not do both interventions at the same time. In this case, you will first do a breast lift, and then the implants will follow after a weeks or a few months’ post augmentation. This is done to prevent any loss or necrosis of the nipple.
Recovery after a surgical procedure for breast augmentation
After surgery, at least a week of recovery at home is advised.
During this period, it is important to rest and to avoid excessive movement of your hands. Before surgery, detailed postoperative instructions are given which are extremely important to follow.
Most patients can return to normal everyday activities after about a week. For physically strenuous activities, such as exercises or heavy training, as well as lifting heavy loads, it is necessary to wait at least four weeks or consult with our doctors beforehand.
Your breasts can be swollen and painful for a few weeks after surgery. Your doctor will likely prescribe medications for pain relief. You can also place ice or a cold pack on your breasts in order to relieve swelling and pain. You will be instructed to wear a surgical bra or a non-wired bra two or three weeks after surgery. It will also be necessary to sleep on your back with the support of pillows in order to keep your chest raised up, so the proper results can take form.
Pain, bruising, and swelling should pass about 2 weeks’ post-surgery. It may take 2- 12 months for your breasts to reach their final intended shape.
Risks
Like any surgery, breast augmentation may have risks, and they include:
- bleeding
- infection
- blood or fluid collecting in the chest, which may need to be extracted
- scarring – some of which might be thick or painful
- poor healing of incisions
- loss of feeling in the chest or nipple, which can be temporary
- one breast appearing larger than the other or uneven breasts
Blood clots - another operation maybe needed to correct some things
Prognosis
Breast augmentation should give the chest a more raised, firmer, and therefore a younger look. You may have some scars on your chest, but they should completely disappear over time. Modern breast enhancement techniques have greatly reduced the possibility of severe permanent scarring.
In order to maintain this new look that you have achieved it is important to keep a steady diet and control your overall weight.
If you are thinking of changing the appearance or size of your breasts, contact our team and consults with us to see if you would be a suitable candidate for this procedure. Whether you want to enlarge your breasts with implants, reduce or lift your breasts, our team combines cutting edge aesthetics and medical expertise in order to create your beautiful and natural look.
For more information, please call our call center and schedule consultations: +381 11 785 88 88
- Is a breast lift the same as a mastopexy?
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Yes. A mastopexy is another term for a breast lift.
- Can I have breast implants with my breast lift?
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Yes of course! This procedure is one of the most common ones. A big number of patients are concerned with both drooping of the breasts as well as a loss of volume. Childbirth, weight loss or age are most commonly reasons for this. A breast lift combined with breast augmentation will help to do both, lift the breast and add the volume and firmness you desire.
- Should I finish having children before I consider having a breast lift?
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Having a breast lift will in no way affect your ability to have children. However, if you are considering having more children in the near future, it would be in your best interest to wait for a breast lift. You may require a revision procedure should you choose to have this done prior to having more children. This is a personal choice for all of our patients. It is important to discuss this with your doctor so he can help you come to the best decision.
- Where are the incisions for a breast lift?
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There are three types of breast lift. A donut mastopexy has an incision that goes around the areola only and is appropriate when a moderate lift is needed. This lift is generally used in combination with breast augmentation. A vertical lift has an incision that goes around the areola and down the lower front of the breast. This type of lift is appropriate for most patients. The third type of breast lift uses an anchor-like incision that goes around the areola, down the lower front of the breast and along the crease beneath the breast. Severe drooping of the breast may require this type of breast lift. These incisions typically are easily concealed by your undergarments or bathing suit top.