A breast lift is also known as mastopexy, and involves removal of excess skin to raise and reshape the breasts along with raising the nipple-areola complex to a higher level. The operation is similar to a breast reduction but without any removal of breast tissue. Patients who do not have enough volume to “fill” the skin envelope may opt to have an implant augmentation as well at the same time.
Who is a candidate? You may be a candidate for this operation if you feel you suffer from one or more of the following conditions:
- Nipples facing downwards, particularly if they are below the level of the breast crease
- Breasts lacking substance or firmness
- Pendulous breasts which are of satisfactory size
A breast lift can be performed at any age. Obviously, pregnancy and breast feeding will have unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts and this is an important factor to consider when planning your operation. Nevertheless, many women still undergo breast lift before having children. The operation preserves the milk ducts and thus will not have any effect on your ability to breast feed.
Consultation: Your consultation will involve much the same discussion on history and a clinical examination as with the breast reduction operation mentioned above. In fact, the procedures are quite similar except that in breast lift, breast tissue is not removed.
Attention is paid to existing breast volume to see if augmentation is desirable or desired by the client. In many cases, results of mastopexy improve if augmentation is done as well. This will be pointed out but the decision is left to the patient. Simultaneous augmentation mastopexy is tricky to perform together. More often the augmentation is done separately later.
Surgery: In pure mastopexy, excess skin is removed and existing gland reshaped. This is tailored in such a fashion such as to match the quantity of breast tissue and in doing so uplift the breast. Dr. Mohan uses short scar techniques almost exclusively for mastopexy as well [see under breast reduction].
Post-surgery recovery: It is identical to breast reduction, see under that section
The results: Results of breast lift are pleasing, but one must understand the extent of the permanent scars. The scar is a trade-off to get more youthful breasts. In persons of skin type 1 to 3 scars are not a big problem but in skin types 4-6 it is an important concern [see Fitzpatrick skin types]. Unless you gain or lose a significant amount of weight or get pregnant, your new breast shape should remain fairly constant. The operation can be repeated after a number of years if you should become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts and would like to restore their more youthful contour. A breast augmentation can also be done if it is felt after surgery that more volume would be useful [many women are unable to make that decision prior to mastopexy].
Refinements: Auto-augmentation by shifting the gland from the lower to upper pole, addition of fat grafting to upper pole and cleavage are further refinements to improve results. In cases of Body lift after massive weight loss Dr. Mohan is able to use some of the excess tissue to gain more volume in the breasts.
Note: Appropriate Before and After pictures can be viewed during consultation.