Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

What Breast Lifts Don’t Do
Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) does not significantly change the size of your breasts or enhance the fullness of the upper part of your breast. If you're seeking fuller breasts, consider combining breast lift surgery with breast augmentation. If you wish to reduce breast size, a combination of breast lift and reduction surgery may be a better option.

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Is a Breast Lift Right for Me?
Breast lift surgery is highly personalized, and the decision to undergo the procedure should be for your own satisfaction, not to meet others' expectations or to achieve an idealized image.

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A breast lift may be right for you if:

• You are in good physical health and maintain a stable weight

• You do not smoke

• You have realistic expectations about the results

• You are bothered by sagging breasts or a loss of shape and volume

• Your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or appear pendulous

• Your nipples fall below the breast crease when unsupported

• Your nipples and areolas point downward

• You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas

• One breast is lower than the other

 

Procedure Description: Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Over time, factors like pregnancy, breastfeeding, and gravity can cause a woman's breasts to lose shape and firmness, resulting in sagging. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure designed to raise and reshape sagging breasts—though it can't permanently counteract the effects of gravity. Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. If you have small breasts or volume loss (for example, post-pregnancy), breast implants can be used in conjunction with the lift to increase firmness and size.

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This explanation covers the basics of a breast lift procedure, when it can help, how it's performed, and what you can expect in terms of results. However, because the procedure varies depending on your individual needs, make sure to ask your surgeon any questions you may have.

 

The Best Candidates for Breast Lift Surgery
A breast lift can improve your appearance and self-confidence, but it may not meet all of your ideal expectations or change how others perceive you. It's important to carefully consider your expectations before deciding to undergo surgery and to discuss them thoroughly with your surgeon.

 

Ideal candidates for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally stable women with realistic expectations. The best outcomes are often seen in women with small, sagging breasts. While breasts of any size can be lifted, results may not be as lasting for women with larger breasts.

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Many women seek a breast lift after pregnancy or nursing, when they experience stretched skin and reduced volume. However, if you plan to have more children, it might be wise to delay the surgery. Though mastopexy does not usually interfere with breastfeeding, pregnancy can stretch the breasts again and diminish the results.

 

All Surgery Carries Some Risk
A breast lift is generally safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. However, as with any surgery, there are inherent risks, including potential complications or reactions to anesthesia. Though bleeding and infection are uncommon, they can cause scars to widen. Following your surgeon’s instructions closely before and after the procedure can help minimize risks.

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Mastopexy leaves permanent scars, typically located where they will be hidden by a bra or swimsuit. (Smokers may experience poorer healing and wider scars.) In rare cases, the procedure can lead to unevenly positioned nipples or permanent loss of sensation in the breasts or nipples.

 

Your New Look
Your surgeon will strive to make the scars as discreet as possible. While the scars will fade over time, they remain permanent. Often, they will become less noticeable and may eventually appear as thin white lines. In many cases, the scars can be placed so that they are hidden by even low-cut tops.

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Keep in mind that a breast lift doesn’t stop the aging process—gravity, weight changes, pregnancy, and time will eventually affect your breasts again. For women who choose to have implants with their lift, results may last longer.

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Your satisfaction with the results of a breast lift is most likely if you understand the procedure thoroughly and have realistic expectations.