Breast Enlargement & Lift

What is a breast lift or enlargement?

Sagging breasts are a real concern for many women. Loss of skin elasticity, gravity and other factors such as pregnancy and nursing can cause the breasts to lose their natural shape and firmness.

A breast lift or mastopexy is a cosmetic breast surgical procedure to lift and reshape the sagging breasts. Mastopexy may also involve repositioning the areola and nipple. Some women may have small breast or may have lost a significant amount of breast volume after pregnancy. In such cases placement of breast implants in addition to breast lift may be required to increase the size and firmness of the breasts. The implants are placed most often underneath the breast tissue or under the muscle of the chest wall.

How are breast lifts performed?

Breast lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia. The procedure generally takes 1.5 to 3.5 hours to perform. Your surgical practitioner will make an anchor-shaped incision that follows the natural contour of the breast. Next, your surgical practitioner will remove the excess skin and move your nipple and areola to the higher position. Then the skin around the areola is brought down and drawn together to reshape the breast. After completion of the procedure, stitches are placed around the areola and nipple area, in a vertical line beneath the nipple and along the lower crease of the breast.

Another technique especially for those with small breasts and minimal sagging is the doughnut or concentric mastopexy, where circular incisions are made around the areola, and a doughnut-shaped area of skin or areola is removed.

What can I expect postoperatively?

Following the surgery your breast will be bruised, swollen, and may ache for a day or two. You may feel slight discomfort, for which medications are recommended by your surgical practitioner. After you have a breast lift, an elastic bandage or a surgical bra will be wrapped around your breasts over gauze dressings. These will be removed within few days and replaced with a support bra.

All sutures are usually removed within a week or two after surgery. You may expect loss of sensation around your nipple and areola areas. This is usually temporary and may take six weeks or more to return to normal.

Breast lift can enhance your breast size and shape, and restore the body contour of your breasts.