Breast lift
Mastopexy

Introduction
Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity affect a woman’s breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breastlift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. If your breasts are small or have lost volume – for example, after pregnancy – breasts implants inserted in conjunction with mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size.

What are the risks involved?
A breast lift is normally safe. Nevertheless, as with any surgery, there is always a possibility of complications, bleeding and infection.

Before the surgery
Depending on your age and family history, your surgeon may ask you to have a mammogram (breast x-ray) before surgery.

The surgery
Breast lifts are usually performed under anesthesia in a hospital where you can expect to stay one or two days. Mastopexy usually takes four to five hours. The procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast.
When the excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved to the higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is the brought down and together to reshape the breast. Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downwards from the nipple area, and along the lower crease of the breast.
Some patients, especially those with small breasts and minimal sagging, may be candidates for modified procedures requiring less extensive incisions.

After the surgery
Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a day to two, but the pain shouldn’t be severe. You can expect some numbness in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the swelling after surgery. This numbness usually fades as the swelling subsides over the next six weeks or so. Don’t plan on returning to work for a week or more, depending on how you feel and avoid lifting anything over your head for three to four weeks.
If you become pregnant, the operation should not affect your ability to breast-feed.