Details of Mastopexy Surgery or Breast Lift Surgery

What happens before the surgery?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery. You will receive guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding medications. You will likely have to either decrease or discontinue your dosage of some medications two weeks prior to surgery as they may increase your risk for complications. You will have to quit smoking well in advance before the surgery.

What type of anesthesia is used?
Breast lift is often performed under general anesthesia so you are asleep throughout the procedure. It can also be performed using a local anesthesia and intravenous sedation.

What happens during the surgery? How is it performed?
The procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision (for full breast lift) following the natural contour of the breast. The incision outlines the area from which breast skin will be removed and defines the new location for the nipple. When the excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved to the higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is then 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.

What happens after the surgery?
You will wear an elastic bandage or a surgical bra over gauze dressings after the surgery. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a day or two, but the pain shouldn't be severe. Your surgeon will prescribe you medication to relieve discomfort.

Within a few days, the bandages or surgical bra will be replaced by a soft support bra which you will need to wear around the clock for 3-4 weeks, over a layer of gauze. The stitches will be removed after a week or two.

You can expect some numbness in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the swelling after surgery which will fade as the swelling subsides over the next six weeks or so.

How long will I be in the hospital?
You may be able to go home after a few hours. But some patients spend one or two days in the hospital, depending on the extent of the procedure.

When will I be able to return to work / normal life?
You should be up and about in 24 to 48 hours after the surgery. However, you should not return to work for a week or more depending on how you feel. You should avoid lifting anything over your head for 3-4 weeks. Yor surgeon may instruct you to refrain from having sex for a week or more. You should also avoid strenuous sports for about a month. This operation should not affect your ability to breast-feed since your milk ducts and nipples will be left intact.

What are the risks associated with breast lift surgery?
Some of the risks are:
• Bleeding and infection causing scars to widen
• Poor healing and wider scars in smokers.
• Unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts

How will my breasts look after the surgery? Will the incisions be visible?
Breast lift surgery will make your breasts firmer and more uplifted. The position of your areolas and nipples will be enhanced, and the size of your areolas will be aesthetically pleasing. The incisions from your breast lift surgery will heal and fade over time. It is important to realize, however, that the incision lines will be permanently visible. In some instances, they will eventually be only faint lines. Fortunately, the incisions for your breast lift are in locations easily concealed by clothing, even low-cut necklines.

How long will the results last?
Unless you gain or lose a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, your new breast shape should remain fairly constant. However, gravity and the effects of aging will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually every woman's breasts. If, after a period of years, you again become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a second breast lift procedure to restore their more youthful contour and appearance. However, women who have implants along with their breast lift may find that the results last longer.