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BREAST UPLIFT / MASTOPEXY

This operation lifts up the breasts which have “sagged”, but without making them bigger or smaller. It is also used to improve breasts which have an unusual shape.

The commonest reason for having this operation is where a woman has had children, or lost weight, and the breasts have become droopy, with the nipples lying lower than the breast crease. Often the skin of the breast seems stretched, and with the contents of the breast having shrunk, the skin no longer fits nicely around the breast tissue. The aim of the operation is to reduce the amount of skin and redrape it so that it gives the breast a youthful and pleasing shape.

THE OPERATION

Whilst it is not possible to recreate surgically the natural supporting structure of the breast, it is possible to reshape the breast into one which looks more youthful and feels more firm. Pleats of surplus skin are removed from underneath the breast, the breast itself is remodelled into a tighter cone and the nipples are repositioned at a higher level so that they lie at the points of the tightened breasts. Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple). If the breasts are too small as well as droopy, their size can be increased during the operation by placing silicone breast implants underneath the tightened breasts. Many women seek mastopexy when their families are complete so if you are planning to have further children it may be a good idea to postpone the operation as pregnancy is likely to stretch the breast again and reduce the effectiveness of the procedure.

This surgery is normally carried out under a general anaesthetic and will often involve an overnight stay in hospital depending on the extent and size of the procedure. Your surgeon will need to mark the size and shape of the breast while you are standing and following the operation you may find that you have two small tubes emerging from each of your breast so that any collection of blood can drain. These will remain in place for a short period of time.

LIMITATIONS

Because it is not possible to recreate the natural attachment of the breast to the tissues underneath, a mastopexy alone will not greatly increase the fullness of the breasts above the nipples. Fullness above the nipples can be achieved, however, by increasing the size of the breasts with silicone implants. The extra weight of the silicone implants may accelerate the return of the droopiness of the breasts and in any event there is a tendency for the breast to sink downwards as time goes by.

RISKS

This is a good operation to improve the appearance of droopy breasts but you would be left with scars , possibly some numbness of your nipples and you may not be able to breast feed again. Mastopexy can be carried out by a number of different techniques and the scars will differ accordingly.

Risk of chest problems particularly if you are a smoker and a small risk of thrombosis of veins in your legs , particularly if you are taking a contraceptive pill. Rarely bleeding from the broken blood vessels can occur after the operation, which requires treatment in the operation theatre under another anaesthetic. Occasionally, infection can cause part of the wounds to break down which prolongs the healing period and worsens the quality of the final scars . Some people have an inborn tendency for scars to stretch and some people produce scars which remain thick, red and irritable for a long time.

If silicone implants are used you will need to refer to the leaflet on breast augmentation which will discuss the issue of breast implants and the potential complications in much more detail.

AFTER THE SURGERY

Your surgeon may encourage you to wear a firm bra or dressing following surgery .You should refrain from strenuous physical exercise including swimming, for a month and you will probably require at least two weeks off work. Over the next 6 to 12 months the scars will gradually fade from red to pale. It is not possible to reshape droopy breasts without significant scars for although the use of breast implants alone will improve the fullness they will not deal with any significant drooping. Breast lift will not last forever and the effects of gravity, pregnancy and weight gain will take their toll, as will time.