What is a breast lift / mastopexy?
Breast lift / mastopexy is surgery to change the shape of the breast to a more youthful appearance. Women suitable for mastopexy have the appropriate volume of breast tissue for the breast size they want to be, but the breast skin is too loose, giving a more pendulous ("droopy") appearance. The height of the nipple is also normally lower than an ideal, and therefore requires moving to a higher position. These changes frequently occur after pregnancy or weight loss, however this can be the normal shape of some womens breasts.
What scars will I have?
Almost all techniques involve making a circumferential scar around the nipple. Depending on the size and shape desired this may be all that is required, however normally a vertical scar from the nipple down towards the fold under the breast (the infra-mammary fold) is also needed. Occasionally a transverse scar will have to be placed which lies along the infra-mammary fold, particularly with larger breast lifts, however this is more frequently the case when reducing the size of a breast (see breast reduction).
Will the sensation in my nipples decrease?
In the short term there can be some reduced sensation which recovers quickly, however with larger breast lifts there can rarely be some degree of permanent decreased sensation.
Will I be able to breastfeed?
If you give birth after breast lift surgery you should be able to breastfeed as normal. In fact problems with breastfeeding normally only occur after very large breast reductions, not breast lift surgery.
Breast lift / mastopexy is surgery to change the shape of the breast to a more youthful appearance. Women suitable for mastopexy have the appropriate volume of breast tissue for the breast size they want to be, but the breast skin is too loose, giving a more pendulous ("droopy") appearance. The height of the nipple is also normally lower than an ideal, and therefore requires moving to a higher position. These changes frequently occur after pregnancy or weight loss, however this can be the normal shape of some womens breasts.
What scars will I have?
Almost all techniques involve making a circumferential scar around the nipple. Depending on the size and shape desired this may be all that is required, however normally a vertical scar from the nipple down towards the fold under the breast (the infra-mammary fold) is also needed. Occasionally a transverse scar will have to be placed which lies along the infra-mammary fold, particularly with larger breast lifts, however this is more frequently the case when reducing the size of a breast (see breast reduction).
Will the sensation in my nipples decrease?
In the short term there can be some reduced sensation which recovers quickly, however with larger breast lifts there can rarely be some degree of permanent decreased sensation.
Will I be able to breastfeed?
If you give birth after breast lift surgery you should be able to breastfeed as normal. In fact problems with breastfeeding normally only occur after very large breast reductions, not breast lift surgery.