Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, restores a more youthful appearance to a woman’s breasts. Over the years, breasts can lose their shape and firmness due to pregnancy, nursing, and loss of skin elasticity, causing them to sag. A breast lift will raise and reshape breasts, slowing the effects of aging and gravity. This procedure can also reduce the size of the areola.
A breast lift alone will not increase the fullness of the upper part of the breast; it simply allows removal of sagging breast tissue and repositioning of the nipple. For this reason, breast lifts are commonly performed in with breast augmentation to increase the fullness and improve the shape of the breasts.
How is breast lift surgery performed?
Breast lift surgery is occasionally performed in a hospital, are usually performed under general anesthesia.
The surgery may take between 2-3 hours. The incisions are around the nipple, vertically beneath the nipple, and sometimes also horizontally in the crease of the breast. The breast tissue is recontoured and some breast tissue and skin are removed. The nipple and areola are then repositioned. The skin is closed with dissolvable sutures.
Risks of Breast Lift Surgery
As with any surgery, there are possible complications. A patient may suffer an adverse reaction to the anesthesia (rare), or experience bleeding and infection following a breast lift, causing scars to widen. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit for a minimum of 4-6 weeks before surgery to minimize the risk of complications. Smokers are much more prone to delayed healing, wound breakdown, and possible loss of the skin of the nipple and areola.
Breastfeeding After Breast Lift Surgery
Because some milk ducts are disrupted during the surgery you may not be able to breastfeed following the surgery. Some women successfully breastfeed after having the surgery, but it is difficult to predict who will be able to.
After surgery, your stitches will be covered with tape and a surgical bra will hold the breasts in place. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild discomfort for a couple of days. The pain is generally well controlled with oral pain medication. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra all time.
After one week the tape will be removed. The stitches are placed under the skin and are dissolvable. The scars may be red and lumpy for a few months but will eventually fade and become less obvious. The procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts.
To ensure proper healing, plan to stay at home for at least a week before returning to work. You will need to avoid lifting anything over your head for three to four weeks and avoid strenuous physical activity for four to six weeks.
If you are planning a future pregnancy, it is advisable to postpone your breast lift as pregnancy will likely cause further stretching and droop to the breasts.
As with all cosmetic surgery, realistic expectations and emotional stability are important. Though breasts of any size can be lifted, women with smaller breasts enjoy longer lasting results.
Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, restores a more youthful appearance to a woman’s breasts. Over the years, breasts can lose their shape and firmness due to pregnancy, nursing, and loss of skin elasticity, causing them to sag. A breast lift will raise and reshape breasts, slowing the effects of aging and gravity. This procedure can also reduce the size of the areola.
A breast lift alone will not increase the fullness of the upper part of the breast; it simply allows removal of sagging breast tissue and repositioning of the nipple. For this reason, breast lifts are commonly performed in with breast augmentation to increase the fullness and improve the shape of the breasts.
How is breast lift surgery performed?
Breast lift surgery is occasionally performed in a hospital, are usually performed under general anesthesia.
The surgery may take between 2-3 hours. The incisions are around the nipple, vertically beneath the nipple, and sometimes also horizontally in the crease of the breast. The breast tissue is recontoured and some breast tissue and skin are removed. The nipple and areola are then repositioned. The skin is closed with dissolvable sutures.
Risks of Breast Lift Surgery
As with any surgery, there are possible complications. A patient may suffer an adverse reaction to the anesthesia (rare), or experience bleeding and infection following a breast lift, causing scars to widen. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit for a minimum of 4-6 weeks before surgery to minimize the risk of complications. Smokers are much more prone to delayed healing, wound breakdown, and possible loss of the skin of the nipple and areola.
Breastfeeding After Breast Lift Surgery
Because some milk ducts are disrupted during the surgery you may not be able to breastfeed following the surgery. Some women successfully breastfeed after having the surgery, but it is difficult to predict who will be able to.
After surgery, your stitches will be covered with tape and a surgical bra will hold the breasts in place. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild discomfort for a couple of days. The pain is generally well controlled with oral pain medication. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra all time.
After one week the tape will be removed. The stitches are placed under the skin and are dissolvable. The scars may be red and lumpy for a few months but will eventually fade and become less obvious. The procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts.
To ensure proper healing, plan to stay at home for at least a week before returning to work. You will need to avoid lifting anything over your head for three to four weeks and avoid strenuous physical activity for four to six weeks.
If you are planning a future pregnancy, it is advisable to postpone your breast lift as pregnancy will likely cause further stretching and droop to the breasts.
As with all cosmetic surgery, realistic expectations and emotional stability are important. Though breasts of any size can be lifted, women with smaller breasts enjoy longer lasting results.
Breast Reduction
Reduces breast size and improves physical and emotional symptoms caused by very large breasts.
Procedure
Breast reduction surgery, also referred to as reduction mammoplasty, reduces the size and improves the shape of the breasts. Typically, women who are candidates for this procedure have physical symptoms related to the weight or shape of their breasts. These symptoms include back pain, neck pain, and bra strap grooves in the shoulders. The incisions vary based on the breast size before the operation and the final post-operative size.
An incision is made around the nipple and areola accompanied by a vertical incision below the areola with or without a horizontal incision made in the crease below the breast. Short scar techniques are frequently applicable in breast reduction surgery and allow excellent reduction of size with improved shape while limiting the extent of the incisions.
For reduction of very large breasts, in some cases the nipple and areola may need to be surgically removed and reapplied as a graft. Removing and reapplying the nipple/areola tissue will result in the loss of nipple sensation and the inability to breastfeed.
Length
The procedure usually requires two to four hours of operating time depending on the technique chosen and the size of the breasts.
Anesthesia
The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia
Inpatient/Outpatient
Depending on the size of the breasts, type of anesthesia selected, and length of the surgical procedure, Dr Zibdeh prefers that his patients be hospitalized for 1-2 days .
Possible Side Effects
Prolonged swelling and delayed healing.
Risks
Risks associated with breast reduction include: unfavorable scarring, loss of nipple sensation, loss of ability to breastfeed, loss of nipple and breast tissue, unsatisfactory shape, and failure to achieve aesthetic goals.
Recovery
Typically recovery requires one to two weeks. Most patients return to normal activities within that period of time. Strenuous physical activities are discouraged for three to six weeks after the surgery.
Results
Most patients who undergo a reduction mammoplasty are pleased with the size and the shape of their breasts and are delighted with the improvement and lessening of the symptoms of pain and discomfort that they experienced due to the weight of their breasts. Breast reduction makes physical activities easier and patients enjoy their new appearance and ability to wear clothing that was uncomfortable or unattractive before the surgery was performed.
Procedure
Male breast reduction surgery reduces overly developed male breasts and nipples using liposuction and/or by surgically removing excess glandular tissue.
Length
Approximately 1-3 hours.
Anesthesia
general anesthesia , or intravenous sedation and local anesthesia are used.
Inpatient/Outpatient
This is an outpatient procedure and according to case .
Possible Side Effects
Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, and/or a burning sensation are possible.
Risks
Infection, fluid build-up, injury to the skin, rippling or looseness of the skin, asymmetry, pigmentation changes, excessive scarring if tissue was cut away, loss of nipple sensation, contour irregularities and in some instances the need for a second procedure to remove additional tissue is required.
Recovery
The patient may go back to work after seven days. More strenuous activity may be resumed after 3-4 weeks . Most of the swelling and bruising will disappear after three to six months.
Results
Permanent, although subsequent weight gain may cause the breast area to once again become larger.