Just like all of the soft tissues in the human body, breast tissue may loosen and sag within time.
Weight changes, pregnancy and lactation make breast tissue loose its firmness and projection quicker. The resulting deformity is called “breast ptosis”. In a ptotic breast, the problem is generally downward displacement of the breast volume and a relative enlargement of the “skin envelope”. Due to skin sagging, the nipple-areola complex shifts to the lower pole of the breast.
To correct such a deformity, a surgical operation called “mastopexy” is employed. A mastopexy is simply restoring the youthful breast shape, removing the excess skin and moving the nipple – areola complex to the desired position. This operation can be combined with reduction or augmentation of breast size, if needed. Depending on the changes to be done, the procedure takes 1 to 3 hours. One-night hospital stay may be needed. The patients return to daily activities within a week. Just like the other aesthetic operations, final result becomes clear by the end of a year.
Introduction to Breast Lift Surgery
Breast lift surgery also known as mastopexy is a procedure which helps getting rid of excess breast tissue and helps patients ending up with a firmer and an aesthetically pleasing appereance. Breastfeeding, aging, weight fluctuations can cause the breasts to become saggy over time. The treatment will help tightening, lifting and reshaping the breast look.
Having a breast lift surgery will help the patient improve physically and mentally. For example, the clothing fit and appereance will look much better. Also, the breast shape will be firmer and tighter, which will provide the patient to have a more feminine and an elegant look. And eventually, this will lead to self and social confidence, ending up with enhancing the quality of life.
Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
-Patients who have loss of volume and lost shape
-Patients who have sagginess and droopiness
-Patients who have asymmetrical breasts
-Patients who have nipples pointing downward are good candidates for breast lift surgery.
The ideal candidates should;
-have stable weight.
-have a healthy lifestyle.
-not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
-be preferably non-smoker.
-preferably have good skin quality in order to protect the outcome in the long term.
Expectations vs. Real Outcomes
It is very important for the patient to understand the limits of the surgery. This treatment only helps changing the breast size and shape, it doesn’t reverse time or significantly change the whole upper body look.
This surgery involves scarring, eventhough in the long term, the scars will become faded, they will still exist. It is important for the patient to accept this fact.
In the long term, the breasts will loose its firmness and tightness due to gravity and aging factors. So, patients cannot expect to permanently keep the immediate surgery results.
Preparation for Breast Lift Surgery
Before the surgery, first of all, the patient needs to have a very detailed face to face consultation with their surgeon. They need to explain their medical background in detail and the surgeon needs to inform the patient about what to expect and how the surgery process will be carried out. Both the surgeon and the patient need to be transparent about their expectations and what can actually be achieved. The surgeon will guide the patient about the risks of the surgery, the treatment plan and give out instructions for the surgery. Patients need to go through a series of health tests including a mammogram in order to see if they are eligible to have surgery.
It is also very important to pursue a healthy lifestyle before and after the breast lift surgery. It would be preferred if the patient stopped smoking at least 2-3 months before the surgery, as smoking will delay the healing process and will have a negative effect on the blood circulation. If not, the patient should stop smoking at least 7 days before the surgery.
It is also crucial to have a stable weight. If the patient has weight fluctuations post surgery, it will lead to sagginess of the breasts very soon. Patients need to stop medications like aspirins or other anticoagulants as well as green tea and vitamin E 10 days before the surgery.
Step by Step Surgical Process of Breast Lift Operation
The breast lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The patient needs to stay 1 night at the hospital. Once the patient is put to sleep, first the incisions are made. For the breast lift surgery, generally inverted T (anchor type) technique is preferred. This type of incision is made around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease. This way, the excess skin will be removed, the breast tissue will be tightened and the areola&nipple is repositioned to a higher level in order to end up with a firmer look. Then, the incisions are closed, taped and bandaged.
The breast lift surgery can be combined with breast augmentation. Because once the breast tissue is removed, the breasts will become smaller. So, if the patient is not happy with the size, then in order to add volume, implants can be considered. In cases where the breast tissue is quite excessive, reduction can be combined together with the lift.
Recovery After Breast Lift Surgery
Day 1: Right after the surgery, the breasts will be taped&bandaged and the patient will be wearing a bra corset. The patient will have drains and according to the blood discharge, it can either be removed on the next day or a few days after the surgery. The patient might feel mild pain and soreness after the surgery, this wears off in around 2-3 days. The breasts will start to swell up.
Day 3: The first post op check up will be done on the 3rd post op day. The tapes and bandages will be renewed. The patient can take a shower with the bandages before the check up and can even wet the tapes. It is crucial to keep the corset bra on at all times.
Day 7: The swelling and bruising will start to wear off. The patient won’t probably feel any pain no more. But, they should still rest as much as possible.
Day 10: The patient can return to their daily routine. However, they should continue to rest as much as possible. They should continue to sleep a bit elevated on their backs.
Day 15: The patient can slowly start exercising. No heavy lifting until 2 months post op. Easy cardio exercises are allowed. The patient shouldn’t try to move arms upwards too much.
1 month: The swelling will still continue but the breasts will start to settle. Patients can continue their physical activities like swimming, pilates or jogging but still shouldn’t do heavy lifting.
Patients can switch to wearing normal bra.
3 months: The results will finally start to show itself. The healing process will continue until 1 year is completed.
Signs of complications to watch for;
If the patient experience excessive swelling, unusual discharge or warmth around the operation area, they should immediately contact their surgeon.
If the patient feels extreme sharp pain, they should contact their surgeon as well.
Risks and Complications of Breast Lift Surgery
Scarring: As this is a surgical procedure, scarring is inevitable. But, with proper wound care, the scars will become almost invisible in time.
Change of sensation around the breast: Some patients experience temporary or permanent changes in sensation. This is dependent on the severity of the process. For example, if free nipple technique is applied, then probably the loss of sensation will be permament.
Asymmetry: While surgeons attempt for the most symmetry as possible, of course slight differences in both breasts can be seen.
Infection: This is always a possibility. Surgeons should use antibiotics during and after the surgery in order to minimize the risk. The patient should also follow all given instructions in order to prevent this issue as well.
How to Handle Complications?
The patient should immediately contact their surgeon’s team if they are concerned about an unexpected sharp pain, color changes in breast tissue or discharge.
It is crucial for the patient to attend all their follow up checks. So, the surgeon can monitor the healing process.
In case of a complication like hematoma, a surgical intervention might be needed. How to Choose the Right Surgeon for the
Breast Lift Surgery?
The patient should make sure that the surgeon is board certified (for example European Board Certification). Also, it would be best to make sure that the surgeon has experience and skill in this specific field when it comes to breast surgeries.
During the consultation, the patient should ask for before&after photos of similar cases and should also examine patient reviews online before their consultation. Furthermore, the patient should review the number of breast surgeries that the surgeon has performed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift Surgery
How long does the surgery take?
The breast lift surgery takes around 2 hours to complete.
What is the average cost of breast lift surgery?
In our clinic, breast lift surgery prices start from 5390 Euros. The prices range from the quality of the surgeon’s work to complexity of the procedure and where the surgery is carried out etc.
What is the recovery time for the breast lift surgery?
Patients generally go back to their daily routine about 10-15 days after the surgery. However, they shouldn’t perform strenuous activities until 1 month post surgery. The swelling will start to resolve around 1 month after the surgery. However, healing process is unique to each specific patient.
Will there be visible scars?
Yes, however when 1 year of healing process is complete, the scars will look very faded and will improve a lot in appearance.
Can I breastfeed after the breast lift surgery?
The breast lift surgery can potentially affect the breastfeeding capacity. This depends on the severity of the procedure. This should be discussed with the surgeon before the operation.
What are the risks involved with the breast lift surgery?
Just like any surgery, breast lift operation has its own risks as well. Generally, these are sensation problems around the nipple, infection, bleeding or poor healing. Discussing these risks with the surgeon will help the patient understand what to expect.