Over time, a woman’s breasts often change, many factors can bring about a loss of youthful shape and firmness to the breasts, and loss of skin elasticity. These causes include: pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations and weight gain, ageing and natural gravity; heredity and genes also have a lot to answer for. Sometimes a woman in her teens may experience loose, sagging breast tissue due to simple genetic heredity. Breasts that have lost their once firm uplifted contours can have a negative effect on a woman’s self-confidence and self-image. A breast lift – technically known as a mastopexy – is a surgical procedure whereby a plastic surgeon restructures breasts that have lost their original shape and appear to have an element of sagging or loss of volume to them.
A breast lift procedure raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. Sometimes the areola (the pigmented skin surrounding the nipples) can become enlarged over time; a breast lift will reduce this appearance as well. Where an increase in volume and size is desired, breast implants may also be inserted in conjunction with a breast lift.
Breast lift procedures are also appropriate for women as well who wish to address asymmetrical breast correction.
Breast lift surgery procedure steps
A breast lift without implants is a highly individualised procedure achieved through a variety of incision patterns and techniques. The appropriate technique for your individual case will be determined on your breast size and shape, the size and the position of your areola, the degree of your breast sagging, and your skin quality and skin elasticity as well as the amount of
extra skin.
Step 1 – Anaesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
The incision pattern for a breast lift will be determined based on individual breast size and shape, excess skin and skin elasticity of the individual patient in order to achieve realistic goals.
The incision may include a circle around the areola, a line extending down the lower portion of the breast from the areola to the crease underneath the breast and a line along the crease of the breast.
Not every patient will require all of the incisions mentioned. It is possible to perform a breast lift through an incision around the areola only, or through a combination of incisions around the areola and a vertical incision down the lower portion of the breast.
Most commonly, three incisions, including one along the breast crease, are used. The combination length and extent of incisions depends on the amount of excess skin to be removed and the quality of the skin.
Once the excess skin is removed, the breast tissue is reshaped and lifted and the remaining skin tightened as the incisions are closed.
Some incisions resulting from a breast lift are concealed in the natural breast contours; others are visible on the breast surface.
Non-removable sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly shaped breasts; sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape may be used to close the skin
Incision lines are permanent but in most cases fade and improve significantly with time.
Step 3 – Results
The results of breast lift surgery are immediately visible. Over time post-surgical swelling will subside and resolve, and incision lines will gradually refine in appearance. Patients experience an immediate satisfaction at their results, and experience fulfilment in self-confidence and personal body image in achieving their goal for an uplifted breast profile.
