Breast Lift
Find a beauty therapist/salon for a Breast Lift >>
As women age their breasts will begin to sag or droop. Loosing weight, pregnancy and breast feeding can also have an effect on firm breasts - the fibrous bands that support the breasts will break down and cause the skin to stretch, allowing gravity to pull them down.
Some women will be extremely unhappy with their sagging breasts and decide to have breast lift surgery (or mastopexy) to restore the former, fuller appearance of their bust. Although the surgery doesn’t increase the size of the breasts, it should increase the firmness. Breast augmentation (breast enlargement) can be done at the same time as breast lift surgery if the patient wants bigger, firmer breasts.
What does breast lift surgery involve?
The surgeon will remove excess skin from around the areola (the darker tissue surrounding the nipple) and sometimes under the breast too. The breast is modelled into a tighter cone shape and nipples are repositioned at a higher level.
Breast lifts are usually performed under general anaesthetic, however sometimes the surgeon may use local anaesthetic – this will be discussed fully before the surgery. The patient will have a full consultation to talk over the procedure and express any concerns they may have.
The surgery will take anywhere from one to three hours and there are several different techniques that can be used. Again, this will be discussed thoroughly with each individual during the consultation. When expectations are realistic, patients tend to be happy with their new breasts and feel more confident about the way they look.
After the procedure
Patients will feel tired and sore for about 2 to 3 days after the surgery and there will be some bruising and swelling around the breasts. A light dressing will need to be worn for about two weeks, after this time it can be removed and the breasts can be cleaned.
Patients should expect some loss of feeling in their nipples after surgery, however this usually fades as the swelling lessens. Some patients may find this loss of sensation lasts a year or so, and in others it can be permanent (this is rare though).
Most patients are able to go back to work after about one week, but strenuous activities should be avoided for up to two weeks. The scars will be pink for at least two weeks and may take several months, or even years, to fade. Patients should expect permanent scars, although the more they heal the better they should look. Follow up visits in the months after surgery should be made to check the progress.
Risks
As with any cosmetic surgery, there are always some risks involved. Below are some of the risks involved with breast lift surgery (however these risks are infrequent):
- Bleeding and infection can cause scars to widen
- Assymetric nipples
- Permanent loss of sensation in the nipples
- Breast feeding may not be possible after surgery
How long does breast lift surgery last?
Breast lift surgery will not last forever and the sagging caused by ageing, gravity and weight fluctuations will eventually return. However after the surgery the breasts will look noticeably firmer until these changes occur.