How is breast lift surgery done?

Also known as a mastopexy, a breast lift is surgical procedure performed by raising and reshaping the breasts. The breasts are elevated on the chest which involves lifting the nipple and the areola to a higher position. A breast lift is ideal for patients who are happy with the size of their breasts but not with their present position or sagging appearance.

This surgery is normally performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. There are several types of breast lift surgeries, from the very small to standard procedures. The smallest of the breast lift procedures include the removal of small amounts of skin in the shape of a quarter moon from above the areola. As a result, the nipple lifts slightly. Larger procedures involve the removal of a donut shape of skin which results in the lifting of the nipple slightly higher, but this technique doesn’t elevate the entire breast. Lastly, a standard breast lift procedure removes skin from the lower part of the breasts and repositions the nipples and the breasts to a higher position on the chest. Generally, when the skin is removed, a portion of the areola is also removed in order to make it smaller when necessary.

Recovery

For patients who opt to undergo breast lift surgery without combining any other surgery such as inserting breast implants, the recovery time is usually minimal. Since a breast lift is primarily a skin operation involving little, if any work on the breast tissue and no work on the chest muscle , most patients experience minimal amounts of discomfort during recovery. They can get back to work within a few days. For full activities, it might take around a week or two depending on the size of the breasts and the extent of the surgery