Surgery News & ResourcesBreast Lift (Mastopexy)Breast Lift (Mastopexy) A breast lift is a procedure that not only raises the breasts higher, but can also make them look larger, because in lifting and firming them, it increases their projection (how much they “stick out”). You can also combine a breast lift with the insertion of breast implants if you wish. Breast lift (mastopexy)
techniques Concentric (donut) breast lift If your breasts are smaller and less sagging, this would be the technique of choice. From around the nipple and areola, a donut-shaped piece of skin is removed. This enables the breast surgeon to move the nipples upwards. Then the remaining skin is sutured around them to establish their new position. Vertical breast lift This is a modification of the concentric technique. The breast surgeon will place another incision which runs down under the breast from the nipple to the breast crease. From here, another strip of skin can be removed. Then the edges are sutured together, and this firms the breast even more than the concentric technique alone. Anchor-shaped breast lift If your breasts are larger and more sagging, this would be the procedure of choice. The surgeon will make the same incisions as for the concentric and vertical techniques, plus another one which runs along the underneath of the breast. Looked at as a whole, these incisions have the shape of an anchor. Then extra skin is removed as in the previous two methods, the remaining skin sutured in a more tightened shape, and the nipple and areola repositioned higher up on the breast. Facts about breast lifts They take anything from 1 to 5 hours, according to which method is used and exactly what needs to be done. You’ll be going home the same day. Sometimes it’s done in a hospital, when much excess tissue needs to be removed, and then you’d stay one night to be monitored. You should discuss the whole thing in detail with your breast surgeon beforehand, and he’ll advise you as to any foods you should avoid, medications or over-the-counter products to use or avoid, whether you need to lose some weight first, etc. In the first few days afterwards, your breasts will hurt some, but the pain is controlled by medication your cosmetic surgeon will prescribe for you. There’ll be dressings on your breasts and these will be removed after a couple of days. After that you’ll need to wear a surgical bra for a few weeks, to protect and support the breasts in their new position. In the first day or two post-op, you should rest, but on the 2nd or 3rd day, start moving around to some extent. Total bedrest won’t be necessary, and in fact could be harmful. You’ll want to promote good blood circulation so as to prevent any blood clots. There’ll be some bruising which will recede in a month or so. You can resume normal activities after a month or so. If your job is a quiet one, you could be back at work after a week or so. Stitches will be removed after a couple of weeks. Don’t be concerned if you feel some numbness around the nipples at first. In any surgery, nerves can be affected but they usually calm down after a few weeks, and full feeling will be restored. You’ll see your new look right away, but it could be as much as a year before your breasts are completely settled into their new position. Scars will fade and subside over a few months and at the end of perhaps a year will be fully healed. Breast lift results are not lifelong. We’re all subject to the force of gravity and the effects of aging. A future pregnancy will also possibly cause further sagging. If you have a breast implant done at the same time, the outcome will be more long-lasting. And if you maintain something close to your ideal weight, with a healthy diet and consistent moderate exercise, you’ll be blessed with perky breasts for a long time to come. Finding a good cosmetic surgeon Since cosmetic surgery has become so popular in the last 10 years or so, some doctors have taken short cut training to take advantage of this at a disservice to the general public. You want a properly trained and experienced cosmetic surgeon, not one who might gain his basic experience on you! Choose a plastic surgeon who’s certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and one who’s a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). While you should by all means listen to your friends and acquaintances who may have had cosmetic surgery and want to recommend to you their doctor you should do your homework too, and check the doctor’s credentials. Some questions to ask when interviewing plastic surgeons
Article submitted by: Sara Goldstein, info@e-prsource.com, 17301 W. Colfax, Suite 275, Golden, CO, USA 80401 Stay up to date on Surgery News by subscribing to our FREE SurgicalTechSuccess.com Newsletter: For your convenience, we have provided a Google Search box to search for additional Surgery news on the net: Return to Surgery News Main Page
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