FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A BREAST LIFT?
Mastopexy surgery, also known as Breast Lift or Boob Lift, is an operation to correct drooping breasts without drastically altering their size. The procedure is very similar to Breast Reduction Surgery. But in an uplift procedure, your breasts are reshaped by tightening the skin, without removing much breast tissue. This means your breasts will remain the same size, but be redesigned to look firmer and perkier. If you aspire to bigger breasts, it's recommended to use implants and combine your Breast Lift with a Breast Augmentation procedure.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A BREAST LIFT?
The surgery is performed under general anesthetic and usually takes around 1 hour. The surgeon will make an incision around your areola and another vertical cut underneath it. Excess skin will then be removed and the breast tissue reshaped. The last step is to lift your nipple to a higher position.
If you have decided on breast augmentation or a breast reduction in addition to having a mastopexy, the whole procedure may take up to two hours. Your surgeon can also reduce the size of the areola to suit your new breast size with the implants.
You can expect to feel your breasts swollen and hard, with a discolored look after the breast uplift surgery. But you should be able to go home the same day and recover at home.
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A BREAST LIFT?
Overall, drooping or sagging can happen as a result of pregnancy, dramatic weight loss, or the natural aging process. Reasons why an uplift might be an option for you:
● Your breasts look flatter and more prolonged than they were before;
● You have no imminent plans of carrying a baby or breastfeeding – keep in mind that pregnancy stretches your skin and will increase the risk of dropping again;
● You have to wear a bra to keep the nipples above your breast crease;
● Your nipples are always downward-pointing;
● Your breasts look mismatched (one lower than the other);
● The current appearance of your breasts has been affecting your self-esteem.
Note that even though breasts of any size can be lifted, results are best for women with small breasts. Because large breasts are heavier and naturally more prone to sagging, and uplifts may not last as long.
WHAT WILL THE SCAR LOOK LIKE AFTER MY BREAST LIFT?
After a thorough examination, your surgeon will advise you which is the most appropriate incision approach for your case, depending on your breast size, shape, and the aesthetic you are looking for. Scars should never be visible when you’re wearing a bra or bikini. To sum up, there are three main techniques with different scarring patterns:
● Incisions made around your areola – recommended for slim breasts that only need a little lift;
● Incisions made in a vertical line down to the crease below your breast and around your areola – recommended for breasts with mild-to-moderate sagging, that only need a slight nipple repositioning;
● Incisions made in a vertical line to the crease below your breast around your areola, along the crease in an anchor shape, and around your areola - recommended for wide breasts with a lot of sagging and nipple displacement.
While the incision is thin, the breast lift scars will be quite noticeable, with a red, raised appearance and scar lightening will take several months up to a year after surgery.
HOW IS THE RECOVERY AFTER A BREAST LIFT?
Although the first few days can be dreadful, the results of a breast uplift improve gradually over the first 6 months. Your breasts will feel softer and more natural, and the scar less visible. In most cases, you should be able to go home the same day after the surgery. Depending on your field, you should be able to return to work after 2 weeks and return to normal activities within 3 to 4 weeks. As one of the main concerns with mastopexy is scar quality, you should rigorously follow dressings protocols and wear a surgical bra for at least 3 months. Your surgeon will draw a customized recovery timeline for you, detailing each level of activity allowed per week and foreseeing the prescription of pain reliefs, when needed.
WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF MY BREAST LIFT?
A full recovery from a breast lift takes a few weeks and final results won’t truly show for a couple of months. You should wait to buy new bras at least 6 weeks after surgery. Because it usually takes 6 to 12 weeks for the breasts to achieve their final shape.