Breast Lift / Uplift Surgery (Mastopexy)

What is breast uplift surgery?

This is an operation to lift and reshape sagging breasts, giving you a firmer, more youthful-looking bust line. Many women report a significant increase in confidence after undergoing the breast lift procedure. The pros and cons of different mastopexy techniques are discussed in this video.

What can't a breast lift do?

Breast lift surgery cannot make small breasts larger or reduce the size of large breasts. The procedure is designed to reshape the tissue you already have. See our breast enlargement surgery or breast reduction surgery pages if you would like to increase or decrease the size of your bust.

What does the breast uplift procedure involve?

Your surgeon will remove some of the loose skin in the lower part of your breasts. This will tighten the skin from on the lower portion of your breast. Your nipple will be moved into a higher position to create a firmer shape and more "pert" profile. The operation will take between 1 and 2 hours to complete. You will require a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay in hospital. There are several different types of breast uplift (mastopexy). The best one for you depends on the position of your nipple and how much excess skin you have. This is a guide to the different types of breast uplift (mastopexy).

Crescent mastopexy

In this procedure a moon shaped crescent of skin is removed from above the areolas of your nipples
This results in an elevation of your nipples position of between 2-4cm

Advantages	Disadvantages
Scarring limited to the junction of your normal skin and the upper half of your areola	Crescent mastopexy only produces a limited amount of nipple elevation and reduction of skin excess

Peri-areola Mastopexy

In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed
This results in tightening of the skin and a limited elevation of your nipple

Advantages	Disadvantages
Scarring limited to the junction of your normal skin and all the way around the outside of your areola	Crescent mastopexy only produces a limited amount of nipple elevation and reduction of skin excess

Vertical Scar mastopexy (lollipop scar)

In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed together with a strip of skin below your nipple
This results in tightening of the skin in the lower part of your breast and a limited elevation of your nipple

Advantages	Disadvantages
A greater amount of nipple elevation is possible than in the previous techniques The skin in the lower part of your breast can be tightened more than in the previous techniques	This technique leaves a scar coming downwards from your nipple towards the fold under your breast

Short transverse scar mastopexy

In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed together with a strip of skin below your nipple and a short area of skin across your natural breast fold
This results in tightening of the skin in the lower part of your breast and a greater degree of elevation of your nipple

Advantages	Disadvantages
A greater amount of nipple elevation is possible than in the previous techniques The skin in the lower part of your breast can be tightened more than in the previous techniques	As well as the lollipop scar this breast lift technique will leave a scar stretching cross ways in the fold under your breast This scar is shorter than in a full transverse scar mastopexy and is not usually too visible as it is hidden under your natural breast tissue

Full transverse scar mastopexy

In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed together with a strip of skin below your nipple and a segment of skin above your natural breast fold
This results in greater tightening of the skin in the lower part of your breast and a greater amount of elevation of your nipple
This technique is normally only used if you have a significant amount of loose breast tissue
This normally occurs only after you have lost a considerable amount of weight or if your breasts became very large when you were pregnant or breast-feeding

Advantages	Disadvantages
A greater amount of nipple elevation is possible than in the previous techniques The skin in the lower part of your breast can be tightened more than in the previous techniques	This technique leaves a scar coming downwards from your nipple towards the fold under your breast and also stretching across the natural breast fold under your breast This scar can be visible in low cut clothing towards the middle and on the outer aspect of your chest

Your recovery

Following breast lift surgery you will need to wear a good support bra in the weeks following your operation and to aid your recovery. Most people do not find the procedure too painful and simple pain killing tablets such as paracetamol are usually enough to control any pain. It is important that you avoid any strenuous activity for the first four weeks and you should allow yourself up to eight weeks to recover fully. The stitches are absorbable but their ends will need to be trimmed at about one week following surgery.

Things to be aware of

A breast lift reshapes your existing breast tissue. It does not add or remove breast tissue. If you would like more volume in your breasts you will need to have a mastopexy combined with a breast implant.

Your results

Breast uplift surgery is generally regarded as a permanent solution to loose breast tissue. However it is important not to gain or lose too much weight after surgery as this will affect the appearance of your breasts. It is not ideal to get pregnant after a breast lift procedure as this may alter the appearance of your breasts.

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Breast Uplift Surgery (Mastopexy)