(Mastopexy)
A breast lift is a surgical procedure to reshape sagging and deflated breasts. Breasts often change with age, weight fluctuations, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breast lift surgery addresses these changes by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying breast tissue. This procedure lifts the nipple position and achieves perkier, more-firm breasts. Breast lifts are often combined with breast augmentation to add volume to the upper portion of the breast.
Experts at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center have advanced training in breast lift. When considering breast lift, always look for a surgeon with significant experience. A good rule of thumb is to see a surgeon recommended by your primary care doctor, family members or friends who have had a positive experience.
You should feel comfortable with the surgeon. You should ask how many such procedures the surgeon has done, and you should review before and after photographs of their past procedures. Make sure to ask your cosmetic surgeon about their credentials, training and how many procedures they have performed.
Breast lift surgery (also known as a mastopexy) is a highly individualized procedure achieved through a variety of incision patterns and techniques. Regardless of specific incision patterns, breast lift surgery involves removing excess skin and raising the nipple and areola (the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple). The size of the areolar is often reduced during the procedure. Patients with smaller breasts and minimal sagging may be candidates for a mastopexy procedure that involves smaller incisions than a standard breast lift requires. While there are many variations to the procedure, a consultation with a Cleveland Clinic physician is an excellent way to establish your individualized treatment plan.
To help prepare for a mastopexy, cosmetic surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center may recommend a baseline mammogram before surgery and another mammographic examination some months after surgery to help detect post-operative changes in your breast tissue.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of breast lift surgery. You should avoid aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs prior to surgery that can cause increased bleeding. Your plastic surgeon will provide you with additional preoperative instructions.
Breast lift surgery is performed in an outpatient setting, usually under general anesthesia and typically takes two-and-a-half to three hours. The procedure can be achieved through a variety of incision patterns and techniques.
Experts from Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center will determine the appropriate technique for you based on:
All types of breast lifts require an incision to remove excess skin so that the remaining skin can be repositioned. There are several types of surgery techniques available that differ in the incision made and the procedure used to lift the skin.
For best results, experts at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center often recommend combining breast augmentation with breast lift (mastopexy) surgery. The two procedures are generally performed at the same time (although in certain patients, they are mostly performed as two separate surgeries).
Though results from your breast lift surgery are immediately visible, breast shape and position continue to settle over a few months. Incision lines are permanent but will fade over time.
While the results of your surgery will be long lasting, your breasts can continue to change over time due to aging and gravity. You will be able to retain the results of your mastopexy by maintaining your weight and keeping a healthy lifestyle. It is important to continue to follow-up with your Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center surgeon to ensure the best, long-term results.
Breast lift surgery is usually performed in an outpatient setting. Be certain to plan for someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you at least the first night following surgery.
Following your surgery, your breasts will be bruised, swollen and sore for one to two weeks. You’ll need to wear a surgical bra for the first week after surgery, followed by a support bra for several weeks after that.
Post-surgical swelling will resolve over time, and incision lines will fade. You may experience some loss of sensation in your nipples and breasts following mastopexy surgery, with sensation gradually returning over a few weeks or months. However, some patients experience numbness for up to a year. On rare occasions, loss of sensation can be permanent.
All surgical procedures carry some risk. Although rare, risks associated with breast lift surgery include:
Breast lift surgery incisions do leave scars, but they will fade with time (with maximum fading occurring in around one year). Scar locations include an incision around the nipples, vertically down the breast and sometimes horizontally in the breast fold.
Insurance rarely covers the cost of elective cosmetic surgery and procedures. Please call 216.444.4004 and ask to speak with one of our financial representatives who can explain payment options, including CareCredit financing.
