Breast lift

It is a surgical procedure performed in order to lift woman’s breast due to their ptosis.

Mastopexy involves repositioning the nipple-areolar complex, as well as lifting the breast tissue by excising skin.

In our clinic we perform mastopexy since early 90’s. We perform Per-areolar, vertical and inverted T mastopexy.

History

Breast lifting history is densely close to breast reduction history, because these two methods are quite similar. The main difference is that in case of breast lifting the incision is smaller and mainly the skin is excised.

The first to perform breast lifting was Michael Poussin in 1897. He made incision above areola, excised skin, glandular and fat tissues, but breast reduced in size and the outcome was not satisfactory. He was much better in breast reduction along with it’s lifting, but repositioning of nipple-areolar complex was asymmetrical.  

This problem was partly solved in 1921 by American surgeon Max Thorek who excised nipple-areolar complex while breast lifting and then implanted them back.

Nowadays there are three ways of lifting – Per-areolar, vertical and inverted T, which have their own indications in different cases of breast’s ptosis.

Indications

Mastopexy is indicated for women with post-lactation or due to age breast ptosis, and ptosis developed due to extreme weight loss: The breasts become pendulous, skin stretches and the nipple goes down.

Breast lifting might be performed in combination with breast augmentation with silicone implants. In case of breasts’ brief  ptosis augmentation would be quite enough to solve the problem.

It is proved that mastopexy can not cause the cancer, every patient has to have mammography or ultrasonic examination and consultation with doctor.

Operation

Operation is performed under general anesthesia during 1-3 hours (depending on method).
Breast lifting is performed by tissues’ repositioning, the nipple or areola will be transferred to normal position and the breast’s shape would be improved.
The incision might be made around the areola, vertically, underneath the areola and in the crease under the breast.
Sometimes drainage is needed, which is taken off in 2-4 days.

Post-Operation Period

The patient is discharged to ambulatory treatment on the second day.
The patient gets back to work in 3-5 days.
Sutures are taken off in 10-12 days. In some cases the sensitiveness of nipple-areola complex might be lost for a while.

Heavy activity is allowed in 1 month.

Scars are finally formed in 12 months.

 

Photogallery


The patient before and 1 month after per-areolar mastopexy.

 


The patient before and 1 week after vertical mastopexy.

 


The patient before and 2 weeks after inverted T mastopexy.

 


The patient with breasts’ ptosis correction with breast augmentation, using silicone implants.

 

  Next “Breast asymmetry”