Breast Lift

Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the
new breast contour.

What does a breast lift do?

A breast lift, or mastopexy, can help restore firmer, more shapely breasts, improving the contours of your breast area and giving your breasts a more perky, youthful appearance.

What a breast lift won't do...

Breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of your breasts or round out the upper part of your breast.
If you want your breasts to look fuller or smaller, you might want to consider either breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery.

What causes breasts to sag or change shape?

Just like the facial skin, the skin around the breasts loses it's elasticity in a response to the gradual breakdown of the skin's support network, which causes it to become lax.
In addition, the suspension ligaments the attach the breasts to the chest wall weaken and stretch in response to gravity.

Breasts also enlarge during pregnancy and breast feeding, which further causes the skin to stretch. As the breasts reduce in size following pregnancy, the skin that was once stretched, is now loose and causes the breast to sag.

Lastly, fluctuations in your weight and even hormonal changes can cause your breasts to change in appearance. In combination, these factors can cause the breasts to droop and sag, or in some cases rotate in a downward direction. 

Is the breast lift procedure right for me?

Breast lift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

A breast lift is a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy and maintain a stable weight.
• You do not smoke.
• You have realistic expectations.
• You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts sag, have lost shape and volume.
• Your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous.
• When unsupported, your nipples fall below the breast crease.
• Your nipples and areolas point downward.
• You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas.
• One breast is lower than the other.

The consultation process.

During your initial consultation (which usually takes about an hour), your concerns, expectations and suitability for the procedure will be discussed. We will also discuss what type of incision technique will be most suitable to lift your breasts and achieve the results you desire.
The type of incision technique used in a breast lift procedure depends largely on the size of your breasts and the amount of ptosis (sagging) evident.

Varying degrees of ptosis:

Minor breast ptosis...

Moderate breast ptosis...

Severe breast ptosis...

Different types of breast lifts.

Before your breast lift procedure your Aesthetica plastic surgeon will access the degree of ptosis, or sagging of your breasts, to determine the procedure that is best for you.
There are generally three degrees of ptosis classified as minor, moderate, and severe, which are determined by the position of the areola (nipple) relative to the under-breast fold and the sternum.

A breast lift procedure varies according to the patient's ptosis (degree of breast sagging) which in turn determines the type of incision technique used.

The incision options are as follows:

Periareolar Incision Technique The periareolar technique involves a crescent, or half-moon shaped incision made around the top of the areola. This technique is a minimally invasive procedure that achieves a small degree of lift. Therefore, it is appropriate for individuals with smaller breasts or minor breast ptosis.	Circumareolar Incision Technique The circumareola technique involves a circular incision made around the areola. This technique is a minimally invasive procedure that achieves a small degree of lift. Therefore, it is appropriate for individuals with smaller breasts or minor breast ptosis.
Vertical Incision Technique The vertical technique involves a v-shaped incision that extends around the top of the areola and down the midline of the breast. Although this procedure is slightly more invasive, it achieves a large degree of lift. Therefore, this type of incision is appropriate for individuals with larger breasts and moderate to severe breast ptosis.	Anchor Incision Technique The anchor technique involves an anchor-shaped incision that extends around the top of the areola and laterally across the lower portion of the breast. Although this technique is the most invasive type of breast lift, it achieves the greatest amount of lift. Therefore, it is appropriate for individuals with large breasts and severe breast ptosis.

What happens during breast lift surgery?

Step 1 - Anaethesia.

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anaesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

anchor incision example

after the incisions are closed

Step 2 - Making the incision.

Your surgeon will carefully make an incision along
pre-marked lines.

After your doctor makes the incision:

• The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness.
• The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height.
• If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter.
• Excess breast skin is removed to compensate for a loss of elasticity.

Step 3 - Closing the incisions.

After your breasts are reshaped and excess skin is removed, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed. Some incision lines resulting from breast lift are concealed in the natural breast contours; however, others are visible on the breast surface. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases will fade and significantly improve over time.
Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly shaped breasts. Sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape may be used to close the skin.

Immediate Results.

The results of your breast lift surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize the fulfillment of your goal for breasts which have been restored to a more youthful and uplifted position.

Aftercare programme.

At Aesthetica we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive aftercare programme with every breast lift procedure. This programme includes a series of post operative consultations in which we will monitor your progress and make sure everything is progressing as it should be.

How much does a breast lift cost?

Every case is different and every patient has their own specific requirements and expectations, therefore it is hard to give an exact estimation.
You are most welcome to book a no-obligation consultation where your requirements will be discussed and the total cost can be properly ascertained.

---

Share this treatment with others...