Breast lift surgery, or mastopexia, overview

What is mastopexia ?

Mastopexia, also called breast lift, is a surgical procedure designed to lift up the breasts and compact breast tissues. This procedure is also commonly referred to as breast ptosis surgery. Breast ptosis is breast tissue sagging. Whether tissue sagging is natural, genetically fostered or resulting from pregnancy, aging or weight fluctuations, it is not a disease.

Preparing for mastopexia

Mastopexia is performed under general anesthesia, it requires a preoperative consultation with the anesthesiologist. A mammogram is also required before surgery. Since mastopexia is a cosmetic surgery, the preoperative evaluation is essential to assess the patient’s needs, expectations and to determine an optimal operative plan.

The day of the surgery

Once the patient is asleep, the surgeon performs an incision in order to tighten the breasts an remove excess skin. Depending on the severity of tissue sagging, the surgeon can use an incision around the areola and add on or two incisions to address more severe degrees of ptosis : a vertical incision running from the bottom of the areola to the infra-mammary fold and an incision in the infra-mammary fold. The procedure is 1.5 to 3 hours long. Once completed, the patient is monitored in the recovery room for a few hours.

Days and months following surgery

After surgery, mastopexia patients have to wear a compressive bra during a few months and avoid wearing underwire bras in order to damage the scars. Wound healing can be improved with light massages of the scars and silicone dressings. In order to avoid prolonging healing, return to work, exercise and heavy lifting should be progressive during the first few months. Sun exposure is highly detrimental to scars with a pinkish color.