About Breast Lift Surgery
Are You a Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
About the Operation
What to Expect after the Surgery
Your Recovery
The results

About Breast Lift Surgery

In contrast to the mastopexy procedure, the principle goal of breast augmentation and breast reduction procedures is to change the size or volume of one’s breast. For some women, especially whose breasts have only slightly sagged, a breast augmentation alone may provide an adequate lift and firming of the breast. For other women, a breast augmentation and a lift may be performed simultaneously if both a lift and an increase in breast size are desired.

Are You a Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?

During your consultation Dr. Javaheri will ask you about your general medical history including details about any previous breast surgery procedures.

The best candidate for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally stable women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish.  Women with small, sagging breasts usually achieve the best results. Breast of any size can be lifted, but the result may not last as long with heavy breasts.

At your consultation, it is important that you discuss your questions, expectations and concerns honestly with Dr. Javaheri. He will examine your breasts and measure them in order to ascertain the degree of sagging. He will also show you where the nipple and areola will be repositioned to, the site of the scars, and how your breasts may be shaped after the procedure.

If you considering becoming pregnant, it is recommended that a breast lifting procedure be postponed until after your pregnancy and breast-feeding. Though a breast lift does not normally interfere with future pregnancies or breast-feeding, it is important to understand that having a breast lift will not prevent one’s breasts from drooping again if presented with the same circumstances that made them sag initially.

If you are a smoker you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Regular smoking constricts blood vessels resulting in decreased blood flow to a given area, which can prevent normal healing.

About the Operation

Prior to surgery, in order to determine the exact position and shape of the proposed breasts, a marking pen is used to draw on the breasts. Once in surgery, stretched and loose skin is removed. The nipple and remaining underlying tissues are moved to a new, higher location. The suture line or incisions depend upon the degree of sagging. For women who have a moderate degree of sagging, a breast lift can be achieved with a technique that confines the incision to the area around the areola (the dark pink skin around the nipple). For women with more severe degrees of sagging, the suture line will extend in a vertical line down toward the breast crease. Dr. Javaheri will be able to inform you at the time of the consultation which situation will apply to you.

A mastopexy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure and normally under general anesthesia. The procedure usually lasts approximately 2-3 hours.

What to Expect after the Surgery

For several days after your surgery, you will probably experience some moderate pain, which can be controlled with the use of prescribed medication. The need for medication is normally greatly reduced after four to five days. After your surgery, you will be advised to actively move the joints in your feet, knees and hips on a regular basis as it is important that you maintain good circulation in your legs.

If drains are used, which is rare, they will be removed the following day. Normally the bandages are left on until your first visit to Dr. Javaheri following the procedure. Dr. Javaheri will also instruct you to wear a sports support bra.

You will also experience some swelling and bruising of the breasts following your surgery. The bruising normally lasts approximately two to three weeks. While most of the swelling will have disappeared by this time, some minor swelling may still be present for up to three months.

Your Recovery

After surgery you may notice that the breasts feel unusually firm, particularly along the edges of the incisions. This sensation can last for several months, and is the result of the normal healing process laying down elements of scar tissue to facilitate the healing process. You will be instructed to massage your breasts in order to speed-up the recovery process.

You may also notice in the first few weeks following your surgery that your breasts appear unnaturally high. As the healing process progresses, your breast will return to a more natural and desirable position.

It is normal for the tactile sensation in your nipples and surrounding skin to be reduced after surgery. This is as a result of surgical trauma to the nerves usually returns to normal in a few months, though permanent numbness may occur.

As with any cosmetic procedure, there will be some scarring depending on the degree of sagging and the technique used. These scars can be quite lengthy and take many months or even years to heal. You should expect the scars to be red, raised, lumpy and even itchy to begin with they should fade and flatten with time as this is part of the healing process. Please keep in mind that this may take up to two years for this healing process to complete. To expedite and facilitate this process, daily massaging of the scars during this period will be advised.

The Results

A breast life procedure will give your breasts a much more youthful appearance.  The nipple will be elevated and excess skin removed making the breast feel firmer. Decreased nipple sensation should be expected but this resolved in most patients in several months.

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