Mastopexy, or breast lift, is an esthetic breast surgery that reshapes and uplifts drooping breasts and enhances the bust. Breasts size (augmentation or reduction), contour, and elevation may be modified and corrected in the same procedure.
- May be combined with breast augmentation with implants or with lipofilling, or with breast reduction
- No pain
- Outpatient procedure
- Complete breast rejuvenation
BREAST PTOSIS OVERVIEW
This information sheet is issued by Dr. Vincent Nguyen, board-certified plastic surgeon in Paris, familiar with breast lift procedures.
It provides all the information about the surgery, scars, recovery, before and after comparison photographs, Social Security coverage and the costs of breast lift surgery.
What is breast ptosis?
Breast ptosis is defined as a drooping breast combined with sagging skin.
The breast position is too low on the chest. The breast looks disharmonious, deflated in its upper part.
4 grades define the seriousness of the ptosis:
- Grade 1 (mild ptosis): areola is above the crease underneath the breast
- Grade 2 (mild to moderate): areola is at the level of the crease underneath the breast
- Grade 3 & 4 (severe ptosis): areola is below the crease underneath the breast and looks pointing downward.
What causes breast ptosis?
Breast ptosis may develop:
- For congenital reasons: sagging breasts may appear as soon as puberty
- After massive or significant weight loss
- After pregnancy or breastfeeding (sagging and deflated breasts)
- As a natural consequence of aging
Breast ptosis may be isolated (with normal breast volume). If so, only a breast lift without implants is required.
Breast ptosis may also be associated with mammary hypertrophy. If so, a breast reduction will be performed.
If, on the opposite, it is associated with mammary hypotrophy (or mammary hypoplasia), breast lift may be combined with breast augmentation.
Dr Vincent Nguyen will evaluate your needs, discuss your expectations and your options to deliver the best results.
BREAST LIFT PRINCIPLES
The goal of a breast lift is to restore the areola to a more natural position and to reshape the breasts. After the procedure, the breasts are nicely rounded, uplifted and better proportioned. The bust looks rejuvenated.
Where are the scars after a breast lift procedure?
Your plastic surgeon will evaluate the seriousness of the ptosis, and the technique he will use will determine the location of the scars. There may be 3 different incisions (see pictures).
When can I get a breast lift?
You can get a breast lift as soon as the end of puberty. There will be no impact on pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Can a breast lift be performed alone?
When the ptosis is associated with a lack of volume (hypoplasia or mammary hypotrophy), the breast lift may be combined with a breast augmentation with implants or with lipofilling (fat injection). (See information sheet: deflated and sagging breasts)
DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGES OF BREAST PTOSIS PROCEDURES
BEFORE A BREAST LIFT PROCEDURE:
- Two preoperative consultations with a board-certified plastic surgeon will be conducted as well as a consultation with an anesthetist.
- You will get a mammography or/ and an ultrasound.
- Before and after comparison photographs will be taken.
- A post-surgical compression bra, wireless and front opening, will be prescribed.
- Preoperative instructions are as follow:
- Quit smoking at least one month before the surgery and up to 1 month after the surgery to avoid any complication or necrosis risk.
- Discontinue any anti-platelet or blood-thinning medication 15 days before the surgery.
BREAST LIFT SURGERY:
- It is performed under general anesthesia.
- The patient is in a sit-up position to achieve an optimal result.
- It lasts about 1h30 to 2 hours.
- Dr Vincent Nguyen uses the most advanced surgery techniques that avoid the use of drains, and performs the surgery himself on both breasts.
The final result is visible after about a year but the functional and physical improvements are immediate as soon as the first dressing is removed.
AFTER A BREAST LIFT SURGERY:
- This breast surgery is not a painful surgery. Only light analgesics will be prescribed.
- Patients may go home the following day or even on the same day.
- Swelling and bruising appear on the bust area the following days.
- No nursing care is required after the surgery.
- You may have a shower the day following the surgery but you can’t have a bath before a month.
- All sutures are made with absorbable material and under the skin, it is not necessary to take them off.
- A compression bra must be worn night and day for 6 weeks to alleviate tension on the scars.
- Avoid sun on the scars for at least a year.
- Most patients may go back to work 5 to 15 days after the surgery, depending on the nature of their job.
- You may resume physical activities after 6 weeks.
- Some patients may feel reduced areola sensitivity after the surgery. But they regain normal sensations gradually after 6 to 8 months.
- Follow-up consultations with Dr Vincent Nguyen will be scheduled (1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and a year after the surgery).
BREAST LIFT: PRICE AND COSTS
- As it is an esthetic procedure, there is no coverage by Social Security or Health Insurance Company.
- Part of the costs may be covered by Social Security in case of significant breast hypertrophy, breast asymmetry or breast malformation.
- The costs may vary depending on the patient, on the seriousness of the ptosis, on the scars, if it is combined with a breast augmentation or reduction procedure, on the location of the surgery, on the length of the procedure and other related expenses. The costs may vary from … to … (find all the costs on this website).
- Make sure to find a board-certified plastic surgeon expert in breast surgery who will evaluate your needs, discuss your expectations and your options to achieve the best results.
BREAST LIFT FAQs
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift surgery?
Breast lift surgery doesn’t prevent breastfeeding. But, after a severe breast ptosis treatment, the risk of not being able of breastfeeding is higher.
Does a breast lift alter breast and nipple sensitivity?
For a year after the surgery you may experience numbness, or hyposensitivity, in the lower part of the breast. It regains normal sensations gradually.
As far as the areola is concerned, when severe ptosis is addressed, there is a risk of permanent sensation loss.
Is it possible to get a breast lift without scars?
Sometimes, increasing the volume of the breasts with implants or with fat may improve the sagging. The size of the scars will then be reduced.
Is breast lift covered by Social Security?
Breast lift is not covered by Social Security as it is an esthetic procedure.
May I have a second breast lift?
Yes, you may need to have a second breast lift as you continue to age after the first procedure. The scars will then be the same ones.
May I get a breast augmentation after a breast lift procedure?
Yes, you may. If you have a breast augmentation with implants, the same scars will be used. There won’t be added scars for a breast augmentation with lipofilling.
If I want to get breast implants removed, may I have a breast lift during the same surgery?
Yes, it is frequent to have a breast lift after the removal of implants. Indeed, the implants have expanded skin which is sagging when they are removed. The breasts drop and need to be lifted.
Does breast lift increase the risk of breast cancer?
No, breast lift doesn’t increase breast cancer risks.
