Mastopexy is a procedure to lift and improve the shape of sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning the nipple to a higher position on the breast mound.
Breast size may also be addressed during this surgery. Women who wish to be made somewhat smaller in size can have a small amount of excess breast tissue removed (see Breast Reduction), while women who wish to increase breast volume or replace breast tissue which has atrophied with aging, may have a breast implant inserted at the time of surgery (see Breast Augmentation). This combined procedure is called an Augmentation-Mastopexy. Asymmetries, when one side is larger than the other, may also be corrected.
The breast lift is a highly individualized procedure. Your surgeon will discuss your needs to determine which approach is best for you. The presence of scars on the breast may be considered a disadvantage of the procedure, but this trade-off is necessary to achieve an improved breast shape. The length of the scar relating to the lift is determined by the severity of sagging (amount of skin to be removed and how much the nipple must be raised). Scar length may range from one that simply goes around the areola, one that has an areolar scar plus a vertical scar from the lower areola to the breast crease ("lollipop” scar), or one that has a lollipop scar plus a varied length horizontal scar near the breast crease (the “anchor” scar).
The Procedure
Breast lift surgery is performed at the Facial Surgery Center under general anesthesia by a board certified anesthesiologist. It takes three to four hours to perform depending on the complexity of the procedure. In some cases, an internal scaffold (“internal bra”) may be added for support to aid in longevity.
CareCredit helps with patient financing. Learn more about your financing options now.