Important

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Mastopexy: The Breast Lift

Many women suffer from sagging breasts. The mastopexy, also known as a breast lift, is a surgical procedure that raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the breast tissue. A breast lift gives the patient a more youthful shape and appearance while also increasing the firmness of the breasts. A properly performed mastopexy will lift the breasts back into their proper place, however it will not change the size of the breasts.

Breast Lift 101

An incision around the aerola is used for a breast lift procedure. The surgeon will lift and reshape underlying breast tissue to improve the shape and firmness of the breasts. Following this, the surgeon will reposition the patient’s nipples to a more desirable, natural height. If necessary, the surgeon will alter enlarged aerolas and make them smaller. To compensate for the loss of elasticity, excess skin is removed during a breast lift.

Mastopexy with Implants

Many factors may explain why breasts sag and fall out of place. A breast lift will help with the positioning of the breasts, but not the size. If a patient wants to increase her breast size then it would be recommended that she undergo a breast augmentation along with the mastopexy.

If a patient elects to undergo a breast lift and a breast augmentation then the implants will be placed underneath the muscle after the breast lift is performed. The breast augmentation is performed in the same manner as it would be performed on a patient that did not have a breast lift.

The patient photographed is a 50 year old woman who elected to have a breast lift and breast augmentation. After the breast lift was performed she had Inspira 345 cc silicone implants placed underneath the muscle. The procedures lifted the patient’s breasts and got rid of the excess skin. Her nipples were pointing down prior to surgery; after surgery, her nipples sit at a desirable height.