Mastopexy
What is mastopexy?Mastopexy, popularly known as breast-lift, is a very popular operation in cosmetic surgery.Mastopexy allows the lifting and contouring of sagging breasts and the modification of the shape and the size of the areola. Who is the mastopexy operation indicated for?The women who come for this kind of operation are mainly the ones whose breasts have lost their original shape and volume due to pregnancies, breast-feeding, gravity force and ageing process.Breast-lift is particularly indicated for women with small and pendulous breasts because, in case of very large breasts, the cosmetic result achieved can be later compromised by the effects of gravity. Are there age limits to undergo mastopexy?There are no age limits to undergo this kind of surgery, but it is preferable to wait for the complete development of the breasts and to postpone the operation when planning pregnancies, because pregnancy causes the skin to stretch and this might thwart the results achieved.What surgical interventions can be performed together with mastopexy?Mastopexy can be performed alone or in association with other surgical techniques, such as additive mastoplasty, reductive mastoplasty or other jobs.What are the risks and the complications of this kind of operation?Breast-lift is a relatively simple surgical procedure. When this operation is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, experienced in breast contouring, the results are usually very good. However, it is a real surgical procedure whose complications (bleeding, infection) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved only if the intervention is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery and within duly qualified facilities.In order to reduce the risks of complications, it is anyhow essential to follow the advice and the instructions given by the surgeon carefully before and after the operation. Smokers should reduce the use of cigarettes because smoking may increase the risk of complications and slow down the recovery. What does the preoperative examination consists in?Breast-lift is a very customized kind of surgery that, as such, needs a meticulous specialist examination.During the first examination, the surgeon will assess the conditions of your breasts, making the suitable measurements, and show you the most appropriate surgical procedure for your situation. The surgeon will also assess your physical condition in order to exclude the presence of troubles (such as high blood pressure, clotting or healing disorders) which might affect the final result of the operation. Before the operation you will receive specific information about the preoperative and postoperative diet and the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. At the end of the examination, the surgeon, in tune with you, will choose the most suitable breast size and shape for your silhouette and the most appropriate surgical procedure for your situation. If the breasts are small and sagging but have not lost their volume, mastopexy can be sufficient. If, on the contrary, the sagging breasts have lost their volume, completely or partially, or if they are very large, it is advisable to perform mastopexy, in combination with additive or reductive mastoplasty, respectively, in order to give back shape, volume and firmness to the breasts. What kind of anaesthetic is given?Mastopexy is normally performed under general anaesthesia and one or two-day hospitalization.Small mastopexy operations can be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation (which means that you will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain) and in outpatient care. Where are the incisions made?Depending on the kind of operation (small, medium, large mastopexy), the incisions may be made only around the areola or extend vertically down to the submammary sulcus and along the lower fold of the breast (the so-called anchor-shaped or inverted T incision).Mastopexy will leave permanent scars which, however, will be hidden by the bra or the swimsuit.
How long is the mastopexy operation?The operation lasts from 1 hour and a half up to about three hours; it is absolutely painless and ends with a small dressing and the use of a bra.What happens during the post-operative period?During 48 hours following the operation of mastopexy you will have to rest up.During the first two days, swelling and ecchymoses may appear around the treated area. Very seldom may bleeding, infection, keloidal scars and sensibility troubles in the areola and the nipple occur (especially among smokers). Starting from the third day, you will be able to resume your normal life, avoiding, nevertheless, tiring activities, saunas, sweat-baths and sunbathing. After 7-10 days, you will be able to resume work, provided that it is not excessively tiring. Three weeks after the intervention, you will gradually resume all your normal activities, including the sports activity. What kind of result can be achieved by mastopexy?The results of a mastopexy operation are normally very good and long-lasting but not permanent, in that they will be always influenced by your lifestyle (weight gain, weight loss, smoking, pregnancies, etc.) and by the inevitable effects of the ageing process and gravity.If you wish to take this subject further, we advise you to visit the mastoplasty and mastopexy FAQ page, where you will find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by the patients. |
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Chirurgia-plastica-estetica.it Prof. Mario Dini Chairman and Director of Plastic Surgery Dept. - University of Florence |
