Mastopexy

Breast Lift

Mastopexy (Breast Lift) Before & After Photos

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Our plastic surgeons perform breast lift surgery in Calgary to reshape the breasts and reposition the areolas for a more youthful breast appearance.

Technically called mastopexy, breast lift is often chosen by women from Calgary and other Alberta cities who have breastfed their babies, had larger natural breasts that have drooped over time, or who have experienced significant weight changes. In these cases, the deflated look or excess skin in the breast area can be disconcerting to the individual, who may desire aesthetic improvement.

Begin your personal transformation by requesting a consultation online to meet privately with one of our plastic surgeons, or call our office at (403) 452-7953 to schedule an appointment.

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About the Procedure

The breast lift procedure is performed under general anesthesia. It can be performed as an individual procedure or in conjunction with breast augmentation if breast volume is also a concern. During the breast lift procedure, the skin below the breast is generally removed to excise excess skin from the area. The nipple is then moved higher up on the breast to better situate it in relation to the new breast positioning. The skin above the breast is pulled around to create a swell and to tighten the remaining area of skin around the glands and fatty tissue of the breast for a more youthful appearance. The areolas can also be resized if necessary. Some doctors may also place small drains to help reduce swelling for the first day or so following surgery; these drains will be removed soon after in a follow-up visit less than three days after surgery.

Circumareolar Mastopexy

This type of lift procedure, often called a “purse string mastopexy”, is generally used for very mild degrees of breast ptosis or to reduce the size of the areola. The incision is made around the perimeter of the areola and a permanent suture is then used to raise the areola and decrease it’s diameter.

Circumvertical Mastopexy

This lifting procedure, commonly referred to as a “lollypop mastopexy” is best suited to women who have more significant breast ptosis, but do not present with a lot of excess breast tissue in the lower pole. The incision is made around the areolar and vertically down the centre of the lower aspect of the breast.

Inverted T Mastopexy

This procedure, often referred to as an “anchor mastopexy,” is best suited for women who have a significant degree of ptosis along with excess lower pole breast tissue. This procedure is essentially a circumvertical mastopexy with a horizontal incision along the base of the breast.

Recovery

The full recovery time after a breast lift is usually around a month, but patients can generally return to normal activity after 10 to 14 days. A supportive bra must be worn everyday for the full recovery period to ensure proper healing. Pain medication is prescribed for the week following surgery, as well as antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of infection. Although scarring is likely, most of the scars associated with breast lift surgery are readily hidden by a normal bra. These scars will fade over time to become almost invisible to the naked eye.

Frequently Asked Questions

A breast lift on its own makes no change to the volume of your breast tissue; you will come out of it with the same amount as you had going in. It does remove skin and reshape and reposition the breasts, and this can change your bra cup size. It's difficult to predict exactly how much your bra size may change after the procedure, because it depends on certain factors such as the amount of skin removed during surgery.

Yes, and this is a common choice among our patients. Many women will choose to add implants through breast augmentation during the same surgery. Breast lift is also a common component of a mommy makeover, which usually includes either a mini- or full tummy tuck, too.

During your consultation, please feel free to discuss combining procedures, because it may be the best way to achieve your aesthetic goals.

A breast lift will not affect your ability to have children, but you may not necessarily maintain your results if you become pregnant after surgery. Pregnancy can change the shape of the breasts.

Breastfeeding is also an important consideration. If you foresee breastfeeding in the future, be sure to bring this up with your surgeon, because it may affect the technique used during your procedure.

When planning to exercise after any breast enhancement surgery, it's always best to ease back into it and progress slowly. In the first week, this means your activity will be limited to walking. By week 2, you may feel up to returning to the gym, but listen to your body and avoid any heavy lifting or activity that puts strain on your chest.

If you are an athletic person, you will need to modify your routine for at least a month. In general, you may gradually return to sports and high-impact activities after 6 weeks.

During a breast lift procedure, it is common for surgeons to make small adjustments in volume to give the patient better symmetry. When the procedure is a breast lift with no augmentation, the surgeon does this by performing a reduction on the larger breast. When the procedure also involves adding breast implants, the surgeon can use implants of 2 different sizes to achieve the same effect and get a symmetrical result.

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