Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Mastopexy is a surgical procedure for
correcting drooping or sagging breasts. Sometimes a mastopexy is combined
with a breast implant to create a fuller breast than a lift alone would
accomplish. In cases of minor ptosis (sagging), sometimes a Breast
Augmentation alone can correct the problem.
Mastopexy is designed for women with drooping or sagging breasts. In some
cases, these women's breasts have stretched the skin and less volume. (An
analogy would be to compare this condition to having too much wrapping paper
and not enough contents.) This condition may be due to a considerable weight
loss, pregnancies, or breast-feeding. (Note that if you're planning on
having more children, it may be a good idea to postpone your breast lift.).
This procedure is done on an outpatient basis taking approximately one to
three hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the surgery
required.
There are two major types of mastopexies. The first is a donut mastopexy,
which is used to correct minor forms of ptosis. It involves an incision on
the superior (upper) half of the areola and excising the skin above it.
Sometimes I will do this just in the office under local anesthesia. The
procedure usually leaves a very inconspicuous scar on the upper half of the
areola, and
The second type of mastopexy is a variation on a vertical mastopexy. This
often requires an incision around the entire areola that sometimes extends
inferiority to the inframammary crease. The breast tissue is incised
internally, sutured to the chest wall muscle and tightened internally. This
is a more complicated procedure that takes approximately 1.5 hours per
breast to carry out.
Most mastopexy patients experience surprisingly little pain. After a major
mastopexy, some patients say that the breast feels tight, like when they
were nursing. It is important to wear a sports bra afterwards for several
weeks to help shape the breast. Most breast scars fade quickly and become
faint with time.
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Renaissance Surgery
Center | 73-180 El Paseo | Palm Desert, CA 92260 |
