A mastopexy is a breast lift.
The aim is to redistribute your existing tissue into a more youthful, aesthetic shape.
scars
There are two aspects to a mastopexy: the first is to reposition the nipple-areolar complex, placing back at the apex of the breast, the second is to reshape the breast tissue to restore the contour of the breast and elevate some of the volume of the breast back to the upper pole. The position and length of the scars, and the extent of the dissection within the breast tissue will depend on how far the nipple needs to move and how much reshaping is required. There will be a scar around the areola, and potentially vertically down towards the fold. If the redistribution is more significant there may be a short extension along the infra-mammary fold.
Wounds heal in the first few weeks, but scars take up to a year to mature. To ensure you achieve the best aesthetic result you will be given advice in the clinic regarding scar management with moisturising, massage and sun exposure protection.
risks
With any surgery there is risk of infection, poor wound healing and post-operative bleeding. Making sure that wounds are dry before closure is critical, but occasionally there is some oozing that requires a return to theatre in the immediate post-operative period. Very occasionally you will have drains in that are removed the following day.
The operation is designed to preserve the blood and nerve supply to the nipple, though there is a theoretical risk of interruption to either. This surgery necessitates an incision around the areola. Whilst a loss of sensation to the nipple is extremely rare, some change in sensation, increased or decreased, is more common.
post surgery
As with a breast reduction, a mastopexy can ‘reset’ the breast, but gravity cannot be cheated. From the first day post surgery the forces trying to pull the breast down begin again. You must wear a supportive, non-underwire bra day-and-night for 6 weeks post surgery. During that time you must not exercise, lift heavy objects or drive. I recommend that you continue to wear a supportive bra whenever you exercise thereafter. My preferred partner in this is Lipoelastic who will help you size your new bra before surgery.
There will be dressings and the bra on after surgery. These dressings will be changed a week later at which point you can usually start to shower. You cannot soak in a bath for another week. In most cases the sutures will be absorbable and you will be told if yours need to be removed.
breast cancer screening
Occasionally I may need to remove a small amount of breast tissue in the reshaping. It is my preference that you consent to have any tissue that is removed sent away for histology. I believe that this is the gold-standard for care. If you are over 40 years of age I would recommend that you have a baseline screening mammogram in the 12 months prior to surgery. A mastopexy does not interfere with your normal breast cancer screening program, but you must inform the screening service that you have had a mastopexy at your next appointment. I would also advise that you keep your GP aware of any surgery you undergo.