Female breasts go through intense changes and ptosis in shape, size and position through the years as a result of weight change, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breast ptosis is not only a natural consequence of the above, as it is also common in younger ages.
Breast Lift or Mastopexy is the cosmetic surgery procedure that restores and repositions breast shape. Women seeking an aesthetic result that will provide them with a youthful-looking and firmer breast can consider a combination of breast lift with augmentation surgery.
There are many variations to the design of the incisions for a breast lift that depend on the excess skin. In most cases, the incision runs from the base of the areola to the inframammary fold (LeJour Mastopexy technique). Then, excess skin is removed and the remaining breast tissue is drawn together, eliminating any skin wrinkling around the nipple. Finally, breast incisions are closed with the use of dissolvable sutures and the breast is supported with a surgical bra. In small breasts, the lift involves an incision around the edge of the areola (peri-areolar mastopexy). In cases of bigger breasts an incision from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease may also be necessary for achieving the best possible results (inverted “T” mastopexy).
In breast augmentation surgery, the implant is placed in accordance with the surgical technique chosen: either under the breast (inframammary), under the arm (transaxillary) or around the areola (periareolar).
The most popular technique is called Subfascial, whereby the implant is placed below the fascia and above the pectoral muscle.
On the other hand, the Dual Plane technique is highly recommended to patients with relatively small or atrophic and saggy breasts; this time, the implant is placed under the pectoral muscle up top and below the breast tissue on the bottom.
There rarely are any complications following a breast lift (mastopexy). Scarring, loss of sensitivity and numbness around the nipples are possible side effects that usually fade over time.
There are usually no complications following breast augmentation surgery. In rare cases, local complications and adverse outcomes are associated with breast implants and capsular contracture, which eventually leads to their removal and re-augmentation surgery, or –even rarely- implant rupture, a few weeks after surgery. In such cases, the implant has to be removed and replaced in a few months’ time.
More rarely, the body might reject the implant within the first few weeks postoperatively. In that case also, the implant has to be removed and replaced in a few months’ time.