BREAST LIFT (MASTOPEXY)

Dr. Rowley offers over twenty years of experience in mastopexy, or breast lift plastic surgery.
Clear expectations and open communication are essential for success.

WHY MASTOPEXY?

Loss of breast volume and ptosis (droopiness), especially after pregnancy or massive weight loss
This droop always is accompanied by ptosis or droop of the nipple-areolar complex
Often, there is associated loss of volume of the breasts.

BRIEF SURGICAL FACTS

This procedure generally takes 90 minutes to two hours and is done under general anesthetic in the office operating suite or a surgicenter. Most patients will need 5-10 days off work and 4-6 weeks for full recovery and return to full activity.

A breast lift is often done as a combined procedure (such as a “Mommy Makeover”) with a breast augmentation or breast reduction.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

In a mastopexy, the nipple-areolar complex is always repositioned or lifted and skin is then removed to tighten the breast skin envelope. The amount of scarring depends on the amount of ptosis or droop of the breasts. Scars can be minimized by making a scar only around the areola (called a periareolar mastopexy). However, more extensive scarring may be necessary, including a vertical scar and possibly an inframammary scar to excise (remove) more skin. An implant may be placed at the time of the mastopexy to correct loss of volume. Nicotine restrictions also apply to this procedure.

DR. JANE ROWLEY’S THOUGHTS ON BREAST MASTOPEXY

“Unfortunately, many patients who come in seeking a mastopexy expect their breasts will look as if they never had big breasts to start with. In other words, they hope to look like a small-breasted person who has had implants. However, once you have had breast tissue followed by a volume loss, it is very difficult to make breasts look like someone who was never big-breasted to start with. It is very important that patients have a realistic view of this procedure. Tightening the skin and placing an implant are opposing forces, and the laws of physics are not on our side. As we tighten the skin to lift the breasts, the implant will oppose that, and tend to weigh them back down. In addition, these patients may have very thin, inelastic skin to start with, and patients who desire a very large implant may face difficulty with recurrent droop or recurrent ptosis because of the skin quality. It is very important to me to spend a long time talking to my patients about what they are hoping for and set realistic expectations with this procedure so they can have a positive outcome.”

BREAST LIFT: Before and After

Below you may find untouched before and after photos of several patients who have granted permission to show them here.
While we protect the identities of our patients, please be advised that by their nature these photos are of a sensitive nature.

The results shown below may reflect combined procedures, including breast lift and augmentation.