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As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. A mastopexy lifts and reshapes the breasts when they have fallen after pregnancy, breast feeding or with time. Mastopexy can be combined with breast augmentation (breast enlargement with breast implants) to produce larger, firmer breasts.
Small amounts of breast sag can be corrected by breast augmentation alone, but when there are significant amounts of loose skin this needs to be removed. If breast implants are used the the amount of breast lift achieved depends on the size of the breast implant used ie the larger the breast implant or breast enlargement, the larger the lift. Breast augmentation using a larger implant may avoid the need for skin to be removed, which leaves additional scars.
If there is a lot of loose skin then the skin needs to be removed, which leaves a scar around the areola, and (depending on the amount of skin removed) vertically down from the areola and sometimes horizontally along the crease under the breast. The excess skin is removed, and the nipple is moved to a higher position.
Breast lift (mastopexy), with or without breast augmentation, requires a general anaesthetic, with the operation taking 2-3 hours, and is usually performed as a day-stay or overnight-stay procedure. Following mastopexy or breast augmentation it is important to have restricted light activities, with no lifting or heavy duties for 7-10 days. Most patients may drive again and return to work within 10 days after the surgery.