What is breast lift (mastopexy)?
Breast lift surgery, known as Mastopexy in the medical literature, is the procedure of removing the excess skin from the breasts of women, reshaping the tissue around the breast and lifting it. With this surgery, women have straight, symmetrical and natural looking breasts that are compatible with their body size.
How is a breast lift (mastopexy) plastic surgery decided?
It is generally preferred because the breasts are sagging or the nipples are pointing downwards. It is not a surgery related to the size of the breasts, but breast augmentation or breast reduction can be combined with breast lift (mastopexy) to have breasts in the desired shape and size with a single surgery.
Breasts change with age. They lose their elastic and tight structure. There are many reasons for this situation. The main ones can be listed as follows:
- Pregnancy,
- Weight gain and loss,
- Gravity,
- Genetic factors,
- Wrong bra use
Thanks to the breast lift surgery (mastopexy), the breasts that have lost their volume and are in a sagging state are reshaped, giving patients a younger and fuller appearance. If the patient is planning to become a mother in the near future, it is recommended to delay the breast lift surgery (mastopexy). Because during pregnancy, the breasts may lose their elastic structure and become deformed. The patient may also experience problems with breastfeeding. In some patients, it was observed that adequate milk production did not occur.
Process before breast lift (mastopexy) surgery
Before breast lift surgery (mastopexy), some blood and radiological examinations should be performed on the patient. The current physical condition of the patient is checked by reviewing the medical history of herself and his first-degree relatives. It is investigated whether there is breast cancer in the family. All medications that the patient has used recently are learned. It is very important for the patients to clearly share their aesthetic expectations about their breasts with their surgeon.
What should the patient do before the breast lift (mastopexy) surgery?
It is recommended that the patients quit smoking and don’t consume alcohol 2-3 weeks before the surgery. Supplements that increase bleeding such as aspirin, vitamins, herbal medicines and herbal teas should be avoided 1 week – 10 days before the surgery.
After the surgery, the patient should have comfortable clothes to wear.
There must be someone to accompany the patient and take her home.
The patient should maintain her current weight and eat healthy by paying attention to what she eats and drinks.
How is breast lift plastic surgery (mastopexy) performed?
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. During the surgery, which lasts an average of 2-3 hours, the sagging skin on the breast is removed and the breast tissue is shaped. The techniques used vary according to the patient’s condition and the surgeon’s abilities. The technique specially selected for the patient determines the scars that appear according to the location of the incisions in the breast. Usually, the patient goes home the same day or the next day.
During the reshaping of the breast tissue, the dark area on the nipple (areola area) is reduced in size if necessary. Afterwards, the excess breast skin is lifted and the nipples are brought to a higher position. Breast skin is brought together and incisions are made; it is closed with sutures, surgical tape or skin adhesives.
What the patient should pay attention to after surgery and recovery
It takes an average of 5-7 days for patients to return to work. This period may take 1-2 weeks in patients who have heavy work or sports activities as a part of their life. After the surgery, the incisions on the breasts where the stitches are made are closed with special waterproof tapes and the patient wears a sports bra. If necessary, small tubes (drains) can be placed in the incision areas of the breasts to drain the fluid (seroma) that may accumulate in the breast after the surgery. There may be swelling for two to three weeks and numbness for several months. It is normal for the patient to feel pain in the first few days and the painkillers we recommend are used. Lying on your back, avoiding heavy activities and sports, avoiding sexual intercourse and protecting the breasts from the sun are important for healing.
What is the cost of breast lift (mastopexy) surgery?
It is against the law in Turkey for the healthcare organisations including private practices to indicate prices online for procedures, treatments or consultations. Please contact us by calling or texting ?+90 541 334 3484 (WhatsApp available) or ☏ +90 212 257 1515 for the average cost of the procedure or any other enquiries related to the procedure. You need to send some photos to the Patient Care Coordinator to be examined by Professor Yazar to get the exact price.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any risks associated with breast lift surgery (mastopexy)?
Like any surgery, breast lift surgery (mastopexy) has various risks. However, with a good surgeon selection and patient care, these risks are minimised. These can be listed as follows:
- Bleeding,
- Infection,
- Opening or healing problems in wounds
- Partial or complete loss of the nipples or the dark area (areola) around the nipple,
- Scar,
- Numbness in the breast,
- Irregularity or asymmetry in the shape or size of the breast,
- Difficulty in breastfeeding
As in all aesthetic surgeries, success in this surgery is based on the knowledge and experience of the surgeon. The risks of breast lift surgery (mastopexy) performed by a good surgeon are almost zero.
Will breast lift surgery (mastopexy) prevent me from breastfeeding?
If the milk ducts on the nipple are not damaged, the patient will not have a breastfeeding problem. In excessively saggy breasts, the nipple may be excessively displaced downwards. In such cases, when the nipple is moved to its normal place, the milk ducts may be damaged and may cause breastfeeding problems.
Will the skin cracks on my breast disappear?
If the cracks are where the skin to be removed from the breasts, they will go together with the discarded skin.
Can I lift my breasts by doing sports?
The breasts are connected to the rib cage with ligaments. Sports exercises do not strengthen these ligaments, but they can provide fullness in the upper part of the chest muscle. Sports alone are not enough for breast lift (mastopexy).
What can I do to prevent my breasts from sagging?
Since we cannot stop time, we cannot prevent the body from deforming with aging in the course of life. However, doing sports and not losing or losing excess weight can delay sagging and prevent it to some extent.
How to understand that the breast is saggy?
The diagnosis of breast sagging and the degree of the sagging are revealed as a result of examination and measurements. However, in general, the distance between the end of the breast tissue and the nipple can give information about sagging. The nipple should be 4-5 centimetres above the lower line of the breast. A shorter distance indicates sagging of the breast.
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