Cosmetic Breast Procedures
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Mastopexy lifts and reshapes breasts. Weight loss, pregnancy and aging all can cause breasts to droop and lose their shape. Breast droop, called ptosis, can be corrected by mastopexy.
Mastopexy is a surgical procedure similar to breast reduction. Patients with breast ptosis have low nipple placement and excessive skin. These are two of the three anatomic problems also present in hypertrophic breasts. Mastopexy raises the nipple, removes excess skin and tightens the remaining skin.
Mastopexy can be combined with breast augmentation to restore breast shape, as shown in the illustration below.
Postoperative recovery from mastopexy is similar but quicker than recovery from reduction mammoplasty. Most patients may return to work or their other activities in three to seven days. Restrictions on bras and physical activity are the same as with breast reduction. The risks of this operation are similar to those in breast reduction. Both procedures leave similar scars, but those from mastopexy usually will be smaller.
