A Breast Lift or Mastopexy is a procedure done to improve the appearance
of sagging or drooping breasts by "lifting". Drooping of the breasts occurs because of several factors, most commonly the
enlargement and subsequent decrease in size of the breast during pregnancy. Other reasons are weight loss, lack of support
of heavier or larger breasts and poor skin elasticity. Some young women may have early sagging of the breasts without ever
being pregnant because of these latter factors. The basic problem is stretched, loose excess skin.
During your consultation regarding a breast lift, your doctor will
evaluate the size of your breasts, quality of the skin, presence of stretch marks and discuss with you the location and length
of scars that will result from the incisions. The latter is most significant because in some cases of much skin excess, the
scars involved can be extensive.
Following mastopexy the breast contour changes from flat and long
to a rounder breast with more upper fullness. Because of this the breast may appear smaller even though no breast tissue is
removed during a mastopexy.
Some women who choose to undergo mastopexy may also desire a change
in breast size. In these cases a mastopexy can be combined with a breast reduction to decrease the size or breast augmentation
with an implant to increase the size.
It is important to remember that following this procedure the breasts
are still subject to the forces that caused drooping in the first place so that weight gain and loss, pregnancy gravity
and heredity will still influence your skin and drooping may recur over time. You are advised therfore, to wear a supportive
brassiere as much as possible after this procedure.
