Breast Lift in Scottsdale & Phoenix, AZ
(Mastopexy)

What is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy)?

Mastopexy is a surgical procedure for lifting and reshaping sagging breasts. Aging, pregnancy, weight loss and gravity can all cause breasts to sag. By trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissue, breasts can be made to sit higher on the chest and be firmer to the touch. In addition, the nipple and areola can be repositioned or resized to further enhance breast appearance. Because mastopexy does not change breast size, it is often combined with breast augmentation or reduction.

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Breast Lift Procedure

Mastopexy is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia and usually takes 1 to 3 hours. Depending on the size and shape of the breasts, as well as the degree of sagging and amount of excess skin, one of the following types of incisions is often used:

• Two rings, one larger than the other, around the areola
• A keyhole shape, around the areola and down to the breast crease
• An anchor shape, beginning in the breast crease and extending up to and around the areola

The first type of incision (above) is used for small breasts and leaves the least amount of scarring; the third type is used for breasts with significant sagging.

After the incisions are made, breast tissue is removed and reshaped to achieve the desired breast contour. The nipple and areola are usually moved higher on the breast or resized. Excess skin is trimmed to create a tighter, more defined appearance.

Candidates For Mastopexy

An eligible mastopexy candidate is in good overall health, maintains a stable weight, and has realistic expectations about what mastopexy can do. A woman who chooses to undergo mastopexy has one or more of the following:

• Sagging breasts
• Breasts that have lost shape or volume
• Breasts that are flat or elongated
• Nipples or areolas pointing downward
• One breast lower than the other

A woman planning to have (more) children should not undergo mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing can counteract its benefits.

Breast Lift Before & After Photos

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What are the risks involved with breast lifts?

Breast lifts are major surgery, so they include risks involved with surgery: bleeding or the formation of a hematoma, reaction to anesthesia, infection, and slow incision healing.

Risks related to this particular procedure include:

• Changes in nipple or breast sensation (these usually revolve within a few months)
• Irregularities in breast contour or shape
• Breast asymmetry
• Necrosis of fat tissue
• Fluid accumulation
• Possibility of the need for revision surgery

If I’m planning on having additional children, can I still have a breast lift?

Sometimes patients come to Dr. Ong looking to have a breast lift, but they still think they may have additional children. She advises against having the procedure at this point in those situations. Here’s why. The goal of a breast lift is to reverse the deflated breasts, stretched skin, and sagging that occurs due to the changes wrought by pregnancy and breastfeeding. A breast lift will return the breasts to a higher position on the chest, and in most cases, the nipples/areolae will be moved.

So, it’s best to wait until you are finished having children to have a breast lift. If you have the procedure and then have another child, it could easily negate your results. If, at a later date, you get pregnant after you’ve had a lift, your ability to breastfeed could also be impaired due to the movement of the nipples.

What will my recovery be like after a breast lift?

These procedures involve some significant incisions and tissue removal, so recovery is not easy. You’ll need pain medication for the first couple of days after your surgery, but from there the pain will lessen quite quickly. Dr. Ong will stress the importance of wearing your surgical support bra 24 hours a day for the first few days. Then you’ll switch to a softer support bra, but it will also need to be worn full time for one full month. The reason for this is that you don’t want to place any stress on your incisions, as this can impact your scarring. The amount of swelling you’ll have depended on the incision used and the amount of tissue removed.

Most patients can return to work in about one week. However, any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting needs to wait for at least six weeks after your surgery. This particularly applies to any activity that causes your breasts to move. By being prudent and cautious with your recovery, your scar tissue will reach its maximum strength. Plus, this will allow your scarring to fade more dramatically over time.

Can I have breast implants placed with a breast lift?

Most patients choose to have Dr. Ong place breast implants after she completes the lift procedure. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, a breast lift simply brings the breasts back up to a higher position on the chest. It does this by removing excess fatty tissue and trimming excess skin. Lifts don’t replace lost volume or make the breasts larger in any way. The procedure simply eliminates sagging and removes excess skin. That’s why many patients desire to have breast implants placed along with their breast lift. Implants can return the volume to breasts that have lost volume due to breastfeeding and general aging. Implants can more easily make asymmetrical breasts symmetrical. And some women would simply like to have somewhat larger breasts in addition to removing the sagging.

A great aspect of adding implants to a breast lift is that it doesn’t require any additional incisions. Dr. Ong can place your implants through the same incisions she has already made for your breast lift.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Call today for questions or to schedule an appointment at (480) 771-7771 or complete a Contact Form here! Ong Institute for Plastic Surgery and Health proudly provides Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa AZ and the surrounding areas with breast lift procedures.