Anesthesia: General and/or local with I.V. sedation.
Where: Outpatient or overnight stay.
Recovery: Temporary swelling, numbness and bruising.
Back to work: 1-2 weeks.
Full activities 3-4 weeks.
Risks: Bleeding, scarring, tissue loss, infection, uneven nipple position, loss of sensation in breasts and nipples.
Breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman's breasts. The skin loses its elasticity, the breasts lose their shape and they begin to sag. A breast lift repositions the breasts into a more pleasing position and gives a more pleasing contour and shape.
A breast lift can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.
For breast augmentation, if your breasts are small or have lost volume--for example, after pregnancy--breast implants inserted in conjunction with mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size. Breasts of any size can be lifted and enhanced, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.
Many women seek mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing have left them with stretched skin and less volume in their breasts. However, if you're planning to have more children, it may be a good idea to postpone your breast lift. While there are no special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example, mastopexy usually doesn't interfere with breast feeding), pregnancy is likely to stretch your breasts again and offset the results of the procedure.
During the procedure, the surgeon will mark the areas of skin that will be removed above and below the areola. The nipple will then be moved to a new, higher position while the excess skin above and below the nipple is removed and the breast reshaped. The procedure takes approximately two to four hours and is performed in an outpatient surgery facility.
Dr. Daniel Man's office is located directly across from Boca Raton Community Hospital at 851 Meadows Road, Suite 222, Boca Raton, Florida 33486, phone number 1-800-232-5508.
