Breast ptosis refers to the descent of the breasts and nipple areolar complexes. Women with breast ptosis often complain of a sagging, deflated appearance of their breasts. Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a procedure to reshape and lift the sagging breast. By removing excess skin, the skin brasierre is essentially tightened, and the breast is lifted, reshaped and appears firmer and more youthful. The mastopexy procedure can also be combined with implant augmentation if a larger, fuller breast volume is desired. Conversely, women with a larger sagging breast may require a small reduction of breast volume at the time of their mastopexy in order to lighten the breast, thereby enabling a more durable esthetic result.

Mastopexy surgery takes 1-2 hours and is often conducted as a same day procedure. The technique and extent of scars varies in direct proportion to the extent of the lift required. Small breast lifts can result in a scar limited to around the areola (the peri-areolar or donut mastopexy). More commonly, a vertical extension of the scar is also required, extending down from the areola to the fold region (right figure). This is the technique most commonly utilized by Dr. vanVliet to facilitate optimal lift and breast reshaping. The anchor technique (left figure) is rarely utilized by Dr. vanVliet unless a very extensive lift is required. The best choice of procedure is individually tailored to the patient's unique body habitus and is determined at the time of the initial consultation by Dr. vanVliet.

Healthy, emotionally stable women with sagging, involuted breasts related to pregnancy, nursing, weight loss or aging make the best surgical candidates. Although any breast size can be lifted, the heavier the breast the greater the risk of recurrent breast descent. Women with smaller breasts reliably get the best esthtetic and the most durable results. Smoking and obesity (>200 lbs, BMI>35) place women an increased operative risk and higher potential for poor quality scars and breast contour. Breasts can be lifted but they will descend in response to subsequent pregnancy, breast-feeding or fluctuations in weight.

Dr. vanVliet will personally assess you prior to your discharge home from surgery. A light dressing with an overlying compression bra will be in place until your first post-operative office visit. Although there will be some bruising and swelling, the discomfort will not be severe and should be easily managed by pain medication that will be prescribed for you. There may be some breast skin and/or nipple numbness related to swelling which should gradually resolve over the first few months after surgery.

During the first post-operative week you will be encouraged to convalesce and to use your arms minimally. This will accelerate wound healing and minimize breast swelling and tenderness. After your first post-operative visit you will be instructed regarding resuming gentle activity, touch and driving. Your compression bra is designed to support the healing incisions from the outside in until they are strong enough to support themselves. The combination of compression, relative rest of the chest wall, and moisturizing agents during the first month are integral to prevent the spread of scars and the subsequent loss of breast lift. In other words, the integrity of the breast lift scar subtends the integrity of the ultimate breast lift and shape. After the first month, physical activity and massage of breast mounds can be resumed.

The breast mound will reshape for the first few months. The scars will become less puckered, red and firm during this early period. The scars will remodel to be soft and pale for a whole year after surgery.

Mastopexy complications are not common but may include bleeding, infection or reaction to the anesthetic. The extent of scars from mastopexy surgery correlates directly to the extent of the surgical lift required. Although all scars are permanent, mastopexy scars are often of good quality and can be easily covered with a bra or bathing suit. There may be some uneven positioning or shape of the areolas and rarely, permanent nipple numbness. Although the nipple areolar complexes are not disconnected from the breast at the time of surgery, there may nevertheless be diminished potential for subsequent breast feeding. Women who intend to breast feed are therefore encouraged to defer mastopexy surgery until after having children. There may be recurrence of breast ptosis with future pregnancy, nursing or fluctuations of weight.

Top Row: Pre-op. Bottom Row: 4 Months post-op.

Top Row: Pre-op. Bottom Row: 4 Months post-op.

Click any of the links below to watch video explaining the procedure in detail:
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      » Breast Lift with Implants