Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast lift also called mastopexy, is a surgical procedure designed to lift and reshape breast tuissue to elevate the bust line and create a more youthful breast contour. Breast lift can reduce the effects of age, gravity, and pregnancy by reducing excess skin and resculpting a more natural shape to the breast. Breast implants can be added during the lift to increase or restore breast volume. During the procedure Dr. Harper can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple to create a more natural, youthful looking appearance.

Firstly, please read about this procedure in detail as prepared by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr Harper being a member, then return to this site for additional discussions and results.

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Website: www.plasticsurgery.org.au

For further information and costs, please ring the Manly rooms on (02) 99771275 to arrange a consultation.

• Degree of breast droop
• Operation
• Procedures to be considered
• Ptosis of breasts after augmentation
• Long Term Results
• Breast Cancer
• Additional

Degree of breast droop

Measured in reference to the inframammary fold

• 1st degree 2cms above fold
• 2nd degree level with fold
• 3rd degree below the fold

• Pseudo droop: This is a low positioned fold so called 'low hung breasts', however the nipple is well above the fold. This is a variant of normal breasts and cannot be corrected.

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Operation

Performed under a general anaesthetic, day only admission or staying overnight. No drains mobilised next day, well recovered by 2 days minimal discomfort. Bandages removed 7 days, wash breasts, into bra. No sutures to be removed.

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Procedures to be considered

Mastopexy

Nipple elevated 8 cms

Mastopexy 2nd patient

Mastopexy with augmentation

Can be combined as a single procedure, however if patient is unsure about the results, then it can be a 2 stage procedure, mastopexy first, then 4 months later the augmentation.

Grade II Ptosis - Pre-operative

Vertical Mastopexy – Excellent result – breast normal shape, nipple position ideal, scars well hidden

4 months later – 2nd stage – augmentation mammoplasty

Internal Mastopexy and augmentation - avoiding the scars of a mastopexy

In first degree ptosis, internal suturing lifts the upper part of the breast up to a normal position, then augmentation lifts the nipple higher. Test by putting arms up if droop is corrected then augmentation will do.

Pre-op – looks like patient has
droop, nipple is just above the fold therefore requires augmentation only

Post-op after augmentation

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Ptosis of breasts after augmentation

Occurs over many years following augmentation mammoplasty when prosthesis >300gms

Two Procedures:

• Removal of prosthesis then a mastopexy or
• Removal of prosthesis mastopexy with re-augmentation

Post-Operative – lateral view – breast normal shape

Post-Operative – breast now normal shape and position

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Long Term Results

Ptosis does not recur unless further pregnacies or with time

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Breast Cancer

This operation does not cause, prevent or hide the detection of breast cancer.

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Additional

All surgical procedures have complications. In the mastopexy these are infrequent and minor. The only complications Dr Harper has had over last 20 procedures in 2 procedures of minor wound breakdown which healed quickly over 2 weeks.

General Risks with any surgery

• Wound infection — not common; treatment with antibiotics may be needed, or even removal of the implant.
• Bruising and swelling — usually subsides in one or two weeks but sometimes can take up to a month or more.
• Bleeding from the wound.
• Poor or slow healing of the skin and breast tissue, even possible wound breakdown.
• A chest infection may develop after a general anaesthetic.
• Heart and circulation problems — a blood clot (thrombosis), heart attack or stroke; a blood clot can move to the lung and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be life threatening.
• Breathing difficulties — due to the general anaesthetic or the endotracheal tube, which can cause swelling. noisy breathing and discomfort.
• Abnormal scarring from the incision — if the scar is unattractive and too big, additional surgery may be needed to try to improve it, though no guarantees can be given.
• Keloid lumpy scar tissue which is pink, raised and irregularly shaped; it may be itchy and tender for many months but will usually fade and settle over the following 18 to 24 months.

Specific risks for Mastopexy procedure

• Immediate
• Late
• Untoward Results - associated with obesity, smoking, diabetes, vascular disease, size of breats (amount resected);

• Wound breakdown
• Fat necrosis
• Skin and nipple loss
• Infection

• Bleeding/haemoatoma (the most common complication)
• Nipple retraction
• Massive wound infections - and wound dehiscence
• Fat necrosis - very aggravating and troublesome complication: long period of wound drainage.

Late Complications:
• Nipple asymmetry - position and shape
• Reduced nipple sensation
• Breast asymmetry
• Unsightly scars - keloid: re-excision, steroids, radiotherapy

Dr Harper will go over these complications at consultation. In detail, with time.

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Contact Peninsula Plastic Surgery for a cosmetic breast surgery consultation. We offer breast augmentation, lift, reduction, and supplementary procedures to give you beautiful, natural looking breasts.

Peninsula Plastic Surgery
7 West Promenade
Manly NSW, Australia 2095

Phone: (02)9977 1275
Fax: (02)9976 2802