Breast lift surgery

Modern women often resort to plastic surgery to improve their appearance and figure. Breast lift is usually ordered in cases where there is no need to enlarge the bust. Where and how is it best to do this, is there an alternative? And what risks await a patient who decides to have the operation?

What is the name of breast lift - mastopexy

Normally, the nipple is located at the height of the middle of the shoulder, that is, above the submammary fold. When the nipple level becomes lower than the fold, ptosis of the mammary gland is diagnosed. Plastic surgeons remove the unsightly sagging, redistribute the glandular tissue and return the breast to a beautiful shape.

• Not everyone knows what breast lift is called - mastopexy or mammoplasty? And what is the difference if both methods restore the aesthetic proportions of the mammary gland?

In the first case, the name comes from two words: "breast" and "fixation", in the second it is translated as "breast plastic surgery". Mastopexy is called one of the variants of mammoplasty, when the shape of the breast is surgically changed.

During mastopexy, the surgeon removes some of the stretched skin and shapes the breast into a harmonious shape. The stitches are made so that they are practically invisible, and the nipple is raised higher, to a natural height.

The operation lasts up to 3 hours. In case of minor intervention, the patient leaves the clinic on the same day, in case of major correction, she stays in the hospital for up to three days. Removal of sutures is prescribed depending on the patient's condition, in mild cases approximately on the 5th-10th day.

The effect of breast lifting lasts for a long time with slight sagging of small or medium-sized breasts. The bust becomes firm and attractive, and its owner gains confidence in her irresistibility and psychological comfort. [ 1 ]

Indications for the procedure

Breast lift is needed by women who have suffered from sagging of the mammary glands. This occurs as a result of lactation and breastfeeding, with a sharp decrease in weight, as well as in connection with menopause and age-related changes - loss of elasticity, strength of the skin and ligaments. The breasts sag and become less attractive than before.

• The bust can change under the influence of hormonal factors – increase or decrease in volume.

The process is also affected by external factors: improper underwear or its absence, poor body care, smoking, which destroys elastin fibers. And even irregular sexual relations. Regardless of the cause, the problem of sagging is the main indication for reconstructive surgery.

Several degrees are diagnosed, depending on the level of prolapse.

• 1st degree – the nipple is at the level of the submammary fold or 1 cm lower.
• 2nd stage – lowering to 3 cm, the nipple “looks” straight.
• 3rd stage – lowering below 4 cm.

You can determine the degree yourself - using your palm under your breast. If the lowered gland covers it by 2 fingers, you have degree 1. If all 4 fingers are "hidden", you have degree 2, and with degree 3, the breast covers the entire palm.

Mastopexy is a very serious and complex operation, with the possibility of undesirable consequences. If everything goes according to plan, then the resulting corrected contour is provided for a long time. A repeat procedure is carried out in exceptional cases. [ 2 ]

Breast lift after childbirth, after pregnancy

Very often women turn to surgeons to have a breast lift after childbirth, after pregnancy. What happens in the organ at this time, why is the joy of giving birth to a child for the mother accompanied by some aesthetic losses?

• Hormonal processes are raging in the body of the expectant mother, leading to an increase in the volume of the mammary gland. Heavy breasts stretch the skin and ligaments that support them.

After childbirth, some women lose weight, and the skin and ligaments shrink to their previous sizes. But this does not always happen naturally; sometimes the breasts change for the worse and post-lactation tissue ptosis develops. This problem is especially bothersome for mothers with large breasts filled mainly with fatty tissue. Then the need for a breast lift (mastopexy) service arises.

The operation involves relocating the nipple and areola, removing excess skin and redistributing glandular tissue so that the breasts acquire the desired shape while maintaining their volume. It is performed in a clinic, where the patient stays from several hours to several days, depending on the extent of the intervention.

Working capacity returns after 1-2 weeks, and physical activity - up to a month. Scars mature from 6 to 12 months, after which they become invisible. The effect is long-term, but not eternal. Repeated pregnancies, aging of the body and fluctuations in body weight can cause repeated prolapse of the gland.

Breast lift for sagging breasts

One of the reasons that brings patients to a plastic surgeon is significant stretch marks of the skin and ligaments of the mammary gland. This condition brings not only psychological trauma to a woman, but also physical discomfort. Breast lift allows you to create the desired bust shape by distributing your own "material", that is, breast tissue.

The option of lifting sagging breasts is chosen by a specialist depending on the degree of sagging and the condition of the tissues. The degree of anesthesia and the duration of the procedure depend on the technique, although on average any of them are completed no later than three hours. The stitches are cosmetic, due to which the marks after the intervention are practically invisible.

• In case of small bust and mild ptosis, paraareolar lift is recommended. A crescent-shaped incision is made above or around the areola and the nipple is moved upward.
• Moderate mastoptosis requires vertical mastopexy. An incision is made from the nipple to the fold under the breast and around it, excess skin is removed.
• More serious defects are corrected using T-shaped incisions. They are used for large volumes and severe prolapse. Due to the incisions, the technique is the most traumatic, but it also solves the most complex problems.

No less important a condition for success than the reliability of the institution and the qualifications of the specialist is the personal responsibility of the patient. A woman should follow professional advice not only during the preparation process, but especially during postoperative care. Compression underwear, restrictions on exercise and water procedures, taking preventive medications - all this must be strictly observed in order to obtain an excellent result after the completion of the rehabilitation processes. [ 3 ]

Preparation

Preliminary preparation includes visits to a therapist, mammologist, gynecologist, anesthesiologist, blood and urine tests, ECG, fluorography. What kind of examination is necessary in a particular case depends on age, heredity, and overall health. Such requirements exist to exclude fibrous changes or cysts that need to be treated, as well as pregnancy planning. Contraindications to breast lift are also revealed during ECG, fluorography, and general tests.

• Doctors prefer to work with patients who are in the most balanced and physically stable condition. To this end, two weeks before and two weeks after the operation, you should quit smoking (or better yet, forever) and not drink alcohol.

Shortly before the procedure, you should stop taking hormonal drugs and blood thinners (aspirin) for a while, and 5 hours before – stop eating. Several days before the facelift, you should not overload your body physically or mentally. Any doubts regarding the upcoming procedure are best clarified personally, without embarrassment, in a conversation with the surgeon. This will help relieve anxiety and excitement, which are natural before such an event.

If you are counting on someone's help after the procedure, it is important to discuss the conditions in advance and familiarize your loved one with the recommendations for caring for the operated organ. In particular, after discharge, it is not recommended to personally drive home.

Local anesthesia

Anesthesia is a mandatory element of plastic surgery. The anesthesiologist decides which anesthesia to use, depending on the results of the examination and the purpose of the plastic surgery. Breast lift is usually performed under general anesthesia, when the patient is given the opportunity to fall asleep for the entire duration of the operation. And this is logical, since it lasts quite a long time, and the operated area is saturated with receptors that signal pain.

• The patient does not need to endure pain while watching the doctor's actions, because this spectacle, as they say, is "not for the faint of heart." The anesthesiologist determines the patient's tolerance to painkillers in advance, and monitors the situation and the patient's recovery from sleep during the operation.

Some clinics use local anesthesia as an alternative. The technique requires high qualifications, experience and consideration of the individual characteristics of the patient. Medicines that relieve pain sensitivity are administered by injection, while the person remains conscious and adequately assesses what is happening. Sometimes they offer a sedative pill or an injection that causes half-sleep, relaxation and insensitivity to pain.

Local anesthesia is used when there are contraindications for general anesthesia. If there are none, and the intervention is serious, then doctors still prefer anesthesia to focus on the main thing and not be distracted by secondary actions, if they can be called that. In addition, there is a risk of overdose of drugs used for local anesthesia. This is fraught with convulsions, arrhythmia and other complications that complicate the surgeon's task. And given that young and relatively healthy women usually resort to such operations, anesthesia does not pose a threat to their condition.

Technique breast lifts

When planning the technique for performing a breast lift operation, the severity of ptosis is taken into account. It is determined by degrees: 1 (minimal), 2 (moderate), 3 (pronounced). There is also glandular and pseudoptosis.

The choice of breast lift technique also depends on the shape and size of the sagging. In turn, the shape and location of postoperative scars depend on the technique. You can determine the degree yourself, but in a clinic, this is done by a doctor who prepares the client for surgery.

• The doctor marks the woman's breast after preliminary examinations and tests and explains in detail the essence and procedure of the procedure. The choice of method is based on the volume of the mammary gland and the degree of ptosis.

At stage 1 ptosis on a small breast, the incision is made in the form of a crescent. The procedure is the least traumatic and leaves a small mark. Since the breast becomes flatter than before, the technique is recommended for a conical shape.

At the 2nd and 3rd stages, vertical and anchor techniques are used. They involve more cuts and, accordingly, seams, but with the described sagging, it is impossible to achieve a beautiful shape in any other way.

All of the above techniques require general anesthesia and take up to 3 hours. During this time, the specialist has time to tighten the nipple and areola, remove excess skin, and fix the tissue in a higher position. [ 4 ]

Contraindications to the procedure

You shouldn't think that breast lift can be done to everyone and always, indulging whims, and not based on real needs. Competent doctors strongly advise against the procedure if they see contraindications to it. They are obvious if a woman plans to give birth and breastfeed, or wants to lose weight urgently, or has recently stopped breastfeeding.

Although there is an opinion that mastopexy does not interfere with breastfeeding, since only the skin is tightened, and not the glandular tissue and ducts where breast milk is produced.

There are also contraindications related to health conditions, namely:

• endocrinology, including diabetes;
• oncology;
• blood clotting disorder;
• mastopathy;
• tendency to form scars;
• hormonal imbalance;
• obesity;
• pathologies of the mammary gland;
• exacerbation of other chronic pathologies.

Consequences after the procedure

Any surgical intervention has both predictable and unpredictable consequences after the procedure. Breast lift is considered to be low risk. However, this important issue should be discussed in detail during a personal meeting with the surgeon preparing you for the surgery.

• The formation of edema and hematomas is a normal phenomenon after any surgical intervention. In the case of a facelift, they disappear on their own in about a week.

Sometimes infection and divergence of the edges of the incision occur. The wound then heals more difficultly, and the scars may become somewhat wider. They will have to be reduced by another simple procedure.

• When nerve endings are damaged, the skin becomes numb. The process can then develop in different ways: sensitivity is restored completely, partially, or not restored at all. It happens that the nipples lose it forever.

Another unpleasant consequence is breast asymmetry. It is known that both halves of the mammary gland are not absolutely symmetrical. The operation makes the symmetry maximal, but not absolute. But if it is disturbed so that it becomes noticeable, then additional correction may be required.

• In addition to purely physical, moral feelings are also important. Usually, a woman feels vague anxiety, sadness, and worry after mastopexy.

Psychologists explain this by the stress experienced, as well as by the excitement in anticipation of a positive effect. Did I do the right thing by taking this step? – the woman who underwent the operation involuntarily asks herself. And it is important to support the woman at this moment – both the staff and loved ones, for whom, in fact, many women sacrifice their comfort. [ 5 ]

When are the stitches removed?

Practicing surgeons use two types of suture material in their work: absorbable natural and synthetic. For breast lifting, the second option is used, so the question of sutures is relevant in all cases.

• The number of stitches, as well as the decision when to remove the stitches, is made by the doctor, and it depends, first of all, on the type of surgery and the rate of healing.

This usually happens within the first 3 weeks, but not earlier than the 7th-10th day. Whether it hurts or not depends on many factors, including individual characteristics.

Depending on the technology, there may be one continuous suture, two or three on one breast. The more radical the intervention, the more sutures that leave traces. It is estimated that there are fewer of them when using silicone implants, and the maximum number is associated with the anchor method.

• In any case, the sutures require special attention and care, constant monitoring of their condition. Initially red, as they heal they become lighter, shrink, and become less noticeable.

The edges of the wound should be secured and protected from infection. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe treatment with antiseptic ointments, and after removing the stitches - with absorbable drugs.

It is not recommended to wash for the first few days, and especially not to rub the stitches with a washcloth. Then protect them with a bandage, removing it after the procedure. To prevent the stitches from coming apart, it is necessary to wear a compression bra for a month.

Inflamed, infected or broken sutures are cause for concern. If a suture, at any stage, becomes red, swollen, painful and oozes blood or pus, you should immediately contact a doctor to eliminate the problem.

Scars, marks

The professional skills of the surgeon and the clinic staff play an important role in minimizing unwanted consequences. The wound healing process after breast lift is controlled by the specialist who performed the procedure.

Healing occurs due to the formation of fibroblasts that fill the tissue defect. The edges gradually come together and form thin sutures. The resulting scars and cicatrices can be of various natures.

• Physiological – located at the level of the skin surface, after two to three months they become invisible.
• Atrophic ones are located below, and hypertrophic ones are located above this level.
• Keloid - grow wider than the edges of the wound, can itch, and “pull” the skin.

Physiological scars are normal, they remain with everyone. If healing is disrupted, a cosmetic defect is formed, which has to be removed by the same surgical method.

Compliance with the doctor's orders by the patient is no less important than the qualifications of the medical staff. Violation of the regime leads to increased pressure in the chest area and a decrease in the rate of healing.

• To avoid scars, strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and raising your arms to or above shoulder level are prohibited.

More aesthetic results are obtained with proper care, in young women with normal weight, free from bad habits, eating well and not violating the regime. Accordingly, the scars remain delicate.

Hematoma after breast lift

Postoperative complications can be general surgical and specific. One of the surgical complications, along with seromas, rough scars, suppurations, is a hematoma after a breast lift. It occurs as a result of vascular injury during each surgical intervention. The surgeons stop the bleeding with special manipulations, which is reflected in the term "homeostasis".

With a sharp jump in pressure, a violation of blood clotting, trauma or overload in the first days after a breast lift, blood may again appear in the operated location. Renewed bleeding leads to a hematoma, which is recognized by the following signs:

• increase in size and firmness of the breasts;
• pain and tension in tissues;
• discomfort;
• discharge from the breast where a hematoma has formed.

The problem is eliminated by repeated surgical intervention. After removing the previously applied sutures, the doctor removes blood clots, washes the tissue with an antiseptic and cauterizes the vessels if they continue to bleed. Then new sutures are applied and, if necessary, drainage.

This complication is fraught with dangerous consequences. If it is not treated urgently, then suppuration and tissue necrosis develop, which are much more difficult to treat.

Complications after the procedure

No matter how simple the operation may seem, complications after the procedure are always possible. They can be caused by the surgeon's mistakes, contraindications, and individual characteristics. The following problems are possible when performing a breast lift:

• contour asymmetry;
• secondary ptosis;
• swelling, bruising;
• temporary loss of sensation;
• infection and suppuration of areas;
• noticeable scar;
• hematoma;
• poor healing;
• tissue death;
• dystopia aureole.

The lift may make subsequent breastfeeding impossible. Approximately 15% of those who have undergone mastopexy experience decreased nipple sensitivity. Secondary ptosis is possible with large breasts.

Care after the procedure

In order for the breast lift not to be in vain, its owners need to adjust their daily routine for the coming months. Doctors have developed recommendations for six months after the operation - this is how long restrictions in physical activity and exercise are necessary. Post-procedure care for the sutures and skin is carried out in several stages.

• For two weeks, the sutures are treated with an antiseptic and the sterile dressings are changed. They must not be rubbed or scratched to avoid additional trauma. The sutures are removed at the clinic.

For better regeneration, doctors recommend sleeping only on your back for the first few nights and abstaining from intimate relations for two weeks. To prevent abnormal scarring, swimming pools, saunas, and sunbathing are prohibited. Moisturizing creams are applied to and around the scars a month or a month and a half after the operation.

• The skin becomes dry and irritated as a result of the facelift.

It should be moisturized with creams, but not earlier than two weeks after the stitches are removed. If the irritation is too pronounced, the skin turns red and burns, you will have to use soothing agents: ointments and compresses.

Some people may be alarmed by a crackling sensation under the operated breast. This is normal: this is the behavior of air trapped in the breast pocket formed after the operation. Over time, the air bubbles evaporate, passing through fatty tissue, and by about two weeks they disappear completely.

Many are interested in the prospect of breastfeeding a baby after a lift operation. Doctors reassure women on this matter, explaining that the structure of the mammary gland does not suffer, since only the skin and fatty tissue are lifted.

Rehabilitation

After a breast lift, a woman will have to spend at least 24 hours in the hospital. Doctors are required to monitor the patient's recovery from anesthesia and subsequent well-being. Sometimes she feels slight pain, which should soon pass.

If everything is normal, then on the second day the patient receives a discharge and recommendations for proper rehabilitation:

• Wear compression garments to reduce pain and prevent swelling.
• On the designated day (up to 2 weeks), arrive at the clinic to have the stitches removed.
• Avoid physical activity and hot water procedures for a month: do not play sports, do not visit the sauna or the beach. Swimming is allowed as a type of harmonic load.
• Do not go on diets in order to lose weight.
• Avoid hormonal fluctuations.

The results can be objectively assessed no earlier than after 3-4 months, when the swelling disappears completely. If the facelift is performed correctly and the rehabilitation advice is followed, the expected result can last for several years.

• When choosing an institution, be guided not only by prices, but also by the qualifications and experience of specialists working in this particular field.

This will maximally prevent the likelihood of complications or errors, which, unfortunately, happen in surgical practice. It is also important to inquire about the technical capabilities of the clinic, whether there is the necessary equipment for anesthesia and performing a full-fledged operation.

Doctors' opinion

Doctors' opinions should be treated critically. After all, it is clearly not in the interests of plastic surgeons to objectively evaluate the methods that they themselves use in clinics. And it is difficult for specialists who do not deal with breast lifts to professionally judge this aspect of medicine. It remains to hope that doctors of specialized clinics use their experience and knowledge exclusively in the interests of the health and beauty of their patients.

Patient Reviews

In their reviews, women aged 26 to 55 talk about successful breast lift experiences, naming specific clinics and doctors who satisfied their desire to have beautiful breasts. Everyone is delighted with the results. They only complain about the restrictions and prohibitions during the rehabilitation period, which are difficult to follow for such a long time.

To be beautiful, to please others and yourself is a natural desire of a woman. In many ways, it depends on yourself, and even if you need help from professionals, a more visible result is obtained in unadvanced cases. With flabby, heavy skin with excess fat deposits, the same breast lift is much more difficult. But you should not be disappointed: today, approaches and methods have been developed that are effective for different breast conditions, and any woman can choose the right one for herself.