Mastopexy (Breast Lift)

Breast lift surgery is also known as mastopexy and encompases all procedures used to raise and reshape the breasts. A breast lift can be performed to correct sagging of the breasts related to the natural aging process, pregnancy and nursing. The purpose of these procedures is to elevate the breasts and give them a more youthful shape and, often, breast augmentation is combined with breast lift surgery to restore lost volume.

There are several reasons our patients seek breast lift procedures, including the natural sagging associated with age and gravity, a loss of firmness of the breasts after pregnancy and nursing, to reorient the nipples and areolas if they point down or to the sides, and to restore cosmetic appearance after significant weight loss.

There are several different techniques that Dr. Le uses to perform the breast lift procedure. Each technique has a different incision, some examples include: a “T” incision along the crease under the breast (infra-mammary fold) or a circular incision around the areola (purse string per-areolar incision). The length of the surgery varies from 1 to 3 hours depending on what technique is used and if an implant is placed (combined breast lift and breast augmentation).

What you can expect:

Most breast lift procedures last between 1 and 3 hours, depending on if they are combined with agumentation or not. Usually, general anesthesia is required, but some procedures may be done under local anesthesia. You can expect to go home the same day and to have some soreness for about a week. After the operation, Dr. Le provides you with a special garment to wear to take the stress of the breasts and improve your healing. You should wear this special bra for several weeks after the surgery and adhere to the guidelines for limitation in activity that we will provide to you. Generally, strenuous activity is prohibited for 1 month after breast lift surgery. You should expect some temporary bruising, swelling and discomfort, as well as dry skin and numbness of the breast or nipples which is usually temporary but may be permanent. It is important to know that it takes several months to a year for your scars to mature and reach their final result. Additionally, the operation does carry the risk of thick, wide scars, loss of skin and infection. The duration of results depends on several factors, including the size of the breasts, subsequent pregnancy, skin quality, weight fluctuations and the aging process, all of which can cause sagging. The results may last longer if breast implants are used as a part of the procedure.

It would be our pleasure to answer your questions and provide you with more information about our breast lift procedures. Please call our Los Gatos Office at 408-370-1110 for an appointment with Dr. Le or email our New Patient Coordinator, Tiffany To, at tiffany@drjonathanle.com