Breast
lift or mastopexy is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging
breasts. Gravity, pregnancy, and nursing take their toll on a woman's
breasts and often the breasts atrophy or shrink as well following childbearing
years. Mastopexy can address these concerns and is occasionally done
along with breast augmentation.
The best candidates for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally stable women
who are realistic about what can be accomplished with surgery. The procedure
entails leaving scars on the breasts which usually heal well. Like other
body contouring procedures, mastopexy involves trading scar for improved
contour. The procedure is typically performed as an outpatient and the
amount of scarring around the breasts is a function of how much breast
lift is needed which is determined by the patient's individual breast
anatomy. Complications include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, and raised
or widened scars. A full mastopexy usually leaves a scar pattern similar
to a breast reduction scar. Realistic, appropriately informed patients
are usually very satisfied with this popular procedure