Breast lift surgery: How does it work?

Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that aims to change the shape of your breasts. Feeling uncomfortable with how your breasts are looking can impact your self-esteem; this type of surgery can help you boost your self-confidence and image.

Patients typically get a breast lift when their breasts sag or their nipples point downward. There are different reasons why this can happen, and we are going to delve into the procedure in the following chapters.

A breast lift won’t change the size of your breast, however, this procedure can be combined with a breast augmentation to achieve the desired result.

Why get a breast lift?

As time goes by, breasts change, often losing firmness and elasticity. There are many reasons why these changes happen, including:

• Pregnancy: When women are pregnant, breasts become fuller and heavier. As a consequence, the ligaments supporting the breasts might stretch, causing breasts to sag.
• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding may leave a woman’s breasts droopy or sagging.
• Weight loss: As skin stretches when we gain weight, it also becomes less elastic. This means that when we lose weight, the skin cannot go back to its original state. This is particularly visible when individuals lose a massive amount of weight (e.g. after weight loss surgery).

A breast lift can reshape your breasts by removing the extra skin and repositioning the nipples. The areolae (the darker areas surrounding the nipples) may also be adjusted to the newly shaped breasts.

If you’re planning to get pregnant in the future, you might consider having a breast lift later on, as pregnancy may offset the results of the procedure and breastfeeding might be harder.

Breast lift: How does the procedure work?

There are many incision patterns and techniques for a breast lift. Your surgeon will choose the most appropriate one based on the shape and size of your breasts, the degree of breast sagging, the skin quality and its elasticity. Overall, the procedure takes approximately 2-3 hours.

Here’s how a breast lift typically works step by step.

1. Anaesthesia

Breast lift surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, so you will sleep throughout the procedure.

2. Incisions

The surgeon will start the procedure by making the incisions. There are different types of incisions: around the areola, around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease, or around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease.

3. Reshaping

Once incisions are made, the surgeon will lift and reshape the underlying breast tissue to achieve better contour and firmness. Then, the nipple and the areola will also be repositioned according to the new shape. Areolas may also be reduced, if necessary. Lastly, excess breast skin will be removed. The surrounding skin will be tightened and incisions will be closed with stitches.

How do you prepare for a breast lift?

First of all, you will have a consultation with one of our patient coordinators who will walk you through the procedure and ask you a few questions about your overall health. We will ask you a few photos of your breasts for us to assess what procedure and changes need to be done.

During the consultation, you will also receive clear pre-op instructions. Generally, you will visit us on the day of surgery on an empty stomach. We might ask you to perform some screening tests beforehand to ensure that you are in good health to undergo surgery. These include morphology tests and exams to check your blood and sugar levels.

Breast lift: Recovery time

After surgery, patients stay at our clinic for 1 or 2 days. Before going home, you will receive detailed post-op instructions to follow. You will have to wear a special surgical bra for about seven weeks. Make sure you do not carry any weights or do intense workouts for about 8 weeks. Sun exposure should also be avoided for about 6 months.

While results will be visible right after the procedure, full recovery may take up to a year. At the beginning, scars will be red and lumpy, but they will soften and become thin in the next months. Once recovery is complete, they will hardly be visible, and can be hidden by bras or bathing suits.

Our team of experts will be by your side also when you’re back home, available to answer any questions along the way.

Are there any risks or complications after a breast lift?

Although rare, breast lift does come with potential risks (as with any medical procedure). These include:

• Scarring (which should fade over time)
• Change to nipple and breast sensation (temporary)
• Swelling and bruising, which will ease over time
• Asymmetry in the shape and size of your breasts
• Difficulty producing milk when breastfeeding

Breast lift surgery at KCM Clinic

If you’re unhappy with how your breasts look and are unsure of how to proceed further, we are here to help. Our team of highly experienced and dedicated professionals will be by your side from day one. We really care about making your medical experience the best it can possibly be!

The first step is sending us a quick note here. Then, one of our patient coordinators will be in touch with you. We welcome hundreds of international patients every year and we make your travel to our clinic as seamless as possible with airport pickup and dropoff, accommodation booking, and patient coordinators on site. Get in touch with us anytime!