As we age, our skin starts to lose its elasticity and breasts lose their shape and firmness and begin to droop and sag. In addition to the natural ageing process, pregnancy and weight fluctuations also affect the ligaments, which contribute to the natural shape of the breasts to stretch and elongate, which causes the breasts to droop onto the chest wall. The official name for this is called ‘ptosis’ and breast uplift surgery is aimed at correcting this.
Mastopexy or Breast Uplift surgery aims to improve the overall shape of the breast by elevating the position of the nipple and improving the position and projection of the breast on the chest wall, by removing breast tissue and reshaping the breasts. During surgery, if it is found that sufficient breast tissue remains, then it is possible to reshape it, remove excess skin and produce a firmer and higher position breast. If there is a small amount of tissue, then a breast implant can also be used as part of the overall procedure. Dr O’Hara will discuss all of the available options to you during your pre-operative consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drooping breasts can be uncomfortable and affect women’s quality of life and the way they feel about themselves. Healthy women of any age over 21 who have been pregnant and breastfed or who have developed sagging or lost firmness in their breasts, can all benefit from this surgery.
Breast uplift surgery is a very common and successful procedure and there are many benefits to undergoing surgery, which include;
- Improved wellbeing and confidence
- Improved areola and nipple position
- Improved breast appearance with firmer and more lifted breasts
- Less skin irritation under skin folds
- Improved ability to exercise, resulting in better health and quality of life
Breast uplift surgery is performed under general anaesthetic in one of our top London private hospitals.
The surgery takes between 2-3 hours and you’ll be required to stay in hospital for between 1-3 nights, depending on your individual case.
Breast uplift surgery is performed by Justine O’Hara, a highly skilled plastic surgeon specialising in female plastic surgery.
As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks and complications, which can include;
- Allergy
- Anaesthetic problems
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Haematoma formation
- Infection
- Pain
Risks and complications specific to Breast Uplift surgery include;
- Nipple necrosis
- Asymmetry
- Altered nipple and areola sensation
Although scars are the inevitable result of all surgery, there are several different approaches to a breast uplift procedure that leave scars in different locations and length. Dr O’Hara will make every effort to ensure scars are of the most superior quality and minimal length wherever possible.
The results of Breast Uplift surgery are visible immediately. Swelling is usually minimal and this settles over approximately a 6 week period. The final shape and positioning of your breasts will continue to show and settle over a few months. Scarring can remain raised and red for a few months and will reduce over the period of 1 year. Dr O’Hara will advise you on what to use to help minimise scarring, including topical skin products that assist in the healing process.
Surgical dressings are applied immediately after surgery and by the second week, you are usually able to start wearing a stretch-type bra such as a sports bra or a special post surgery bra and this should be worn day and night for between 3 to 6 weeks. In the long term it is beneficial to wear a good bra support to reduce the amount of sagging that can continue to occur naturally.
It is possible that the stitches used will be dissolvable and these will not require removal. If regular stitches are used, these will be removed between 1 and 2 weeks post surgery. We do not routinely use drains following surgery, which dramatically improves post-operative comfort and experience.
The majority of patients take between 2 to 3 weeks off work and should avoid any heavy lifting during this period. You’ll need to avoid intense exercise for approximately 6 weeks, but can perform basic duties such as deskwork and looking after children.
