Breast Lift - Full Mastopexy

What is Breast Lift Surgery?

Mastopexy, or "breast lift surgery," is designed to restore the natural shape and size to the breast. Like many women, you may have noticed a drastic change in the shape and position of your breasts with age, after childbirth or weight loss. You may be able to fill out the cup of a bra, but when not supported, your breasts become…droopy! There may be a hollow appearance to the top portion of your breasts, and the colored part of the nipple, or areola, may have become stretched out. Mastopexy or breast lift addresses these problems. In some instances, there is enough native breast tissue to recreate the proper proportion but in most cases, an implant must be added to help restore volume. This procedure is called a mastopexy-augmentation. When the droop is pronounced, it might be tempting to try and correct the problem with an implant alone and unfortunately there are inexperienced surgeons out there that may offer this to you. While this may improve the appearance of the breasts for several months or so, it usually does not solve the problem in the long run. Eventually the skin stretches and the problem returns, now only made worse by the added weight. Adding more saline later to the implant just aggravates the problem.

Who Should Consider Mastopexy?

How do you know when you have too much droop? This is one of the questions Dr. Corey will answer in your breast lift consultation at his practice in Scottsdale, but there is a real quick and easy somewhat non-scientific method that might give you a hint. It’s called the Pencil Test, and here’s how it works. Take a pencil and place it in the fold underneath your breast and let go. If it stays in place without dropping, you may have too much droop. Now we joke and say, if you can put the whole PACK under there…you definitely have too much!

Breast lift before and after pictures may help as well in finding patients that may have looked like you before their Breast Lift.

But there is another factor that influences whether you are a candidate or not and that is your overall feeling about your breast shape. Scottsdale breast surgeon, Dr. Corey finds that women seem to mentally wrestle with the idea of a mastopexy or breast lift more than any other operation that he performs. Sometimes a woman can lift her breast tissue into a bra, put on a sweater, and look great and everyone else thinks she looks great...And she does. But other times there are clothes like sun dresses or halters that she just cannot wear and forget going braless. Also, the idea of having incisions on her breasts and being naked is not real pleasing, but then again, the idea of being naked with breast droop is not great either. So Dr. Corey recommends that patients contemplating a breast lift or mastopexy should really be very unhappy with their breasts and not just “mildly annoyed” by them!

How is surgery prepared for?

During your pre-operative consultation, Dr. Corey will advise you as to the best procedure for you depending on your desired size and shape. If silicone or saline breast implants are needed those options will be discussed as well. There are several techniques available, many of which Dr. Corey learned while training in Brazil. You will be provided with instructions regarding diet, smoking (which should be stopped at least 2 weeks prior to surgery) and medications, and you will be given any necessary prescriptions.

What can I expect during surgery?

During the operation, excess skin, and tissue is removed and the drooping breast is reshaped. The nipple is usually relocated to a higher position and the areola, or colored part of the nipple reduced as needed. The incision may circle around the areola, continue down vertically to the bottom fold and then extend to both the inside and outside for several inches. If an implant is placed, it is usually positioned completely below the pectoralis muscle, which Dr. Corey believes acts like an “internal bra” gives a better chance at gaining support and upper breast fullness for a much longer time. For women that desire to be a full D cup after their mastopexy-augmentation, a larger implant may be needed that may not fit completely under the pectoralis major muscle.  Dr. Corey may suggest the use of a supportive tissue matrix to act as a hammock for holding the implant its new and higher position. You will be on a scar therapy regimen for weeks as well. The scars from the breast lift tend to fade during the next three to six months and scar revisions under local and at no charge are always an option for those that need or desire it.

What is Post-Operative Care like?

Post-operatively, you will be sore for several days, but you will be able to get around. Most of our breasts lift patients return to work in five to seven days. Your breasts will appear somewhat high riding at first, but they will settle into a more normal position. In one day of surgery, you can restore what has been lost over several years.

I want to learn more about breast lift surgery. What should I do next?

If you are ready to find out more about breast lifts, contact Scottsdale breast surgeon, Dr. Corey’s office today to make a consultation appointment! At his Scottsdale office, Dr. Corey offers three types of breast lift surgery consultations: an individual consultation which costs $75, a group consultation (10 to 20 people) which is free, or an online consultation which is also free. In the days before your consultation, make a mental note about what questions or concerns you have and make sure to bring them up with your surgeon. Call us today and make this important first step.  Serving the areas of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert, Arizona.