A breast lift, also called mastopexy, is a cosmetic surgery (no medical necessity) for women who want to improve the look of sagging, drooping breasts—a normal result of aging and pregnancy as well as genetics.
Breast lift surgery itself does not change the size of the breast, only the contour, firmness, and positioning. Because of this, some women may also opt for a breast reduction or breast augmentation during the breast lift.
Breast lift surgery usually involves general anesthesia (you will be asleep for the surgery). Your surgeon will make several small incisions to remove excess skin, reshape the breast tissue, and reposition your areola and nipples. After surgery, you will notice some scarring, usually underneath the breast. Over time, the scars will fade but will not go away completely.
Weight fluctuation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding often affect breast size and shape so your doctor may advise you to wait to get a breast lift if you are planning to lose weight or have more children.
If you choose to get a breast lift before pregnancy, you may still be able to breastfeed successfully. However, breast lift surgery may affect your milk production.
Keep in mind there are emotional aspects to breast lift surgery as well. Talk with an experienced cosmetic surgeon about your expectations and see if a breast lift is right for you.
Many people think of plastic surgery as purely cosmetic, but there’s a lot more to this surgical specialty. Plastic surgeons often do reconstructive procedures that can rebuild body parts after an injury or illness.
