Breast Lift

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Cosmetic breast surgery is surgery you choose to have. You do not need it for medical reasons.

Women usually have breast lifts to lift sagging, loose breasts. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and normal aging may cause a woman to have stretched skin and smaller breasts.

You should probably wait to have a breast lift if you are:

• Planning to lose weight
• Pregnant or still nursing a child
• Planning to have more children

Talk with a plastic surgeon if you are considering cosmetic breast surgery. Discuss how you expect to look and feel better. Keep in mind that the desired result is improvement, not perfection.

Risks

Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general are:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems
• Bleeding, blood clots, or infection

Risks of breast surgery are:

• Inability to nurse a baby after surgery
• Large scars that take a long time to heal
• Loss of sensation around the nipples
• One breast that is larger than the other (asymmetry of the breasts)
• Uneven position of the nipples

The emotional risks of surgery may include feeling that your breasts do not look perfect. Or you may be disappointed with people's reactions to your "new" breasts.

Before the Procedure

Tell your surgeon or nurse:

• If you are or could be pregnant
• What medicines you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

The week or two before surgery:

• You may need a mammogram. Your plastic surgeon will do a routine breast exam.
• You may be asked to stop taking medicines that make it hard for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
• Ask your surgeon which drugs you should still take on the day of surgery.
• If you smoke, try to stop. Smoking increases the risk for problems such as slow healing. Ask your health care provider for help quitting.

On the day of surgery:

• Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
• Take the drugs your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Wear or bring loose clothing that buttons or zips in front.
• Arrive at the hospital on time.

After the Procedure

A gauze dressing (bandage) will be wrapped around your breasts and chest. Or, you will wear a surgical bra. Wear the surgical bra or a soft supportive bra for as long as your surgeon tells you to. This will likely be for several weeks.

Drainage tubes may be attached to your breasts. These will be removed within a few days.

Your pain should decrease in a few weeks. Take pain medicine to control it. Be sure to take the medicine with food and plenty of water. DO NOT apply ice or heat to your breasts unless your doctor has told you that is okay.

Follow any other self-care instructions you are given.

Schedule a follow-up visit with your surgeon. At that time you will be checked for how you are healing. Sutures (stitches) will be removed if needed. The surgeon or nurse will discuss special exercises or massaging techniques with you.

Outlook (Prognosis)

You are likely to have a very good outcome from breast surgery. You may feel better about your appearance and yourself. You may need to wear a special supportive bra for a few months.

Scars are permanent and are often very visible for up to a year after surgery. After a year they may fade but will not become invisible. Your surgeon will try to place the cuts so that scars are hidden from view. Surgical cuts are usually made on the underside of the breast. Your scars will generally not be noticeable, even in low-cut clothing.

Normal aging, pregnancy, and changes in your weight may all cause your breasts to sag again.

References

Higdon KK, Grotting JC. Mastopexy. In: Neligan PC, ed. Plastic Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2013:chap 7.