Mastopexy (Breast Lift)
Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the forces of gravity take their toll on a woman’s breasts, leading to breast sagging. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to droop. The Breast Lift procedure, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure aimed at lifting to raise, and repositioning the breast tissue and nipple to reshape, sagging breasts. As part of the procedure, the size of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple) can also be reduced. Any asymmetries between the two breasts can be balanced, and the size of the breast can also either be reduced or enhanced with the use of an implant at the same time as the breast lift.
By first listening carefully to your goals and then utilizing multiple techniques and tailoring the surgical plan to your specific breast anatomy, Dr. Salemy can achieve the lift, size and breast shape you desire.
Breast Lift Procedure Overview
What Can a Breast Lift Do For Me?
A woman’s breasts may droop as a result of the natural effects of aging, heredity, gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss. A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, is performed to return youthful shape and lift to breasts that have sagged or lost volume and firmness.
Breast lifts rejuvenate the breasts by trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissues to achieve an uplifted, youthful contour. After a mastopexy, the breasts are higher on the chest and firmer to the touch. Breast lifts can also reposition and reduce the size of the areola—the dark skin surrounding the nipple—which may have stretched or drooped.
Breast size may change slightly after a breast lift, but the fullness or roundness in the upper part of the breasts usually stays the same. Women who desire larger, smaller or more rounded breasts may want to consider a breast augmentation or breast reduction together with a breast lift.
Who are Breast Lifts for?
Am I a Good Candidate for a Breast Lift?
The best candidates for breast lift are women whose breasts meet some or all of the following conditions:
- Breast sag
- Breasts have lost shape or volume
- Breasts are flat, elongated, or pendulous (hanging)
- Breast skin and/or areola is stretched
- Nipples or areolas point downward
- Nipples or areolas are located in the breast crease when breasts are unsupported
- One breast is lower than the other
It is also very important that breast lift candidates maintain a stable weight, are generally healthy, do not smoke, discuss realistic goals with their plastic surgeon, and have a normal mammogram or breast ultrasound if they are over 40 years of age.
Fast Facts: Breast Lift Surgery
Raise and reshape sagging breasts
Patients can see results immediately,
but it can take several weeks to
a month to see final results
Procedure typically takes
2 hours
Varies
Plastic Surgery Reviews
Patient Reviews
How is a Mastopexy Performed?
Breast size and shape
Degree of sagging
Size and position of the
areolas/nipples
Amount of excess skin
Skin quality
Customizing Your Breast Lift
When you visit our office, your journey begins with a consultation with Dr. Salemy. During this meeting, you will discuss your surgical options and have the opportunity to ask any questions about the procedure.
Many patients choose to combine breast lift surgery with breast augmentation to regain volume, or breast reduction to achieve their desired results. Dr. Salemy is also skilled in fat grafting to the breasts, offering an alternative for women who want increased fullness without implants.
Based on your aesthetic goals, we will create a customized surgical plan tailored to your needs and expectations. Many of our Seattle patients opt for multiple procedures at once to reduce downtime and maximize their results.
Breast Tissue and Breast Lift
Breast tissue plays a crucial role in the breast lift procedure. Dr. Salemy will carefully assess the breast tissue to determine the best approach for achieving the desired results. In some cases, the breast tissue may need to be repositioned or reshaped to enhance the overall breast shape. Ensuring that the nipple and breast tissue are properly aligned and positioned is essential for creating a natural-looking breast contour. The primary goal of the breast lift procedure is to restore a youthful shape and lift to the breasts while maintaining the health and functionality of the breast tissue.
Breast Preservation in Breast Lifts: Newly Trending, But Age-Old Approach
You may have heard of “breast preservation”, recently popularized breast surgery techniques that align with current trends toward balanced proportions and natural results that blend seamlessly with the rest of the body. Such preservation-focused methods emphasize maintaining and enhancing as much of your natural breast tissue and internal support as possible.
Though popular now, this is an age-old technique and approach we have utilized since the start of our plastic surgery practice over 20 years ago. These preservation-focused methods have always been built into how breasts are evaluated, reshaped, and supported in our Seattle clinic and are superbly suited to meet today’s cultural preference for natural-looking, subtle results that fit active, modern lifestyles rather than dramatically or obviously enlarged breasts.
What Does a Breast Preservation Breast Lift Entail?
When applied to breast lifts, breast preservation emphasizes reshaping and repositioning existing breast tissue and carefully preserving the internal breast architecture.
- Maintaining as much healthy breast tissue as possible for a soft, natural feel.
- Elevating and reshaping the breast using your own tissue for internal support.
- Carefully preserving the internal breast architecture, including ligaments and blood vessels, and important structures that influence sensation and function, such as nerves and ducts.
- Tightening the skin envelope and elevating the areola to a more youthful position.
Results, Recovery & Long-Term Benefits for Breast Health:
Patients often appreciate that, by avoiding significant muscle disruption, preservation-based techniques can offer:
- Less early discomfort and tightness in the chest.
- Reduced risk of animation deformity.
- A recovery that feels smoother and more compatible with an active lifestyle.
- Support for long-term breast health by maintaining natural support structures like Cooper’s ligaments and minimizing trauma to the internal tissues.
At our Seattle plastic surgery practice, these preservation strategies have been a part of our breast lift approach since day one, as they allow for highly customized treatments that prioritize natural aesthetics, comfort, and long-term well-being.
Prioritizing Your Safety During a Breast Lift
Choosing to undergo plastic surgery is a deeply personal decision, and it’s vital to feel safe, comfortable, and confident with your chosen surgeon and practice.
At our Seattle plastic surgery practice, we prioritize your safety and comfort above all else. Dr. Salemy is Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by The American Board of Medical Specialties.
Additionally, our private operating suite is accredited and licensed by the Washington State Department of Health, as well as the AAAASF, a national ambulatory surgery center accrediting body.
We take every precaution to ensure that our patients receive the highest level of care and attention during their breast lift procedure, providing a safe and supportive environment throughout your surgical journey.
Breast Lift Frequently Asked Questions
Who should not consider a breast lift?
The best candidates for a breast lift are women who desire an improved shape, symmetry and contour of their breasts, and are willing to have incisions on the breasts to achieve this goal.
Women who desire larger, smaller or more rounded breasts may want to consider a breast augmentation or breast reduction either together with a breast lift or instead of a breast lift.
What is the recovery from a breast lift like?
After surgery, the breasts are wrapped with dressings and you will wear a surgical bra. After a few days, this is replaced with a soft support bra, which is worn 24 hours a day for about a month.
The breasts will probably be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable after surgery, but this will pass in a few days. Any numbness in the breasts and nipples should lessen as swelling subsides, and many patients return to work within 2 weeks.
Will I like the results of my breast lift?
If you agreed on realistic goals with your plastic surgeon, you should be very satisfied with the look of your lifted breasts. You will be able to see the results of your mastopexy immediately after surgery, and you may become even more satisfied as swelling goes down and incision lines fade.
What are the risks of mastopexy?
Possible complications of a breast lift include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Temporary or permanent numbness in the nipple or areola
- Uneven positioning or shape of breasts or nipples
- Widening of scars
- Poor incision healing
- Fluid buildup
- Breast hardening
- Damage or necrosis of breast tissues
- Need for revision surgery