In general, breasts that are long and demonstrate significant vertical excess skin will require a horizontal skin resection to tighten the breast. Breasts that are wide and demonstrate significant horizontal skin excess will require vertical skin removal to tighten the breast. When breasts have both vertical and horizontal skin excess, the traditional lollipop incision is used which removes the vertical and horizontal excess. Currently, most surgeons employ 5 different breast lift techniques to treat most of their patients. Breast lifts are successful when used with or without implants. However, the combination of breast implant and breast lift can successfully tighten your skin and perk up the breasts without affecting the overall size of the breasts. In some cases, a slight to moderate increase in breast size can be performed with the use of implants.

 
 

A plastic surgeon will examine your breasts and take measurements. The size and shape of your breasts and the placements of nipples and areolas will be carefully evaluated. Medical history will be discussed like medicine conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments received, and previous surgeries. If there was a weight loss, your weight should be stabilized before breast lift surgery.

 
 

The breast lift procedure is indicated when the breasts have lost their youthful volume and have become stretched and saggy. At this point, the nipples have dropped as well and in severe cases, the nipples may point straight to the ground. In youth, the perky breast is supported by strong internal ligaments and other connective tissue structures which give it a firm feel. After childbirth, severe weight loss, gravity and hormonal changes cause these ligaments to stretch and weaken the breast tissue which looses its firmness (atrophies) and becomes quite soft. The severity of sagginess will usually dictate which breast lift technique is used in an attempt to rejuvenate the fallen breast.

 
 

The breast lift procedure (mastopexy) is performed for patients who have sagging breasts due to pregnancy or aging. The nipples may be lower than desired giving the patient an aged look.

The procedure is similar to the breast reduction; however, the breast tissue and fat are preserved. Incisions will be made around the nipple, extending vertically to the fold of the breast and along the breast fold. This may be combined with a breast augmentation under certain circumstances.

The patient will have a supportive dressing for the first day then will be placed in a sports bra that should be worn for 3 to 4 weeks. The scars will fade tremendously over the following year.

 
 

Modern surgical techniques, such as a vertical mastopexy, result in fewer and better scars than older techniques. Many plastic surgeons have switched to the vertical mastopexy technique for most patients for this reason. Recovery is surprisingly rapid, with resumption of reasonable activity in two or three days. The discomfort is very moderate, approximately equal to a subglandular breast augmentation (saline).

 
 

Considering a breast lift in by a board certified plastic surgeon? How we perceive ourselves is essential to our overall well-being. A positive self-image is an indispensable element of good psychological health. Breast shape and size are an inherent component of a woman’s feeling of femininity, vitality and personal beauty. Breast shape can change dramatically during the various phases of a woman’s life leading to a loss of elasticity and firmness. Fortunately, there is a wonderful procedure that can correct this problem called a Breast Lift or Mastopexy.

 
 

Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman's breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breastlift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts - at least, for a time. (No surgery can permanently delay the effects of gravity.) Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.

Mastopexy surgery can save a woman from embarassment and pain. It's the perfect surgery for a woman suffering from sagging breasts. Has anyone had this surgery performed on them before?

 
 

You may be a candidate for a breast lift if you have excess or sagging breast tissue due to gravity, weight loss or breast feeding. If you are satisfied with the size of your breasts but don’t like the appearance, this may be the procedure for you. Women who have nipples that point downward may also be candidates for this procedure. Some women have lost a lot of volume and choose to have a breast augmentation in conjunction with a breast lift. This procedure is termed an augmentation mastopexy.

 
 

A breast lift, technically called a mastopexy, is a surgical procedure which can help to restore a more youthful and natural shape to sagging breasts. Gravity, pregnancy, nursing, weight gain, loss of skin elasticity, and aging, can all lead to sagging and a loss of firmness. A breast lift removes excess skin and tissue to reshape and firm the breasts, and it almost always involves repositioning the nipple-areola complex higher on the breast mound. A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in California can help you get the breast lift you want.

I think it is great to have a surgery that restores self-esteem and confidence into older woman and mothers. The aftermath of pregnancy can be crushing to some women, especially when younger. Has anyone had an experience with a mastopexy?

 
 

Introduction
Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman's breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breastlift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts--at least, for a time.

Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. If your breasts are small or have lost volume--for example, after pregnancy--breast implants inserted in conjunction with mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size.

The Surgery
The incision outlines the area from which breast skin will be removed and defines the new location for the nipple. When the excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved to the higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is then brought down and together to reshape the breast. Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downwards from the nipple area, and along the lower crease of the breast.

Some patients, especially those with relatively small breasts and minimal sagging, may be candidates for modified procedures requiring less extensive incisions. One such procedure is the "doughnut (or concentric) mastopexy," in which circular incisions are made around the areola, and a doughnut-shaped area of skin is removed.

For a breast lift in Encino California contact board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Saul Berger.