Breast uplift, also known as ‘mastopexy’, is the name given to a surgical procedure that involves removing excess skin from around the breast area and reshaping your breasts without implants (although the two can be combined.) Similar to breast implants, various incisions can be made around the areola for a breast uplift, but it often requires further incisions in the breast skin itself.
A breast uplift will involve removing excess skin, with the nipple repositioned into a new but natural position in relation to your breasts. Clients will often require small drains placed into the breast following uplift surgery that can be removed shortly after and before discharge.
Why Get a Breast Uplift?
A breast uplift is an operation that is typically carried out to treat drooping breasts without changing their size. The surgeon will remove loose skin and breasts are lifted, raised and reshaped, giving them a firmer look. Drooping or sagging breasts can happen as a result of:
- Pregnancy
- Weight loss
- Ageing
When Could a Breast Uplift be an Option?
Breast uplift surgery may be carried out for a whole host of reasons, but some of the factors which can spur patients to undergo the procedure may include:
- Breasts are flatter and longer than they originally were
- Not planning a pregnancy in the future (pregnancy stretches the skin and increases the risk of breasts drooping again)
- Nipples fall below the breast crease when not wearing a bra
- Nipples and areola point downwards
- Areola has stretched out of proportion to breasts
- One breast is lower than the other
- The appearance of breasts is affecting self-confidence
What Happens During Breast Uplift Surgery?
Firstly, the surgeon will make several cuts on the breasts. The exact number and position of the cuts will vary depending on the technique chosen and the level of surgery required. The surgeon will then remove the skin from around your areola and from under your breasts. Your breasts will then be reshaped into a tighter and more natural ‘cone shape.’ The surgeon may then reposition the nipples and reduce the areola’s size to suit the new shape.
If you are having a breast enlargement carried out simultaneously, the surgeon will insert a breast implant. This helps to give fullness to the upper part of the breast. Breast implants are usually made from silicone and the surgeon will typically place the implant directly under the breast tissue or behind the chest muscle.
The surgeon will close the cuts made as part of the procedure with stitches when the operation is complete. They may wrap your breasts in a special supportive dressing or use tape for support and to prevent any drooping of the breasts during the delicate recovery process. Following the procedure, patients should expect to need at least two weeks off work and refrain from any heavy lifting or strenuous activity that could add any pressure to the breast and chest areas.
What Are The Risks of Breast Uplift Surgery?
The risks of breast uplift surgery should as always and with all surgeries be discussed in length with the surgeon performing the procedure, but generally speaking, the risks include:
- Bleeding and bruising
- Infection
- Pain
- Numbness and change in sensation of the nipple and outer breast depending on the incision
- Uneven shape
- Reduced ability to breastfeed
How Much Does a Breast Uplift Cost?
- UK private cost: privately, the average price for breast reconstruction surgery is between £3495 – £6495.
- NHS: this treatment is not usually available on the NHS. However, it may occasionally be provided on the NHS for psychological or other health reasons.