Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast lift or mastopexy is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape your breast.

As the skin loses it elasticity, the breasts often change shape and begin to sag as a result of gravity. Factors which contribute this are ageing, pregnancy, breast feeding and large weight changes.

There are a variety of techniques to achieve a breast lift. Some techniques result in scars only around the areolar, whilst others result in scars which extend on to the lower pole of your breast. All techniques aim to reposition the breast tissue into a better position for your body shape. The technique which you will be offered will depend on the size of your breast and the lift required. Some common mastopexy techniques include:

• Peri areolar mastopexy
• Round block mastopexy (Benelli mastopexy)
• Vertical incision mastopexy (Lejour mastopexy)

It is important to understand that the role of mastopexy is to change the shape, rather than the volume of your breast. If your breasts are large and symptomatic (i.e. back or neck pain) a breast reduction may be more appropriate for you. If you have small breast and wish to enlarge them, then you may consider combining a mastopexy with augmentation (implants).

Mastopexy unfortunately does not result in a permanent outcome. With time the forces that have caused the initial breast sagging will have a repeated effect. The aim is to give you the best shape for your body utilising a technique that will give you long lasting results.

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is a surgical procedure to decrease the size and reshape your breast.

As the skin loses it elasticity, the breasts often change shape and develop ptosis (sagging). Contributing factors including ageing, pregnancy, breast feeding and large weight changes.

Large breasts can often lead to symptoms which can make day to day activities uncomfortable. Common symptoms include neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain and difficulty exercising. Breast reduction surgery is an effective way to improve or completely resolve these symptoms.

There are a variety of techniques available to achieve a breast reduction. Some techniques result in scars only around the areolar and inferior pole of the breast (vertical pattern), whilst others have scars that extend along your infra-mammary fold (wise pattern). All techniques aim to reposition the breast tissue into a better position for your body shape and reduce the volume of breast tissue. The technique which you will be offered will depend on the size of your breast and the amount of ptosis. Some of the more common breast reduction techniques are:

• Skin Pattern: vertical or wise pattern
• Pedicle: Superior, inferior, superior-medial pedicle

Different skin and pedicle techniques may be combined to achieve the best result for your breast.

Following breast reduction surgery the volume of your breast should stay the same unless you gain a large amount of weight. The exception to this is a reduction performed in women whose breasts are still developing. Breast reduction unfortunately does not result in a permanent outcome with regard to ptosis. In time the same forces that resulted in your breasts ptosis initially, will have the same effect.

The aim is to give you the best shape for your body using a technique that will give you long lasting results and providing symptomatic relief.