Mastopexy - Breast lift
WHAT IS A MASTOPEXY?
A mastopexy is a plastic surgery procedure which lifts sagging breasts by eliminating excess cutaneous tissue and returns the breasts to their original position. Commonly known also as a breast lift, this type of surgical operation corrects flaws caused by pregnancy, dramatic weight loss or natural ageing, and leavies the breasts more compact and lifted.
Professor Dini often suggests combining this method with breast implants, which give back fullness and volume to the breasts, bestowing a firmer, more youthful appearance.
WHO IS THIS PROCEDURE FOR?
There is no age limit for the mastopexy procedure but it is advisable to wait should the patient be planning a pregnancy since this, coupled with breastfeeding, may compromise the results of this procedure and cause the breasts to sag again.
Furthermore, it is always preferable to wait until the breasts develop fully, which happens at the end of adolescence, in order to avoid the risk, albeit rare, of “precocious” mastopexy. Mastopexy is especially suited to women with small breasts and, therefore, not particularly subject to the force of gravity. Women with large breasts would risk seeing the effects of the operation go to waste due to gravity. In these cases, a better option is a reduction mastoplasty associated to a mastopexy.
WHAT DOES THE PRE-OPERATIVE VISIT ENTAIL?
The pre-operative visit allows the professor to evaluate the patient's figure, desires and expectations and then, together with the patient, decide what results the patient wants to achieve and determine the surgical procedure that is most appropriate.
For example, if the breasts have completely lost their volume, a mastopexy might not be enough and a supporting breast implant would be required or, if necessary, some lipofilling. During the visit, Prof. Dini will also evaluate the patient's health and prescribe the appropriate tests (for example, a mammography).
HOW IS THE MASTOPEXY PROCEDURE DONE?
Mastopexy is a highly customised procedure and, as such, can take a varying amount of time from a minimum of an hour and a half up to a maximum of 3 hours. The operation is usually performed under general anaesthesia with an overnight stay.
For small mastopexies, the anaesthesiologist and the surgeon may decide to perform the surgery under local anaesthesia with sedation as an outpatient procedure. The scars from the surgery will be permanent but will always be hidden by a bra or bathing suit.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN POST-OPERATIVE RECOVERY?
Professor Dini advises his patients to be on bed rest for 48 hours following the mastopexy procedure.
The swelling and ecchymosis that can appear are completely normal and will disappear as the days pass.
After the third day, patients can go back to their normal daily activities, avoiding all types of of strain. Seven to 10 days after the operation they can go back to work, so long as it is not particularly strenuous, although it is a good idea to wait at least 3-4 weeks before starting to exercise again.
Mastopexy results are usually very satisfying but it is important to emphasise that the lasting effects are influenced by the patient’s lifestyle, natural ageing of the tissues and the effects of gravity.
