Breast Lift Surgery
Dr. John S. Lee M.D.
Breast Lift aka Mastopexy
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that raises and tightens sagging and deflated looking breasts. Breast lifts give you a more youthful and flattering contour. A breast lift cannot significantly change the size of the breast or round out the upper pole of the breast so it can be combined with breast augmentation to improve breast size or fullness.
Who is a good candidate for Breast Lift surgery?
Pregnancy, breast feeding and weight fluctations, hereditary and general gravity can all result in the following:
- Women who have pendulous breasts that are the size they like but are sagging.
- Women whose breasts lack firmness.
- Women whose nipples and areolas point downward and are below the breast crease.
What is the process for Breast lift surgery?
To begin the journey you will meet with Dr. Lee for a free consult. His consult days are generally Tuesdays and Thursdays. Allow for about 40 minutes. During the consult Dr. Lee will listen to all your concerns, do a thorough examination, answer your questions and offer you his recommendations. You will also be given a written quote after the consult.
If you decide to move forward with surgery his scheduling staff will find you a surgery day and then a preoperative appointment about two weeks before the surgery date where you will meet with the nurse and go over pre and post op instructions, sign consents, get prescriptions and make your final payment.
Surgery will be done either on premises at our fully accredited surgery center, NW Portland Plastic Surgery Center where you will go under IV sedation, also known as twilight anesthesia or in some cases at CSS (Center for Specialty Surgery) an outside surgery center under general anesthesia. This will be decided at your consultation at the recommendation of Dr. Lee.
What is the Recovery time for Breast Lift surgery?
You will go home the same day and then come back for a two day and then a one week post op appointment. Healing and follow up will continue, Dr. Lee will guide you through the recovery process at your post op appointments. There will be at least 7-10 days of very low activity.
What happens during Breast Lift Surgery?
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Breast lifts are performed at our onsite, fully accredited surgical center. It is an outpatient procedure so you will go home the day of the surgery. Dr. Lee uses intravenous sedation for this procedure, also known as twilight sedation.
Step 2 – The incision
Typically the breast lift technique involves incisions that follow your breasts natural contour. The incisions encircle the areola, extend vertically down the breast and may extend horizontally along the crease underneath the breast. Another technique limits the excisions to around the nipple but it all depends on your individual anatomy and Dr. Lee’s recommendation.
Step 3 – The Procedure
During the procedure excess breast tissue, fat and skin are removed and your nipples and areolas are repositioned higher on your breasts. They remain attached to the underlying breast tissue to help preserve breast and nipple sensation.
