BREAST LIFT (MASTOPEXY)

A breast lift is a more complex operation than a breast augmentation, though an augmentation may be performed at the same time.

Essentially, a breast lift is needed when the breast glands or the nipples--or both--have dropped to or below the level of the breast fold at the bottom of your breasts when standing; this phenomenon is called ptosis. As you might guess, there is a wide spectrum of breast ptosis, and there are different procedures to apply to the restructuring of your breasts, depending on many factors.

LIFT TYPES:

Crescent Lift: The simplest, used when only a mild degree of drooping is present. Patients within this category may elect for an implant, which will likely solve the issue without additional surgery; some women, however, want their nipples to be elevated to an optimal 'perkiness,' and may add the crescent lift to achieve their goals. There is usually a small, half-round scar in the upper half of the nipple-areolar border. The downside of this type of lift is that it lacks the lifting power to improve any but the mildest of breast ptosis, and over time the nipple-areolar complex can for a stretched, elongated oval due to gravity and loss of tone.

'Donut' or Circumareolar, Lift: Used when the NAC (nipple-areolar complex) requires a maximum of 3 cm of upward repositioning, this lift can be performed with or without breast implants. The residual scar from a donut lift is usually a fine pale circular line surrounding the areola.

LeJour Circumvertical Lift: The addition of a vertical component to a breast lift surgery is a powerful means of restoring shape and elevation to a severely drooping, deflated breast. The procedure can be performed with or without breast implants; the resulting scars circle the areolae, then continue downward (vertically) towards the base of the breasts (lollipop), and occasionally, due to excess skin, travel to the sides, hugging the curves of the breasts, leaving an 'anchor' scar--and a nicely lifted breast--in its place. This more extensive surgery does, necessarily, leave the patient with some scars, which become much improved over a few months' time.