Breast ptosis or breast lift

Breast ptosis (or breast lift) is the elevation of the sagging breast.

This is a purely cosmetic procedure and cannot be reimbursed by health insurance or mutual insurance. The aim of this operation is to elevate the breast, to remove excess skin, to tighten the gland and to elevate the nipple and areola to a more youthful position.

Before the procedure

Two cosmetic surgery consultations are mandatory before any cosmetic surgery operation.

A preoperative mammogram is mandatory for women over 35 or with risk factors for breast cancer. An anaesthesia consultation before the operation is mandatory. You need to bring the results of the blood test prescribed during the consultation (blood count, coagulation). Medical photographs are taken. An elastic sport bra without armature and with a front opening is prescribed. You should expect 7 to 15 days convalescence before returning to work, work stoppage cannot be prescribed.

The procedure

• The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and lasts between 1h30 and 3 hours.
• The admission is made the morning of the operation.
• You must fast (neither eat, drink or smoke) beginning at midnight the night before the operation.

After the procedure

• You will be monitored in the recovery room and in your room.
• A suction drainage system is usually placed to reduce the risks for bruises. It is kept one day.
• The bandage is removed the day after the operation. A light bandage will be placed and you will be asked to wear the bra without armatures prescribed prior to the operation. You need to wear it day and night during 6 weeks after the operation.
• You will stay one night in the clinic.
• It is recommended that someone brings you back home.
• Stitches are dissolvable.
• You can have a shower from the day after the operation.
• Several follow-up consultations are realised: 7 to 10 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. In some rare cases, breast ptosis can reduce areola sensitivity.
• Regarding routine screening for breast cancer, breast monitoring by mammogram is not affected by the mammoplasty. A reference mammography a few months after surgery is recommended. You will need to stop working during 8 to 10 days.
• A sport activity can be done again within 2 months after surgery. The final result can be appreciated 6 months after the operation regarding the breast shape. The scars will take their final appearance between 12 to 18 months after the operation.

The scars

The scar can be divided into 3 parts:

- a regular circular scar around the areola.

- a frequent vertical scar between the areola and the bottom fold of the breast.

- a horizontal scar in the bottom fold of the breast (reverse T). When there is no scar in the bottom fold, this is called vertical technique. In some cases, vertical and bottom fold scars can be avoided, leaving only the peri-areolar scar, also called round-block scar.

Notes:
In case of isolated vertical scar, breasts are not harmoniously shaped during the first weeks after surgery. You should not be surprised about it, breast will take its natural shape two months after surgery.

If there is a lack of volume, an implant can be necessary. This is called an implant-plasty.

Avoid pregnancies during the year after surgery to preserve the result of the procedure. Breast feeding after surgery is possible in most of the cases but cannot be guaranteed.