Breast Lift

Breasts commonly sag. Medically, the condition is referred to as breast “ptosis” and the sagging breasts are called “ptotic” breasts. Breast ptosis is due to post-pregnancy causes, or significant weight loss, or enlarged breasts, or simply to the effects of gravity with aging. Regardless of the cause, it is very common. The approach taken for correction is dependent upon many factors, but the most essential question that must be resolved first is whether the patient believes her breasts are appropriately sized… too small…or too large. The answer to this question constructs a pathway leading to most appropriate solution.

If the prospective patient likes her current breast size, then it is a matter of lifting what already exists. She is essentially saying that her breast volume is sufficient but her nipples needs to be raised and the skin made tighter. In medical terminology, this operation is called a “mastopexy”. This is a condition where too much overstretched skin covers the breast tissue. Correction requires removal of the excess skin, not unlike how a tailor will alter an article of clothing too large for an individual. Just like the tailor leaves seams where extra material has been removed, a plastic surgeon leaves scars where excessive skin has been deleted. Therefore, a critical disclosure arises during the consulting process informing patients about extensive scars that are a necessary part of all mastopexies. Although methods vary, the one applied by Dr. Okamoto results in a scar that completely encircles the areola and then extends down vertically from the areola to the bottom of the breast whereupon it turns toward the armpit.

In cases where the breasts are larger than desired, a partial breast reduction becomes part of the mastopexy. Most of the time this dual operation can be accommodated with the same scars as described in the previous paragraph, but at times the portion of the scar running along the inframammary crease must travel from the armpit through the mid-point of the breast to its inside bottom corner. This is also known as an “anchor” scar because it resembles the outline of an anchor.

When someone with breast ptosis wants larger breasts, this is a more complex situation. Sometimes filling out the breast envelope with an implant will correct a considerable amount of the sag lessening the need for a formalized lifting procedure. Sometimes an excision of skin on the upper side of the areola or totally around the areola during breast implantation will satisfy the patient’s desires. These choices frequently involve compromise where reducing the extent of the breast scars is exchanged for less lifting. When the amount of sagging is extreme, the only option available is to commit to a combination augmentation-mastopexy.

Results Gallery

A detailed and thorough consultation is required where patient desires must be weighed against her goals. Costing depends upon choices made, but the rule of thumb is that the simplest choices are the least expensive and the more complex ones, more expensive. The recovery periods vary according to how much surgery is required – in general it can be as short as 1 week, but a 2-3 week convalescence would not be unexpected in some cases.