Women with moderate to large natural breasts very often find that, with time, the bust will begin to sag and the skin above the nipple will stretch. This results in a low nipple and loss of projection. Women who want to reverse the effects of sagging breasts are good candidates for mastopexy, which is otherwise known as breast lift surgery. However, if the breasts are very large, the weight of the breasts on the chest can result in discomfort and physical symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain. In this case, the patient might be better suited to a breast reduction procedure.
What are the similarities between breast lift surgery and a breast reduction?
During both mastopexy and breast reduction surgery, the nipple is lifted and the breast is reshaped to appear more lifted. The scarring is also similar in the two procedures. During a mastopexy, no breast tissue is removed, but a breast reduction involves removal of breast tissue to make the breast smaller within the same pattern of scarring.
What are the differences between breast lift surgery and a breast reduction?
As implied by the name of the procedures, the main difference between a mastopexy and a breast reduction is the size of the breasts postoperatively. During a breast reduction, excess breast tissue is removed from the breasts to create a smaller bust with a smaller cup size. For this reason, it is most suited to women who are unhappy with the large size of their breasts. During a mastopexy, no breast tissue is removed. Therefore, the cup size will remain approximately the same after your surgery.
There are some situations where a limited scarring technique can be used to lift the breast. This can involve either a scar just around the areola (a circumareolar mastopexy) or a vertical scar technique. Usually these limited scar techniques are much less likely to be suitable for breast reduction since large amounts of skin as well as breast tissue need to be removed.
What anaesthetic is used for surgery of this nature?
Mastopexy and breast reduction are both performed under general anaesthetic. Mr. Chana works with fully qualified and experienced anaesthetists, and your safety and comfort are paramount to the whole procedure.
What is the recovery for surgery of this nature?
For both procedures, you will be required to stay in the hospital overnight, and take between 1-2 weeks off work. During this time, you should rest as much as you can, and expect some variable amount of bruising and swelling. You should wait at least 6 weeks before resuming participation in any vigorous activity like sports, and your best results will show between 3-6 months after your surgery.
What are the risks involved?
With both procedures, you will be left with permanent scars which will fade over a period of time – although this process can take over a year. Other risks include skin puckering, swelling, bruising and a chance of infection, but as a general rule, these risks are easily treated. There is a risk of delayed healing of the skin which is particularly a problem in smokers and in patients who are overweight. Therefore, it is important to completely stop cigarettes and reach an ideal weight prior to surgery.
How do I proceed?
If you are interested in either breast lift or breast reduction, you should book a consultation with Mr. Chana to discuss further. A lot of organisations offer cosmetic breast procedures, but you should seek the assistance of a breast expert like Mr. Chana to ensure that your results are as good as they can be and perfect for your body type.
During your consultation, you can explain to Mr. Chana any dissatisfaction you have with your existing body shape, and Mr Chana will discuss which procedure is most appropriate under the circumstances. Your consultation also offers an excellent opportunity for you to build a rapport with Mr. Chana – something that often leads patients to feel more comfortable and at ease moving forward with their treatment.