Breast Uplift | Breast mastopexy in Harley Street, London

Your surgeon will always discuss with you and recommend the treatment that is appropriate for you. During the consultation, the surgeon will also explain the treatment, its results and benefits, the duration of the result, and the frequency of repeating the treatment.

BREAST UPLIFT (Mastopexy)

Following childbirth and/or breastfeeding, many women find that their breasts have changed, often for the worse, in terms of size, shape, and feel. As the skin loses elasticity, the breasts tend to lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Even without pregnancies, the effects of time, gravity, and alternate weight gain and loss can all take their toll. A breast uplift or mastopexy is a surgical procedure to reshape and raise sagging breasts without altering the overall volume of the breast.

It is best to wait until you have finished childbearing to have mastopexy. While mastopexy doesn’t usually interfere with future pregnancies, it is important to understand that having an uplift will not prevent the breasts from drooping over the years due to the natural ageing process.

The best results are usually achieved in women with small, sagging breasts. Although breasts of any size can be lifted, the result may not last as long in heavy breasts. It is important to bear in mind that, although every effort will be made to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible, it is inevitable that after your mastopexy operation you will be left with permanent scars. However, the size and positioning of these scars will vary from patient to patient depending upon the degree of sagging. Fortunately, however, most scars will fade in time and are not visible in low-cut tops and bathing suits.

WHERE THE SURGERY WILL BE PERFORMED

The breast uplift procedure is performed in our Harley Street clinic.

TYPE OF ANAESTHESIA

The breast uplift procedure is carried out under intravenous sedation so there will be no pain and you will sleep through the operation.

THE SURGERY

Breast uplift procedure usually takes two and a half to three hours.

PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY

You will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medicines.

If you smoke, plan to quit at least two weeks prior to the surgery and not resume smoking for at least two weeks after your surgery. Avoid overexposure to the sun before the surgery, especially on the abdomen, and do not go on an astringent diet, as both can inhibit your ability to heal. If you develop a cold or infection of any kind, it is important to inform the surgeon, as your surgery may need to be postponed.

You will need to arrange for someone to collect you after your surgery, as you will be unable to drive. It is also advisable to have someone to stay with you for a few days to help you out if needed.

BEFORE YOUR SURGERY

As every patient and surgeon has a different view of what is a desirable size, position, and shape for breasts, it is important that you discuss your expectations with the surgeon at the time of the consultation.

In the week before, you should not take any medications containing aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), since these products affect the blood clotting mechanism and therefore may lead to excessive bleeding during and after surgery, hence resulting in increased bruising. Taking high doses of vitamin E preparations, eating large amounts of garlic and consuming alcohol can also produce the same result and should be avoided. If pain medication is necessary, we recommend you take ibuprofen/paracetamol.

It is in your own best interests to quit smoking, at least two weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. It is well known that smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels, which leads to a decreased blood supply to the skin, thus slowing and interfering with the healing process.

Be sure to inform your surgeon of any medications you take, as well as possible allergies including (drug, latex, plasters, and so on). Your surgeon will decide whether preliminary examinations are necessary, such as blood tests, an electrocardiogram, or x-rays of the lungs. If this is the case, these tests should be performed several weeks before the surgery.

YOUR MASTOPEXY PROCEDURE

Mastopexy will be performed under intravenous sedation which is not the same as general anaesthesia. It is a midpoint between local and general anaesthesia.

Prior to your surgery, the surgeon will mark your skin, to ensure the correct positioning of your breasts. Stretched and loose excess skin is removed, then the nipple and remaining underlying tissues are moved to a new higher location. The suture line or incisions depend upon the degree of sagging. For women who only have a moderate degree of sag, an uplift can be achieved through a technique, which confines the incision to the area around the areola (the dark pink skin around the nipple). In more severe degrees of sagging the suture line will need to extend in a vertical line downwards toward the breast crease and occasionally, if necessary, along the breast crease line.

AFTER YOUR OPERATION

If drains are used (only occasionally) these are removed the following day. Normally the bandages placed whist you are in theatre are left on for 1 – 2 weeks depending on your exact procedure. You will also be instructed to wear a moderately firm supporting bra without an underwire. The stitches used are usually dissolvable.

Following surgery, you will experience some swelling and bruising of the breasts. The bruising usually lasts about 2-3 weeks. While most of the swelling will have

dissipated by this time, some subtle swelling may still be present for up to 3 months.

Although preoperative markings always try to ensure that both nipples are placed in exactly the same position, natural tension forces within scars may, however, stretch these slightly which could result in unevenly positioned or shaped nipples postoperatively (always however take into consideration that normal breasts naturally have differences anyway)

After the surgery, you may notice that the breasts feel quite firm and taut, particularly along the edges of the incision site, this will be as a result of the normal healing process laying down elements of scar tissue to facilitate healing. It gradually resolves in time but may take a few months to complete. You may also notice in the first few weeks that your breasts appear unnaturally high and very propped up. Gravity will loosen them up quickly and brings them back to a more natural, desirable level.

You should expect the sensation to the skin in the nipples and surrounding skin to be reduced after surgery. This is as a result of surgical trauma to the nerves in the region. Although this usually recovers in a few months, permanent numbness may conceivably ensue.

Scars are not a complication but a normal event after any surgery. In breast uplift, the scars, depending on the degree of sagging and the technique used, can be quite lengthy and take many months or years to settle. However as they are around and below the nipples, scars shouldn’t be noticeable even in low-cut clothing or a bathing suit. You should always expect the scars to be red, raised, lumpy, and even itchy to begin with but with time they should fade and flatten. This is the natural evolution of the healing process. However, it is important to keep in mind that this may take up to two years to complete. Daily massage of the scars during this time period is advised to expedite and facilitate this process.

Whilst it is true that when a breast uplift is performed by a qualified cosmetic surgeon the risks are small, nonetheless, specific complications with this procedure can and do occur, including infection, swelling, and very rarely, blood clots.

Patients should always remember that healing is a gradual process. Despite being up and about in a day or two after this type of surgery, you should always try to make provisions to rest in the first few days after surgery. Although many people go back to light work duties by 10-14 days others find it more appropriate to take a further 1-2 weeks to rest. Remember variations do occur in the time individuals take to heal. Walking is helpful in the first 3-4 weeks as this improves the circulation and helps reduce the swelling, as well as the chance of blood clots developing. Heavy lifting or strenuous activity is prohibited in the first 6 weeks after surgery.

The results of this operation are usually excellent and you can expect less drooping of your breast with nipples in a higher position and a fuller shape in the upper half of your breast. It is important to note however that although immediately after surgery, your new breast will be apparent, the final shape will take approximately six months to fully emerge.

Every effort will be made to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible. Still, it’s important to remember that mastopexy scars can be extensive and are permanent. Fortunately, however, the scars can usually be placed so that you can wear even low-cut tops without these being visible.

Your satisfaction with breast uplift is likely to be greater if you understand the procedure thoroughly and your expectations are realistic.

If you have any further questions or queries about this procedure, please feel free to call and speak to either Dr Roberto Viel, Dr Maurizio Viel or any of our nurses. Please note that it is necessary to attend a consultation prior to your operation, this is also the case with existing patients, it may also be necessary to have repeat blood tests.

To book an appointment for Breast Uplift, please call: 020 7636 4272 /vc_column_text]

Patient reviews

I have been going to Dr Roberto Viel and Dr Maurizio Viel at LCAS for several years now, both in Dubai and London. I have always been incredibly impressed with the treatments offered, the level of professionalism and the fabulous results.

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S.B.S

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