Breast Lift

Mastopexy
Either because of changes following pregnancy, with the passage of time or following weight loss, breasts can begin to droop and look aged. This represents the effects of gravity and tissue stretching and leads to a disproportion between the amount of skin (excess) and the amount of breast gland (deficiency). In severe forms the nipple points downward, rather than forward. The procedure known as mastopexy is done to rearrange the breast skin, giving the breasts a more youthful, firm appearance. Mastopexy can also decrease the size of the pigmented area around the nipple known as the areola. If the volume of breast tissue has decreased, as often occurs after breast-feeding, then a breast implant can be placed at the time of the mastopexy to make the breasts appear larger and firmer.

The best candidates for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally stable women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish. The best results are obtained in women with small, sagging breasts; in larger breasted women, the results may not be as long lasting, because of the weight of the breasts.

The First Office Visit
A thorough medical history and directed physical examination are obtained at the time of your consultation. Dr. Parson will examine your breasts, making measurements of the amount of drooping and sizing the proportions of your existing breast tissue with respect to your rib cage size. Any existing scars are evaluated to give the doctor an idea of your scarring potential.

He will tell you at the time of your visit exactly the approach he would recommend to provide you with the best possible result, while minimizing scarring. Other details, such as whether a breast implant would be of benefit in your particular situation, are discussed.

Risks of Mastopexy
Complications of breast surgery are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection, bleeding, or a reaction to the anesthetic or sedative medications. You may have temporary or even permanent areas of altered sensation, including numbness. There is usually some difference in the size of breasts normally, and this is almost never perfectly correctable. There are fairly lengthy skin incisions that require a period of up to a year or two for completion of the scarring process for optimal appearance. In some ethnic skin types, scarring can be more prominent, and may require further treatment. The doctor will discuss your particular scarring potential in more detail at the time of your consultation. When breast augmentation is performed in combination with the mastopexy procedure, you need to be aware of the additional risks this imposes.

The Pre-Operative Period
It is imperative that patients refrain from ingesting any medications or other substances that could potentially be the cause of surgical complications. A list of medications should be reviewed and discontinued at least 2 weeks prior to operation. Patients are seen just prior to their surgery date for a general physical examination to ensure that no underlying medical problems exist that may interfere with the safety of their surgery. Specifically, any infections that arise prior to operation, however seemingly trivial, should be reported to our office. Even an otherwise innocent infection can result in a surgical wound infection, and must be treated prior to surgery. A baseline mammogram must be obtained prior to the operation.

A prescription for pain medication and antibiotics will be written, so that you have your medication when you return home from the operation.

Pre-operative photographs are taken so that you can see the improvement from your surgery afterwards. We generally take post-operative photographs at 3 - 6 months after your procedure. You will be asked to sign a surgical consent, which enumerates the risks of the procedure in detail. These risks have been explained here, but are also discussed at the consultation.

You will need to arrange for an escort to drive you to and from the surgery center. Patients cannot operate motor vehicles after surgery, and we will not place recently sedated patients into taxis for transport home. It is mandatory to have someone stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery for your comfort and safety.

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