BREAST LIFT (MASTOPEXY)

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Lifting of Sagging Breasts for a More Youthful Look

Breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to lift the breasts. Good candidates for a breast lift are women who, for a variety of reasons such as gravity, aging, pregnancy, and breast feeding, have experienced a sagging of the breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts tend to elongate and lose their more youthful form.

As the breasts begin to sag, they may also lose some of their size that they previously had. Because of this, Dr. Revis may recommend that you consider breast augmentation at the same time as your breast lift. This can easily be accomplished at the same surgery and through the same incisions. Adding a breast implant simultaneously while lifting the breast can often improve fullness in the upper part of the breast and add cleavage.

If you think you might be a good candidate for a breast lift

If you think you might be a good candidate for a breast lift with or without augmentation, this page will give you a basic understanding of the procedure and the results you can expect. If you are also considering an augmentation, be sure to read our page regarding breast augmentation.

Reviewing Your Medical History

After reviewing your medical history, Dr. Revis will discuss your concerns, priorities and motivations for pursuing plastic surgery, as well as your fears. After examining you, Dr. Revis will be able to offer advice and options to help you achieve the appearance you desire. He will also explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different options you have before you.

At the completion of your consultation, our Patient Coordinator will give you a written estimate of the cost of the procedure. At this time, you will have the option to schedule your procedure if you so choose. The decision to undergo surgery is a very important one, and the final decision should be given very careful consideration. Dr. Revis realizes the importance of this decision, and at no time will you be pressured to make a decision. You are also encouraged to bring your spouse, significant other, family member, or a friend to your consultation.

Where Your Procedure Will Be Performed

Dr. Revis has been granted staff privileges at our local hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. In the interest of the safety of his patients, he only performs surgery in fully accredited facilities with the proper services and staff. Dr. Revis usually performs breast lift surgery at the Holy Cross HealthPlex or the Imperial Point Surgery Center (both are fully accredited ambulatory surgery centers). or the Imperial Point Surgery Center (a fully accredited ambulatory surgery center). The staff of these facilities are very experienced in the care of plastic surgery patients in general and specifically in the care of Dr. Revis’ patients.

Dr. Revis will be able to Offer Advice and Options

An intermediate form of anesthesia, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), is a relatively new technique. This technique is similar to twilight sleep in that you are breathing on your own, but the method of sedation differs. With an LMA, you actually breathe anesthetic gases administered by the anesthesiologist, rather than receive intravenous sedation via your intravenous line. These anesthetic gases cause you to sleep during the procedure. At the completion of the procedure, the gases are turned off and you wake up from your sleep. You will feel no pain, and you will not remember the procedure. This is the most common type of anesthesia used by Dr. Revis because he feels that the effects of this type of anesthesia leave your body the fastest, allowing you to feel better faster with very little likelihood of post-operative nausea.

The Final Decision Should be Given Very Careful Consideration

The prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting is also a focus of Dr. Revis’ approach to breast lift surgery. To improve your overall experience and ensure you feel better faster following your breast lift, he has developed a technique that has resulted in a very low incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting. You will be given an oral dose of Emend at the beginning of your operation. Emend is a new drug which is currently the best medication available to prevent nausea and vomiting. Dr. Revis feels it is a very important component of his overall approach to make sure that your experience is as pleasant as possible.

Dr. Revis will discuss anesthesia with you more thoroughly at the time of your consultation, and please ask him about anything you do not understand.

Breast lift surgery Takes One and a Half Hours

Breast lift surgery takes one and a half hours to perform, depending on what type of lift you are having performed and how much correction is required. Depending on the amount of reshaping that is required, a crescent mastopexy (using an incision from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock around the top of the areolar border can raise the nipple 1-2 centimeters), a Binelli (aka donut) mastopexy (using an incision around the outer border of the areola can raise the nipple up to 4 centimeters), a vertical mastopexy (creating a lollipop-shaped incision around the outer border of the areola and extending downwards towards the inframammary crease can lift the nipple up to 6 centimeters), or a full traditional mastopexy (creating an anchor-shaped or inverted-T shaped incision around the outer border of the areola and extending downwards to the inframammary crease and then medially and laterally along the inframammary crease can lift the nipple 8 centimeters or more) may be indicated.

Allowing time for mixture to take effect

After allowing time for the local anesthetic mixture to take effect, Dr. Revis will make the incisions necessary for the procedure. Using the newest techniques and instruments, Dr. Revis will perform the procedure you have discussed. If your procedure involves silicone breast implants, he will use the Keller Funnel to place them. The Keller Funnel employs the no-touch technique, reduces trauma to the implant and patient tissues and allows the use of smaller incisions. Read more about the Keller Funnel.

Dr. Revis also uses a technique in which all of the sutures are placed beneath the skin and are absorbed by your body. Not having to undergo suture removal has improved patient comfort and satisfaction.

Silagen or Skinuva – Made with 100% pure medical grade silicone, these products offer a clear, fast drying gel that will help flatten, soften and smooth scars. It also helps reduce redness, discoloration, itching, and pain.

Arnica Montana is a natural product from Sweden which has been shown in clinical studies to reduce post-operative bruising and swelling. Begun the evening prior to surgery, this product is continued for four days post-operatively.

These products are available for purchase in our office. Please ask us about these products and others if you have any further questions about whether or not these would be beneficial for you during your healing period.

When you Wake Up From Your Procedure

When you wake up from your procedure, you will be in the recovery room and will be wearing a soft surgical bra or sports bra. You may remove this bra on the second day following surgery and begin showering daily. You should wash your surgical bra daily while you are bathing. After showering, simply pat your incisions dry and replace your surgical bra.

The Antibiotics Prescribed

The antibiotics that were prescribed during your preoperative visit (usually Augmentin) should be taken twice daily beginning on the evening prior to surgery. Continue this medication for five days post-operatively or until it is gone. The pain medication prescribed by Dr. Revis during your preoperative visit (usually Lortab or Vicodin) should be taken fairly regularly, every four hours or so, during the first 24 hours (when you are not asleep, of course). Most patients find that they are able to transition to Tylenol after three or four days. It is not safe to drive a car within 24 hours of taking pain medication, as your reflexes and alertness may be altered. Dr. Revis may prescribe a muscle relaxant (usually Flexeril) for you if he suspects that your muscles may be tight and uncomfortable following surgery. If so, you may take one tablet every eight hours if needed for muscle tightness.

Improvement in the Shape of your Breasts

You will notice an improvement in the shape of your breasts immediately following surgery. A mild swelling may take several weeks to subside. You can plan to resume your normal daily activities the day following your surgery, and you may expect to be able to return to all sports activities within three weeks of your surgery.