Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast lift or mastopexy is a procedure that elevates and reshapes the breast into a more youthful and aesthetically pleasing position. It also includes reducing and reshaping the areola if necessary.

The procedure is highly individualized based on the amount of sagging or deflation present and your desired size. Dr. Karaaltın can customize your breast lift procedure to make your breasts slightly smaller or add an implant to restore volume to the breast.

How can a breast sag (drop)?

Nobody can defy gravity! Many circumstances can cause the breasts to lose their youthful shape and density. Aging, breast feeding, significant weight loss/gain, pregnancy, or genetics Although, seldomly woman can avoid the factors that can cause the breast sagging deformity, the breast lift procedure can revive the breast tissue to be resorted to the set point position as it was previously.

What to Expect from a Breast Lift Procedure

A breast lift, or mastopexy, may be of interest if your breasts appear droopy or deformed, making it difficult for you to look nice in clothing, swimsuits, or even with your partner. This often occurs after weight loss, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Genetics can also contribute to the irreversible stretching of the breast skin, resulting in increased sagging and deformity of the breast mound.

The breast lift procedure aims to reshape the breast tissue in a specific pattern, repositioning the nipple-areola complex to a higher, youthful position. By molding the breast tissue, the procedure provides a perky appearance to the breasts, helping you achieve a more confident and youthful look.

A Breast Lift can be performed in a variety of different surgical techniques

For certain patients, relevant to the specific parameters specialized surgical techniques used during breast augmentation (not bu breast augmentation bolumuze link atilabilir) can create the appearance of a breast lift. This is ideal for patients requiring a very minor lifting of the nipple areolar with deflation of the upper part of the breast due to weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Similarly, for patients who require only a minor lift and reduction of the nipple areolar complex, which can be assessed by the (arm up rising test) a peri-areolar breast lift, also referred to as a Benelli mastopexy can be performed. This type of breast lift involves a scar only around the nipple along with a reduction in the size of the areola and purse stringing the skin envelope to create a subtle lift of the breast.

For patients with more sagging of the breast and nipple areolar complex, a vertical mastopexy, also called a lollipop lift, can be performed. This type of breast lift involves a scar around the nipple and down the front of the breast, on a vertical line. This allows the surgeon to aggressively lift and reshape breasts that require more intervention. This scar usually heals well over time, and special scar techniques can be utilized to decrease or mask the appearance of these scars.

For patients with severe breast ptosis or droop, the lollipop incision may need to be converted and extended under the breast fold to remove additional excess skin (on the vertical axes) and this enables better shape and lift of the breast. This is called a wise pattern incision and results in an “anchor scar” down the front of the breast and underneath the breast fold. This is the traditional scar for breast reductions and breast lifts and is one of the most used breast lift or breast reduction techniques. Over time, this scar usually heals well, and special scar techniques can be utilized to decrease or mask the appearance of these scars.

Breast lift can also be performed along with implant placement, implant removal, or implant exchange. Some of cosmetic surgery patients who have had breast implants want them removed for a variety of reasons and want their breasts lifted after the breast implants are removed. While skillful techniques are used to combine these procedures, they often can be performed at the same time or with a “delayed fill” implant. A delayed fill breast augmentation with breast lift involves placing an unfilled or partially filled breast implant at the time of the breast lift. The implant is filled only after the nipple areolar, and tissues have begun the healing process. This allows for breast augmentation and breast lift to be performed with less risk of complications to the nipple and breast tissue when a large implant size is desired along with a need for aggressive nipple or breast lift.

The Scar of Breast Lifts

The most important fact about the breast lift procedure is that it will involve scars on the breast. This means that it is a procedure that involves a dilemma. When a breast has minimal sagging, the scars related to a breast lift may well not be worth it. Not all breast lifts are the same. If a relatively small amount of lifting is needed, then there may only be a scar around the areola. When breasts are significantly saggy, then in addition to the scar around the areola, a vertical scar is needed running from the bottom of the areola to the fold under the breast (also known as a “lollipop” scar). In other cases, there will also be a horizontal scar at or near the fold under the breast. This type of scar is commonly referred to as an anchor scar. Therefore, the scar type of your breast lift procedure is eventually related to the amount of your breast sageness.

It is important to understand that breast lift surgery is one of the most technically demanding cosmetic surgery procedures. Therefore, you should be careful when selecting an experienced and thorough plastic surgeon with whom you feel comfortable. Dr. Karaaltın guarantees that your procedure will be meticulously monitored and that you will receive the most appropriate surgical approach for your breast lift.

Reasons to decide to have a Breast Lift procedure

For many women, beautiful breasts are not just about size. In fact, overly large and sagging breasts often cause discomfort and pain. A surefire way to alleviate this discomfort is the breast lift procedure performed by Dr. Karaaltın.

There are a variety of reasons that patients decide to have a breast lift, A query performed by our scientific team has deliberated the followings facts acknowledged by hundreds of our patients, these include:

Regain Pre-Pregnancy Body Form

Pregnancy and breastfeeding tend to cause women’s breasts to sag. A breast lift, however, can help reposition your breasts to their former position.

Desiring a More Youthful Looking Body

Most patients will experience some degree of breast sagging as they age. Women who want to turn back the hands of time on their bodies and have perkier breasts often choose a breast lift.

Wanting to Feel Confident in a Swimsuit or Tight Clothing

There’s nothing like the thought of putting on a swimsuit or wearing tight clothing that can cause a person with sagging breasts to feel self-conscious about her appearance.

Wanting to Improve Overall Self-Confidence

Many women choose to have a breast lift because their sagging breasts have affected more than just their figure – they’ve taken a toll on their self-esteem. Sagging and deflated breasts make many women feel like they’ve lost a little part of themselves. A breast lift can help bring back a woman’s self-confidence and make her all together happier in front of the mirror.

Combining a Breast Lift with Other Procedures

Combining a breast lift surgery with other elective cosmetic procedures is quite common and completely safe. Some popular breast lift combinations performed by Dr. Karaaltın include:

A Mommy Makeover

Designed for mothers who are done having children, the goal of a mommy makeover is to rejuvenate the body to its former, pre-pregnancy self. Common surgeries performed during a mommy makeover include a breast lift, breast augmentation to add volume, tummy tuck to repair separated abdominal muscles and remove loose and sagging skin, and liposuction to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat that just won’t go away despite diet and exercise.

A Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation

Women desiring to lift their bust lines and go bigger should consider combining a breast lift and a breast augmentation. When these two procedures are performed as one surgical event, you’ll awaken from the OR with larger breasts that are positioned higher on your body.

A Breast Lift with a Breast Reduction

women with sagging breasts who also experience the pain that comes with large breasts, and/or unwanted attention, may consider lifting and reducing their breasts all at once. By combining these two surgeries, you’ll awaken from surgery with perkier breasts that are finally at a size you can feel comfortable with, both physically and emotionally.

Breast Lift Recovery

After your breast lift procedure is completed, the recovery process begins immediately. Our team will provide you with adequate recommendations and prescribe pain medication as needed to ensure your comfort during recovery. It is crucial to follow all the instructions provided by Dr. Karaaltın Clinic's medical staff. Since each patient is unique, postoperative instructions may vary, but some of the common guidelines you will receive include:

• How to properly care for your breasts after the operation
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid in the recovery process and reduce infection risks
• Depending on your specific case, our medical staff may require you to wear a protective bandage or support bra to help minimize visible swelling following the procedure
• Additionally, a small, thin tube may be temporarily inserted under the skin to help drain excess blood or fluids that collect, which will be removed later.

What to Expect at Your Initial Consultation

If you're interested in a breast lift, the Dr. Karaaltın Clinic team will guide you through the process from consultation to aftercare. During your inquiry, you can expect the following:

• They will listen to your specific concerns and goals.
• They will perform a detailed evaluation of your photographs, focusing on your individual anatomy.
• If a breast lift (mastopexy) is deemed suitable for you, the medical staff will discuss the details of the cosmetic procedures offered and which approach aligns with your desired results. Information about scars and techniques will be provided.
• If Dr. Karaaltın decides that adding an implant is the right choice, you will be informed about the procedure.
• The risks and benefits of the breast lift will be thoroughly explained.
• You will have ample opportunity to ask questions to Dr. Karaaltın and the medical team regarding the breast lift surgery.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Breast Lift Procedure

On the day of your breast lift surgery, Dr. Karaaltın will meet you in the preoperative area to address any last-minute questions or concerns you may have. Dr. Karaaltın will then make preoperative markings and perform thorough checks with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring high-quality care and safety. You will also meet the anesthesiologist and their team, as well as the members of Dr. Karaaltın’s surgical team.

During the procedure, Dr. Karaaltın will pay close attention to detail and work with the team to ensure an excellent outcome, with a strong focus on safety and quality.

What to Expect After Your Breast Lift Surgery

After your breast lift surgery, you will be fitted with a special post-surgical dressing. You will have a light dressing covering the incisions. Swelling is typical after the surgery. You may shower 24 hours after the procedure. Dr. Karaaltın employs a multimodal pain management approach to reduce or eliminate your need for narcotic pain medication, allowing our patients to recover quickly and feel more like themselves soon after the breast lift procedure. Most of our breast lift patients are ready to return to work within 1-2 weeks. Initially, Dr. Karaaltın and our team will see you or communicate with you daily to ensure proper healing. Most of the swelling begins to subside within the first week or two and typically resolves by 4-6 weeks. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activities or lifting weights greater than 5 kg for 4-6 weeks during the healing process.

The Arm Up rising (Hands up test) Test for assessing the Breast Lift Procedure

The patient is initially marked in the standing position when the hands and arm down and up 180 degrees. An imaginary line between the two nipples is marked (Called the Breast key point line, BK-line). The elevation of this line in relation to the sternal benchmark which is called the BK- point (Breast Key point, the point where the lower breast fold first meets the sternum edge) is referred as positive. An angle calculated between the nipple, the BK-point and the body meridian called the BK angle is calculated before and after the surgical procedure. This angle should be calculated as 90 degrees or more after the breast lifting procedure.

Facts & Fictions About Breast Up lift

What A Breast Lift Surgery Can’t Do?

Patients frequently presume that, since a breast lift removes excess skin and breast tissue, the surgery will result in a combined breast reduction, too. This is not true. The goal of a breast lift is to convert your breast in more youthful, perkier position, not to reduce the size of them, as the surgeon will use the breast tissue to mold and reform it. Patients who desire size reduction should go for a breast reduction surgery.

Is A non-Surgical Breast Up lift Possible?

Yes. This is possible with ultrasound (VASER) or vibration-assisted liposuction

The possibility of lifting the breast mound to an upper position relies on two factors in breast ultrasound-assisted liposuction surgery:

1. The upward rotation of the breast, when the lower quadrants of the mammary cones are thinned and diminished in volume by fat emulsification.
2. The subdermal skin stimulation of the entire breast (during the initial phase of breast undermining). which contributes to enhance the tissue retraction, to accommodate the new “brassiere” of the elevated breast.

Young women especially who wish to have a moderate correction of the ptotic position of their breasts, after pregnancies, moderate weight loss and postlactating involution, but they dislike scars in breast might be appropriate candidates for the procedure.

Do I need an Anchor or Lollipop scar for my Breast Uplift?

The most important determinant factor for the scar selection is the grade of ptosis of your breast. As greater the sagging is, excess of skin is removed and that means a larger scar to overcome it.

Will a Breast lift make my breast firmer?

Yes. A breast lift will provide patients with a breast that are firmer, perkier, and positioned in a higher position on the chest wall.