Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a good candidate for this type of surgery?
Mastopexy surgery can be performed on healthy, emotionally stable women of any age. The best candidates have firm, elastic skin that will reshape to the breasts’ new contours, and have not had previous breast surgery.
Surgery may be discouraged poorly for controlled diabetics, and is discouraged for very obese women or smokers. These factors tend to lead to increased complications.
If certain chronic conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity or respiratory illnesses are poorly controlled, or you are immunocompromised, require anti-coagulants (blood thinners), or you are an active smoker, you may not be a safe candidate for this procedure. See also: Smoking and BMI.
What kind of scars will I have and where will they be located?
The location of your scars will depend on the procedure that you require. All breast lifts involve a scar around the areola. You may require a vertical scar of variable length. This is known as a vertical mastopexy. If the vertical scar is connected to a scar in the crease underneath your breasts, it is known as an anchor pattern.
If there is excess skin, your incisions may be larger.
Your scars will initially be red and a little raised, but over three to six months they usually get lighter in colour and flatten out although they will never disappear completely. They may remain the same size for several months, or even widen.
How long is the operation?
The actual surgical time varies depending on the amount of surgery necessary for each patient, but usually is about three hours.
How long is the hospital stay?
Mastopexy is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anaesthesia, meaning you can go home the same day once you have recovered from the anaesthetic.
How much pain should I expect?
This is a difficult question to answer definitively. Every patient has a different pain tolerance. However, we will prescribe sufficient pain medication throughout your recovery period to ensure the discomfort you feel is manageable.
Most people feel tender and bruised after surgery, but are not in a great deal of pain.
What happens after the surgery?
You may be able to shower lightly 48 hours after your surgery.
We use dissolving stitches that do not have to be removed.
You may experience swelling during the first week after your surgery, which should peak by the third day. This will resolve with time. If you have had a vertical mastopexy, your breasts may appear puckered, especially at the bottom of the breasts. This will resolve over the following 2 to 6 months.
When can I go in the sun?
You should avoid exposing your new scars to the sun or a tanning bed for at least six months or until they have matured well. Sunlight can permanently affect the skin's pigmentation, causing the scars to turn dark.
Will I need to wear a support garment?
We advise you to wear a support bra continuously for four weeks. For the next two weeks a support bra during the day is recommended.
When will I be able to go back to work and resume my normal activities?
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. In general, it will take about a month before you're back to all of your normal activities.
If you have a sedentary job, you should anticipate about two weeks off work. Occupations involving vigorous physical activity will require a longer period of healing – usually four to six weeks prior to resumption of work.
We encourage you to start walking almost immediately after your surgery to diminish the risk of blood clots in your legs, as a result of immobilization from the anaesthetic. Even while you are resting, you should be moving your feet and ankles frequently to promote circulation in your legs. In our experience, this will help you will recover much faster, and with fewer complications.
Avoid lifting heavy objects for 3 weeks. Walking is encouraged immediately post operatively. Strenuous aerobic activity can be resumed at approximately four weeks post operatively. For the first four weeks, you should stay away from any sport or job that risks a blow to the chest area. By and large, you should let your body be your guide. If it doesn’t hurt, go do it. If it does hurt, stop.
How long will the results last?
This is impossible to answer definitively. Factors affecting the length of the result include age at the time of operation, physical condition before and afterwards, quality of skin, and alterations in weight.
The surgery reshapes the breast by reducing the amount of skin. This is permanent although your breasts can start to sag again with age. If your weight fluctuates significantly or if you become pregnant, this can diminish the benefits of mastopexy.
The vast majority of people do not require a second mastopexy in their lifetime.
