This 35 year old patient underwent a mastopexy or breast uplift, the results are shown seven weeks postoperatively. There was just a very small area on the edge of the nipple areola complex that required dressings for a few weeks but these have now healed up without leaving any additional scarring. Sometimes it can be surprising that the residual breast volume is more than anticipated. In the future it is possible to increase the size with either breast implants or potentially fat transfer but this can also be left to be decided in the future..

This patient underwent an initial breast uplift followed by a second stage breast augmentation six months later with round high profile Mentor implants THPX 325 cc.

Augmentation mastopexy is a complex operation and in my opinion is best performed as a two-stage procedure to achieve more reliable results. It allows the breast scars to heal before being stretched by the additional volume from the implant. It also allows for more accurate decision making as to the exact implant size and dimensions as these can be evaluated after the first procedure.

This 40 year old patient underwent this combined procedure removing 1.2 kilogrammes of skin and fat from the lower abdomen combined with 400 CCS of liposuction to her hips and central abdomen.

She also underwent a breast uplift during the same procedure to maintain her current breast volume but elevate the breast gland and nipple areola complex.

Results are shown 7 weeks following surgery. Although she has some horizontal excess tissue following 6 ½ stone of weight loss and having had 4 children she preferred to avoid the vertical scars associated with the Fleur-de-Lis type of abdominoplasty. The vertical scar in this type of abdominoplasty can be unsightly and is best avoided if possible. This is a decision to make during your consultation if this is an option for you.

At the time of surgery 975 grammes of tissue was removed from the abdomen along with 500 mls of liposuction. The results are shown at six weeks after surgery.

During an abdominoplasty the rectus sheath layer which covers the abdominal muscles can be tightened as this normally stretches after pregnancies and most patients will benefit from having a plication or tightening of this at the time of surgery. Abdominoplasty is also usually combined with some liposuction to the hips and central abdomen as in this case.

These procedures, abdominoplasty and breast uplift can be carried out as separate operations or combined particularly if you have no other risk factors for surgery. Usually with a combined procedure this will require one to two nights in hospital and usually there will be a small drain, but just in the abdominal wound, for 24 to 48 hours.

This patient underwent removal of her very old breast implants which have been present for 25 years along with the breast implant capsules. This procedure was combined with a breast uplift or mastopexy.  

The implants have been placed on top of the muscle and when they are in this sub-glandular position it is possible to remove more of the capsule and sometimes all of it, as was the case here. This is called an en-block capsulectomy which is not always possible and particularly when the implants are placed under the muscle as in this position it is not possible to completely remove all the implant capsule safely.

In order to remove all of the capsule I generally recommend a breast uplift (mastopexy) and the capsule needs to be quite thick and firm in order to remove it. If the capsule is not thickened then here’s no evidence to suggest that removing all of it is beneficial and it can be damaging to the breast, ribs and chest wall to do so unnecessarily.

Results are shown at six weeks after surgery.

This 29-year-old patient underwent a mastopexy or breast uplift and the results are shown 9 weeks following surgery. Some of these scars are still a little red but these will settle over the next 6 to 12 months and the colour will fade to white over time. in the future it is possible to increase the breast volume if volume is reduces over the years and this can be with either an implant or sometimes with lipo-modelling (fat transfer) for a  more subtle lower volume augmentation if desired are any point in the future.

Early results at 5 weeks following mastopexy or breast uplift surgery.

These images show a mastopexy or breast uplift. This procedure retains all the volume in the breast but removes some of the skin in the lower part of the breast to allow the breast gland to be re shaped and the nipple areola complex is elevated. These results are shown at 2 months following the operation. The procedure generally requires an overnight stay in hospital but can be done as a day case if the patients prefers this option.

These images are only 6 weeks after the Mastopexy (Breast Uplift) procedure so the scars can be expected to fade further. When performing a mastopexy or breast uplift no volume is lost so the breasts are the same volume but the projection can look much better without all the excess skin commonly found after pregnancies and breast feeding. If the breast uplift is performed first then you can see the results of the surgery and often an implant may not be required. If the patient would like extra volume then it is much easier to choose the correct size and type of implant when the shape of the uplifted breast can be seen. If it is needed it is also much safer and therefore better to perform an augmentation and mastopexy in two procedures. There is also the opportunity to delay the second procedure if it is no-longer needed as in this case, or if the patient isn’t sure if they would like extra volume as well as an uplift.

In future years if there is loss of breast volume then there is the option to have an implant if it is needed to replace volume lost over time.

Mastopexy or breast uplift for breast droop after having 2 children.

Mastopexy (Breast uplift) with nipple areolar elevation and reduction using a Wise pattern (inverted T scar) technique. Post op images taken 6 weeks following surgery. Full scar maturation will take a further 12 months.

This 34 year old patient underwent a breast uplift or mastopexy. This was the result of after having two children having lost some breast volume with the resultant changes to the breast shape. The results shown are at 2 months. The scar can be expected to settle further over the next few months and the slight swelling of the nipple / areolar area should also slowly return to normal with time.

This patient underwent a breast uplift or mastopexy. Results are shown 8 weeks. She may now consider a modest 240cc breast augmentation to increase her volume.  She also developed a haematoma on the day following surgery which required a return to theatre to remove the blood. This was done promptly and has not caused an long term problems.  I always recommend that an augmentation-mastopexy (uplift) is done as two procedures with the initial operation being the uplift, before deciding on the implant volume. The augmentation can then be carried out safely at 20 3 months post operatively.

This patient underwent a mastopexy at the age of 19 due to significant breast ptosis (droop) that had developed during breast development. This is the type of appearance that is more often associated with weight loss and post pregnancy. Results are shown at 5 weeks. The scars can now be expected to fade over the next 12 months as the breasts settle into their new position.

One risk of this procedure can be alteration in nipple sensation but this is often not the case as the nipple remains attached to all the breast tissue and therefore the nerve supply, but this can vary depending on the surgical technique used. In this case the breast skin was elevated off the breast tissue and the breast glandular tissue sutured to the chest wall in a more elevated position. The excess or redundant skin is then removed and the remaining skin allowed to redrape over the new breast shape.

Time gravity and pregnancy in the future will all contribute to the natural aging of the breast in the years to come. Mastopexy should not prevent or interfere too much with the ability to breast feed in the future using this technique as all the breast tissue is still attached to the breast ducts and nipples.

Early results are shown at 5 weeks post-operatively.

This patient underwent a mastopexy for breast droop or ptosis. The results shown are 2 months post operatively.  The breast volume remains the same before and after the operation so the bra size is the same.  If in the months or  years to come she wanted a larger breast then an augmentation would now be possible. Before lifting the breast a moderate size proportionate implant would not have been a sensible option as there is was much breast droop to correct with a breast implant alone and still achieve a natural breast shape.

This patient underwent a mastopexy or breast uplift so the volume of the breast remains the same. The nipple has been elevated and the breast tissue is anchored onto the pectoralis fascia (chest muscle) so that the weight of the breast  is supported until the skin has time to heal. The top layer of skin (epidermis) in the lower half of the breast has been removed and the breast narrowed and lifted. This restores the shape of the breast and the projection of the nipple. These scars will continue to fade over the coming 6 to 12 months. A little more relaxation of the breast skin and a little more descent of the breasts may also occur over the next year or so.