Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
What is a Breast Lift?
Pregnancies, breastfeeding, weight loss, and age can all contribute to sagging or droopy breast tissue. Often this is accompanied by skin stretch, poor shape and at times, a loss of breast size.A breast lift (mastopexy) re-shapes and lifts the breast using your existing breast tissue and skin. The existing breast gland is tightened and used to create better shape and improved fullness in the upper half of the breast. The excess skin is removed and tightened as well.
Scarring is often similar to a breast reduction, located around the areola with a vertical scar extending from the lower edge of the areola down to the lower breast fold and the possibility of a shorter horizontal scar along the lower breast crease/fold. Some women are candidates for shorter scar breast lift technique. With this technique, the scar is limited to around the outer border of areola at the junction of the pigmented and non-pigmented skin.
A breast lift will improve the shape of the breast, as well as the position and size of the areola. However, it does not improve the size or restore any lost volume of the breast. It is for this reason, that a breast implant can be used either on its own without the need for a breast lift, or in conjunction with a breast lift to replace the lost volume and improve the breast shape (improve the upper pole fullness, and fill out what feels like a deflated skin envelope).
Pre Surgery Instructions
Before the procedure
No aspirin or blood thinning medications for two weeks prior to surgery. Fasting begins at midnight the night before surgery. Any medications that you take in the AM may be taken with a sip of water (except for blood thinning medications). If you get ill prior to surgery please notify us.The Surgery
During the procedure
Performed under general anesthetic (nothing to eat or drink after midnight) breast lift surgery takes approx. 2 hours and is a day surgery (there is no overnight stay). On the morning of surgery, Dr. Eckhaus makes all the markings on the chest wall and breast in the pre operative area. Only dissolvable sutures are used and a compression garment is applied at the end of the procedure. There are no post-operative drains used.An initial wrap and post-operative compression bra are left in place for 2-5 days. During this period of time, you may use hand held shower or sponge bath but the dressings must stay dry.
After Your Surgery
Post procedure
While In Hospital or Clinic
You will be in the recovery room anywhere from 1-3 hours where the team will ensure you are comfortable, eating and drinking, walking and able to urinate.
On discharge home
Immediately upon discharge from the recovery room, you are encouraged to rest under supervision and start a light diet as tolerated.
You will have been given a prescription for antibiotics that is started when you return home from surgery and is taken for 1 week.
You will have been given a prescription for antibiotics that is started when you return home from surgery and is taken for 1 week.
Day 1
You should be up and walking, drinking fluids, taking your antibiotics and pain medication as described below. Increase activity as tolerated, but there is no heavy lifting for 4 weeks. Do not change the dressings until your first post op appointment.
What do I take for pain?
If you have pain, you are encouraged to start with:
• two Tylenol extra strength (total of 1000 mg of Tylenol) and one Advil extra strength (400 mg of Advil) to be taken at the same time as they work by different mechanisms and work very well together.
• You can take the above three pills (two Tylenol extra strength and one Advil extra strength) every 8 hours around the clock for the first day or two. This is often sufficient for pain medication and can avoid the need for stronger medications such as narcotics (Percocet, Tylenol #3 etc.).
• However, you will also have a prescription for a stronger pain medication that can be taken as needed if the Tylenol and Advil combination mentioned above does not suffice. This stronger pain medication may be taken on top of the above regimen. Please ensure the maximum dose of Tylenol in 24 hours does not exceed 4000 mg.
** Please be aware that with any medication and particularly Advil (a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) there are risks of allergy, severe allergy, gastro-intestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers. Taking your medication with food can sometimes help with some of the stomach symptoms.
An initial wrap and post-operative compression bra are left in place for 2-5 days. During this period of time, you may use a hand held shower or sponge bath but the dressings must stay dry.
• two Tylenol extra strength (total of 1000 mg of Tylenol) and one Advil extra strength (400 mg of Advil) to be taken at the same time as they work by different mechanisms and work very well together.
• You can take the above three pills (two Tylenol extra strength and one Advil extra strength) every 8 hours around the clock for the first day or two. This is often sufficient for pain medication and can avoid the need for stronger medications such as narcotics (Percocet, Tylenol #3 etc.).
• However, you will also have a prescription for a stronger pain medication that can be taken as needed if the Tylenol and Advil combination mentioned above does not suffice. This stronger pain medication may be taken on top of the above regimen. Please ensure the maximum dose of Tylenol in 24 hours does not exceed 4000 mg.
** Please be aware that with any medication and particularly Advil (a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) there are risks of allergy, severe allergy, gastro-intestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers. Taking your medication with food can sometimes help with some of the stomach symptoms.
An initial wrap and post-operative compression bra are left in place for 2-5 days. During this period of time, you may use a hand held shower or sponge bath but the dressings must stay dry.
First post-operative appointment
The initial dressing change is done on day 2-4 after surgery. The dressings are removed and the white steri strip tapes are left on. Dry gauze or padding is used daily to protect the tapes from the compression bra band.
In the first two weeks following surgery, the post-operative compression bra is worn 24 hours a day (day and night, except for the shower).
The subsequent two weeks (week 3 and week 4 following surgery), the compression bra is worn during the day only.
In the first two weeks following surgery, the post-operative compression bra is worn 24 hours a day (day and night, except for the shower).
The subsequent two weeks (week 3 and week 4 following surgery), the compression bra is worn during the day only.
Second post-operative appointment
The second appointment is close to 2 weeks after surgery and the white steri strip tapes will be removed. Dry gauze once daily is used for the next week and then you will start the silicone gel sheeting for scar management (given to you at this appointment).
Post-operative swelling and bruising begins to subside after 7 days but can take up to 2-3 weeks.
Though most of the swelling will have subsided by week 3, you are advised to wait 1-2 months to be re-sized for a new bra.
Patients usually require 1 week of downtime and should avoid strenuous exercise for 4 weeks.
Post-operative swelling and bruising begins to subside after 7 days but can take up to 2-3 weeks.
Though most of the swelling will have subsided by week 3, you are advised to wait 1-2 months to be re-sized for a new bra.
Patients usually require 1 week of downtime and should avoid strenuous exercise for 4 weeks.
