Breast lift
All about breast lifts
Breast lift surgery known as a mastopexy, is a procedure that raises and firms the breasts. Excess skin is removed to tighten the surrounding tissue and to reshape and support the new breast contour. The internal breast tissue is usually reshaped as well.
The procedure designed to help reduce sagging and loss of firmness brought on by ageing, weight gain or weight loss. A breast lift can help to bring balance to the shape and size of unequal breasts, increase firmness and raise the position of downward pointing nipples.
A breast lift can also reduce the size of the areolas and help improve the self-confidence of women who may be dissatisfied or embarrassed by their breasts.
Price
We have worked hard to be able to offer an affordable price so patients do not feel pressured to visit under qualified practices or destination surgery.
Our breast lift surgery includes surgeons fee, hospital fee, general anaesthetic costs, compression garments and lifetime follow up care.
Some medicare rebates and health fund covers may apply to this procedure.
The Surgery & Recovery
Before your procedure, Dr Wessels and our surgery team will make sure that you are comfortable and well before going ahead. Dr Wessels will draw on your breast to plan the where the incisions will be.
Breast lift surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The procedure normally takes between one to three hours and can be performed in a number of ways, utilising various incision sites. An incision is placed under the breast fold, from the breast fold to the nipple and around the nipple and repositioned higher on the breast tissue. Excess skin, tissue and fat are removed to create a more youthful breast. Once the new contours are in place, the incisions are carefully closed in layers with a concealed absorbable stitch. The incisions are then covered with a waterproof dressing. Patients are then taken to recovery for 2-4 hours with our recovery care specialists. You may be allowed to travel home that evening, as some breast lift is a day surgery only.
East Sydney Private Hospital (Woolloomooloo, NSW)
Macquarie University Hospital (Macquarie University, NSW)
Kareena Private Hospital (Caringbah, NSW)
Double Bay Day Hospital (Double Bay, NSW)
After surgery our recovery specialists will given post-op instructions. It is important to follow carefully. You will be provided with a script for medication, which you will need to purchase after surgery and instructions on when to take the medication over the days ahead. You will be discharged from hospital when your companion picks you up from the hospital. All patients must have a companion to stay with them for 72hours following surgery.
The first week after surgery you should stick to gentle day-to-day activities. This includes minimal house duties, no lifting, staying home as much as possible and sleeping in an elevated position. Commence postoperative exercise (instructions given post surgery).
In the second week of recovery try not to raise your blood pressure too much and still sleep in an upright position. Patients will also be required to attend a postoperative appointment at our office in week 2. this will be scheduled prior to surgery.
In week 2 patients may:
Commence a light walk
Return to work in week 2 if you have an office job with little physical activity
Avoid sexual intercourse
Start driving provided they are not taking any pain medication. We also recommend waiting 3 days for the medication to be out of your system.
Weeks 3 – 5 patients with more physical jobs can return to work.
In weeks 3-5 patients may:
Start getting into a light exercise routine, using lower body
Start doing more physical household duties
In weeks 6-8 patients may:
Commence normal exercise routine and duties. Please note, do not push yourself into being back into your pre surgery routines.
Swimming, bathing running, yoga, stretching, spin class and Pilates
Stop wearing compression bra
At this stage patients are mostly fully recovered and sutures are absorbed. Patients should always wear a supportive bra when exercising or performing physical activity. For all patients with teardrop breast implants we recommend that you do not ever go back to using or exercising chest muscles heavily as teardrop implants can rotate.
In weeks 9-12 patients may:
Contact sport
Boxing and upper body exercise
Risks
Modern surgery is generally safe but does have the potential for risks and complications to occur.
Some possible complications and risks associated with breast lift surgery may include:
- Surgical risks such as bleeding or infection
- Fluid accumulation around the operation site(s)
- Visible and prominent scars including keloid and hypertrophic scars. These are raised, red and thickened scars that may form over the healed incisions. They may be itchy, annoying and unsightly but are not a threat to health
- Allergic reaction to suture materials, tape adhesive or other medical materials and lotions
- Skin discoloration, permanent pigmentation changes, swelling and bruising
- Fatty tissue deep in the skin could die (fat necrosis) leaving hard lumps
- Changes in breast and nipple sensation
- Temporary or permanent areas of numbness
- Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts
- Excessive firmness of the breast
- Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
- Need for further surgery to treat complications
- Risks of anaesthesia including allergic reaction or potentially fatal cardiovascular complications such as heart attack
- A blood clot in the deep veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis), which can move to the lungs (pulmonary embolus) or to the brain and may be life threatening
At One, we are regularly researching how to minimise the possible risks during the procedure and our methods are now being adopted worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
We regularly get asked about our procedures, so we have put together a couple of questions we get asked on a regular basis.
If there is something else you would like to know, please get in touch!
Yes, in some cases this surgery is considered a medical procedure so your private health insurance may cover your hospital costs.
In some cases, Medicare rebates are available on this procedure.
The success of your Breast Lift depends on a variety of factors including future childbirth, weight fluctuations, and ageing. Women who maintain a stable weight after their Breast Lift report results that last decades!
Individual cases may vary but generally, mothers can breastfeed after having breast surgery. However, some women do experience reduced nipple sensation following breast augmentation surgery making it difficult to trigger the milk let down reflex. Some women may also experience reduced milk supply.
Scars are an inevitable part of any invasive surgery. Dr Wessels will endeavour to minimise scarring and to keep your scars as inconspicuous as possible by locating the incisions in easily hidden sites. That way, scars will be along natural skin lines and creases. Scars may fade with time and become barely noticeable. If you are prone to scarring, you should advise our team.
Before & After
The images below contain content of an adult nature.
If you are under 18 years of age, please leave the site now.
