Breast Lift

 The Essence and Indications of Breast Lift/ Mastopexy

 In the case of breast lift (mastopexy) the weight of the breast is not changed at all, or only for a small degree. The main surgical aim is to change and improve the position and shape of the ptotic (sagging) breasts. We try to reshape the breast to achieve the original hemisheral form, with the smallest possible incision.

In mastopexy the significant reduction of the breast volume is also possible, then the intervention is called reductive mammaplasty. Breast lift can also be combined with breastimplantation, in this case (breast augmentation) is of course another aim.

 The most important phase of the surgical procedure is the surgical plan, with marking the incision when the patient is in vertical, ie. sitting or standing position. For this we have to be able to use the same marking techniques that are also applied in reductive mammaplasty. It is important to know that the submammaris fold has a constant position, besides this the surgeon also has to be able to mark the place of the areola. These two points already determine the principal position of the later breast shape.

Several authors mention that the same skin reductive techniques that are applied in reductive mammaplasty  may also be used in the following phase, in skin reduction.

 The distinction between the two is only that while the principal aim of the larger reductive mammaplasty, due to the enlargement and ptosis of the breast stock, is the recovery of the lost physical balance of the body, i.e. the so-called musculosceletal unity (which automatically results in aesthetic change and improvement), breast lift is performed with an aesthetic purpose.

The breast may become sagging due to the stretching of the skin and the mammaparenchyma decreasing in volume, the latter of which may be simultaneous to or independent of the former cause.

Breast Lift and Reduction

 Reduction is most often performed with the inverted ‘T’ mammaplasty technique. Since we are able to excise in the gland stock of aesthetically disproportionate, oversized breasts (in most cases from the central region), and thus  „reduce” the breast during mammaplasty. The weight of the reduced breast gland usually does not exceed over 300g in one breast. This is the limit, under which breast reduction is considered as aesthetic surgery in the European medical practice. Usually the removal of such excesses of gland does not necessitate the application of specific reductive techniques.

On the other hand, reductions over 300g belong to the category of reconstructive surgical procedures, since these often have sanitary indications as well.

Breast Lift and Augmentation

In a lot of cases mammaplasty alone is not sufficient, because the volume of the breast has to be increased as well. In these cases the correction (lifting) of the areola and the excision of the excess skin from the lower pole of the breast are also necessary, simultaneously with the implantation. The excess skin can most easily be removed with a vertical incision.