What is Mastopexy?
Mastopexy is a technique that is becoming more and more widespread, like many other aesthetic touch-up methods. It’s a surgery that allows lifting the breast, making it look firmer.
The bust is a part of the body that tends to cause complexes and dissatisfaction, especially in women. This is because it’s always been considered one of the greatest areas of physical attraction of the female sex. In addition, there’s a tendency to idealize a particular type of breasts.
Thus, there are many people who resort to surgeries such as mastopexy to get to be more comfortable with this feature. Therefore, in this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about this procedure.
What is mastopexy?
As we’ve just pointed out, mastopexy is a type of breast surgery. Its objective is to lift a sagging breast by placing it in a position that gives the sensation of youth and firmness. It’s a technique that’s widely used because such sagging appears physiologically with the passage of time.
The breast is a tissue that’s constantly subjected to the force of gravity, so it tends to fall with the passage of time. The elastic fibers of the skin age, which causes it to become increasingly distensible and flaccid.
In addition, pregnancy and breastfeeding also influence the breast to become increasingly saggy. However, it’s important to note that not all women who have a mastopexy do so because of age. The breasts can also be in this position naturally, since each person has a different and unique anatomical conformation.
Mastopexy is performed in different ways. It can consist of lifting the breasts by working only with the skin itself. In some cases, if the volume of the breast is small, it can be combined with the placement of a prosthesis that increases the volume.
Even some women undergo a mastopexy associated with a reduction mammoplasty. What’s sought is to reduce the size of the breast while raising it and making it smoother.
Who can get a mastopexy?
To undergo a mastopexy, as for any other surgery, it’s important to rule out possible risks or underlying diseases. In addition, ideally, that person should be aware that many aesthetic touch-ups do not solve a complex, but the important thing is to strengthen self-esteem.
In any case, if a woman decides to get a mastopexy, she should first make sure she’s not pregnant. In addition, it’s contraindicated in smokers since smoking worsens the body’s healing capacity. To perform the technique, the woman should give up smoking at least four weeks before the surgery.
In many cases, this procedure is performed to correct the effects of significant weight loss. Therefore, it’s also recommended that the person has a stable body mass index and that it’s within healthy limits.
You may be interested in reading this article: 9 Exercises that Will Help Increase the Size of Your Breasts
What is the operation like?
Mastopexy is a surgery that requires general anesthesia. However, most patients don’t require hospitalization. Nevertheless, if there’s any risk or there have been complications, you may be admitted to the hospital for 24 to 48 hours.
As noted in the previous section, there are different ways that specialists perform it. In general, the operation lasts between two and three hours. The first thing the specialist does, before sedating the patient, is to draw some marks on the torso to guide the incisions to be made.
The incisions allow the skin to be removed and the nipple to be repositioned so that the breast gives the sensation of being more elevated. These are attempted in inconspicuous places, such as the contour of the areola itself.
According to a study published in Cirugía Plástica Ibero-Latinoamericana, in the case of a mastopexy with implant placement, it’s important to place the implant first. Then, the necessary adjustments are made to the skin to avoid excessive final tension.
You may be interested in reading this, too: Breast and Nipple Changes: When Is It a Concern?
Preoperative and postoperative care
Before performing a mastopexy, it’s necessary to check the patient’s state of health. For this reason, blood tests and an examination by the anesthesiologist are usually performed. In this way, the risks that may occur with anesthesia are estimated.
It’s recommended to go to the operation on an empty stomach (without having eaten at least 8 hours before). In addition, any anticoagulant medication should also be avoided. Since this is an outpatient surgery, it’s ideal to wear comfortable and loose-fitting, easy-to-wear clothes to leave the hospital with.
Once the surgery has been performed, it’s essential to follow all the surgeon’s guidelines. Analgesic medication will most likely be prescribed to alleviate possible pain. Similarly, the bra worn should be the one recommended by the doctor.
According to the Spanish Society of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, the stitches are removed between 7 and 14 days, and the swelling usually doesn’t subside completely until 3 or 6 weeks. In addition to taking care of the scars and sutures, it’s necessary to avoid chest exercises or movements that may damage the tissue. It’s not advisable to go running or cycling.
The benefits and risks of mastopexy
The benefits of mastopexy are aesthetic and, above all, at the level of self-esteem. When sagging breasts are corrected, many people report feeling more confident and more comfortable with their appearance.
However, this is a surgical procedure that isn’t without risk. Like any other surgery, bleeding, infection, healing problems, or bruising are possible. Even the breast’s sensitivity may be affected.
The most frequent risk factor is smoking. Smoking is associated with poorer healing, as explained in an article in Continuing Medical Education. Therefore, it’s contraindicated in people who are going to have a mastopexy.
Mastopexy is still a surgery
Mastopexy is a surgery that can improve the appearance of the chest if it’s indicated and if it’s performed correctly by a professional. However, it’s essential to choose well the surgeon who will perform the intervention.
In addition, it must be a personal decision that’s not influenced by the opinion of anyone else. The most important thing when it comes to any aesthetic intervention is to keep in mind that you have to accept and love yourself as much as possible.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Qureshi, Ali A., Terence M. Myckatyn, and Marissa M. Tenenbaum. “Mastopexy and mastopexy-augmentation.” Aesthetic surgery journal 38.4 (2018): 374-384.
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- (PDF) Tabaquismo crónico y cirugía plástica / Chronic smoking and plastic surgery. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319099922_Tabaquismo_cronico_y_cirugia_plastica_Chronic_smoking_and_plastic_surgery
- CIRUGÍA DE LA MAMA | SECPRE. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from https://secpre.org/cirugia-de-la-mama
- Mastopexia y prótesis: Revisión a los 5 años. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0376-78922006000200005
- Hidalgo, David A., and Jason A. Spector. “Mastopexy.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 132.4 (2013): 642e-656e.
- Dagnino, U. Bruno. “Actualización en reconstrucción mamaria.” Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes 21.1 (2010): 51-55.
- Spear, Scott L., Mervin Low, and Ivica Ducic. “Revision augmentation mastopexy: indications, operations, and outcomes.” Annals of plastic surgery 51.6 (2003): 540-546.
