breast lift

Breast Lift – Synonyms & Principle

synonyms:
breast lift = mastopexy, mammapexy

principle:
Tightening of the breast tissue by removing excess skin

is often combined with…

• breast implants
• autologous fat (e.g. to compensate for asymmetry or to emphasize the upper pole of the breast)
• nipple correction (with retracted nipple)

Possibilities

• tightening via tightening incisions
• Tightening through volume (own fat, breast implant, theoretically saline)

alternatives

• no surgery
• special bras

efficiency

good effect on the lower half of the chest, poorer effectiveness in the upper half or décolleté area (especially in terms of volume)

Significant weight loss after the procedure should be avoided, as this may cause the breasts to sag again

duration of surgery

On average, a pure breast lift (without tightening incision, breast implants, without own fat) generally takes approx. 90 minutes

repetition of the treatment

The excess skin removed during breast lift surgery is gone forever.

Of course, with increasing age or weight loss, the breasts can sag again and new excess skin can appear. Basically, a few millimeters of new excess skin would have to be removed every few years, but this is rarely actually done. It must also be taken into account that a maximally tightened breast does not usually look very harmonious on the body of a 65-year-old patient.

However, if the breasts are noticeably sagging, a tightening procedure may be advisable.

If the tightening is combined with a breast implant, maximum tightening is often not possible or sensible due to the larger volume and swelling - otherwise the scar will suffer. In this case, a follow-up tightening after about a year (after the swelling has reduced) can be sensible both for the quality of the scar and to increase the tightening effect.

Application in which body region

Breast

decision-making aids

Essentially, these are fundamental decisionsthat constitute a breast lift.

Should I have a breast lift do it at all? – Sometimes it is better not to do something at all.

Good advice highlights all the advantages and disadvantages of an operation – and thus helps you make the right decision.

incision length and scar

Incision = scar: This applies to all operations. And the idea that a scar is "invisible" is a myth. In principle, the shorter the incision, the better. However, a longer incision can also result in a better shape. So it's important to find a suitable compromise.

Before surgery, scars and their length are of course always an issue. After surgery, I have usually found that a shape that is as perfect as possible seems more important than saving scar length at all costs. A further improvement of the shape through a small tightening procedure (usually possible under local anesthesia) is of course also possible at a later date.

Effect of tightening:

A classic breast lift primarily affects the lower breast area. The nipple is moved up several centimeters and the lower pole of the breast is also lifted.

However, this always results in a slight flattening the projectionThis means that the height of the chest decreases slightly.

Furthermore, there is always at least one optical reduction (even if only skin and no breast tissue is removed). A sagging breast fills a larger area when viewed from the front than when it is firmer (as after a breast lift) and therefore appears more compact.

Both reasons why a breast implant should at least be discussed and considered before a breast lift. – The volume of the implant logically increases the projection and the optical reduction effect of the breast lift can also be compensated for.

However, enlargement and tightening can only be combined to a certain extent and are contradictory. The larger the implant, the more tension is placed on the scar and the tightening effect diminishes.

upper pole & décolleté:

A breast lift results in significantly less improvement in the upper pole than in the lower half of the breast.

This means that what was not in the upper pole of the breast before a breast lift will not be there permanently afterwards either (initial swelling will disappear there and a shift of the breast gland tissue upwards will inevitably follow gravity). Many techniques have been developed and attempted to permanently increase volume from the bottom upwards. With moderate success.

This often results in a variant that sounds strange at first: removing volume at the bottom and adding volume at the top - and this can be done most effectively with a breast implant, but a weaker alternative would be your own fat. However, the amount of your own fat is limited and cannot be predicted with any certainty.

Breast lift – pregnancy & breastfeeding, sensitivity

Of course, you can get pregnant after a breast lift. And in most cases, breastfeeding will also be possible as normal. But of course, this can never be guaranteed.

After surgery, you may experience temporary numbness around the incisions and in the nipple area. In most cases, this improves during the wound healing phase within the first year. In some cases, numbness or sensitivity may remain permanently.

What should you have heard/read before a breast lift?

Effect on the form: A breast lift alone mainly changes the lower pole of the breast and flattens the breast somewhat. Even after a breast lift, the breast can sag (especially if you lose or change your weight, but also due to gravity and the aging of the tissue). Basically, you would have to tighten it up a few millimeters every year to get a perfectly firm breast. But of course that is not possible and not always desired.

Prejudices

With a breast lift, any desired breast shape can be achieved

facts

There is currently no technique that permanently shifts tissue from the lower pole of the breast to the upper pole. Volume that is missing there before the operation will not be there after the operation either. The shape of the breast after a breast lift also always depends on the shape before the operation. Many things can be improved, but usually not everything can be changed.

most common possible side effects/complications

• Asymmetry (always present on two sides to a certain extent)
• Scars and problems with wider or firmer scars (e.g. around the nipple, with wide incisions under the breast to the outside or inside - that's why we try to prevent this long incision using the short-scar technique)
• Areola: different diameters, different shapes – but an areola will never be circular – and identical sizes are basically never possible
• numb feeling in the nipple: temporary, sometimes permanent

details Information on possible complications can be found in the information documents

In summary, good preparation (information, explanation, preliminary examinations, possibly 3D simulation, upper body analysis, etc.), the surgeon's experience and a surgical technique tailored to the individual patient are important factors for the success of a breast lift.

You should avoid…

• short cuts at any price (after surgery, a good shape is always more important than the length of the incision)
• before surgery not about volume and size effects after breast lift surgery – the breast after a lift will definitely appear smaller than before the operation

anesthesia

Possible anesthesiaforms for a breast lift

• twilight sleep
• general anesthesia
• Mini breast lifts are theoretically also possible under local anesthesia

the operation

Deadlines must be met in Austria (surgical information and anesthesia information) – this means that there is a waiting period of at least 3-4 weeks from the decision to undergo breast enlargement, but often longer.

sports bra organize

We will inform you if a psychological report may be necessary before your surgery.

THINKING POSITIVELY – helps. It not only prolongs life, but is also always a good first step towards any treatment or operation.

the operation

rest for 3 weeks in the sense of:

• do not lift more than 5-6kg
• nothing jerky
• don't work headfirst

Regular showering the wound (1-2x daily) – but the Steristrips should remain on the wound

controls with us approximately on the 10th day and 3 months after the operation

sports bra for 6 weeks day and night if possible – but short breaks are useful to “de-congest” the tissue – the bra should also be removed when showering – a break is also possible and useful when washing the sports bra (hand wash and no dryer!)

our preferred technique/recommendation

• Cut in the short-scar technique (around the areola, vertically downwards and partly also (but as short as possible) in the under-breast fold
• Vascular and nerve supply should remain as untouched as possible from above/inside
• anesthesia twilight sleep
• possibly 1 night on site for observation and pain medication

Cost

Guidelines:

5500-6500 breast lift including anesthesia

approx. 6900 breast lift including fat transfer upper breast pole including anesthesia

from 7100 Breast lift including Motiva Round implants including anesthesia

from 7100 breast lift incl. PEARL Breast implants from GC Aesthetics including anesthesia

approx. 7600 breast lift including Motiva Ergonomix implants including anesthesia

20 Additional costs for implants with Chip = Qid

400 overnight stay at the clinic with nurse/450 for overnight stay from Friday to Saturday – if necessary and reasonable

100 costs for day admission to the clinic (if no overnight stay is planned)

1800 autologous fat for funnel chest

650/1000 Correction of inverted nipple in LA or as a supplement to breast surgery

100 sports bra with integrated chest strap

50 Anesthesia information for planned anesthesia with an anesthetist

minus consultation costs

70 optional special price recommended scar ointment + disinfectant spray (regular after surgery 103)

for Motiva breast implants:

0 Insurance Motiva for the first year included upon registration

100 optional for Motiva insurance for an additional year (only possible for implants without a chip)

200 optional for Motiva insurance 4 additional years (only for implants with chip possible)

The prices listed are average values and could be cheaper or more expensive. The final total price will be determined during the second consultation (=consent) depending on the individual effort/planned operation time, combinations, desired clinic/room category and other factors.

At the turn of the year, clinic prices are adjusted and may then be slightly higher.

reasonable budget

A final cost estimate for a breast lift is only possible and meaningful after a thorough on-site examination and clarification of individual wishes.

downtime

In general, 2-3 weeks of rest be taken into account – this means specifically:

• lifting no more than 5-6 kg
• no jerky movements
• do not perform any activities overhead

Important to know…

• A lift always primarily affects the lower half of the breast – if a “more cleavage” is desired, autologous fat or a breast implant should at least have been considered before the operation.
• a lift automatically makes the breasts flatter – therefore, in some cases, an additional breast implant may be useful

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breast lift