Breast Uplift Surgery

A breast uplift is a cosmetic procedure used to lift the breasts in order to give them a fuller and firmer appearance.  Although a patient may also choose to have her breast size increased or decreased when getting a breast lift, it is important to note that a breast lift is not the same as a breast augmentation or reduction.  Rather, excess breast skin and tissue is removed in order to create the desired appearance.  Therefore, the procedure is most commonly requested by women whose breasts have become stretched or saggy due to pregnancy or age, though it may be performed on younger women who have never been pregnant as well.

Understanding the Breast Uplift Surgery Procedure

The precise procedure followed for breast uplift surgery depends upon the condition of the breasts and what needs to be changed in order to create a firmer and fuller appearance.  In most cases, however, breast uplift surgery involves making an incision around the areola, another from the areola to the crease below the breast, and a third that follows along the crease.  This procedure makes it possible to access the tissues inside the breast as well as making modifications to the skin while keeping scarring to a minimum.  After making the incisions, the surgeon may move the nipple and the areola to a new position after removing tissues in order to alter the appearance of the breast. 

Breast uplift surgery usually takes about two to three hours to complete.  While some patients may be able to go home on the same day the surgery is complete, most have to stay in the hospital or surgical center at least one night following the surgery.

Risks Associated with Breast Uplift Surgery

As with any type of surgery, there are many potential risks associated with breast uplift surgery.  Some of these include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Development of deep vein thrombosis
• Excessive internal bleeding or haematoma
• Feeling unhappy with the results of the surgery
• Inability to breastfeed following surgery
• Infection
• Loss of sensation in the breast, particularly in the areola and nipple area
• Negative reaction to anesthesia
• Swelling
• Tissue death, which requires taking skin grafts to correct

Although it is normal to experience a little swelling and bruising following a breast uplift procedure, excessive bleeding or swelling can be signs of complication and should be reported to the doctor.  In addition, scarring is an unavoidable side effect of breast uplift surgery, but most scarring fades away and is hardly noticeable within two years following the procedure.