Breast Tightening

Mastopexy is an operation to effectively ‘lift up’ the breasts. It moves the existing breast volume back into a higher, more natural position, reducing sagging. The breast tightening operation and scarring is similar to ‘breast reduction’ surgery but, depending on the technique used for a breast uplift procedure, there are fewer risks to the nipple areola complex.

What to Expect at the Initial Consultation

At a first consultation, your surgeon will ask you to tell him in your own words what it is that you wish to change about your appearance and achieve from breast tightening. It is important to be honest and forthright as surgery is always tailored to your specific needs and expectations. Do bear in mind, however, that it is not possible to achieve unrealistic expectations.

In addition, your breast surgeon will take a full medical history including any previous surgery, cosmetic or non-cosmetic, previous hospitalisation, chronic medical problems, medication and allergies, whether you smoke or not, the reasons for wanting the procedure and your goals and aspirations.

The examination will concentrate on your proposed breast tightening treatment, but also assess your general fitness and suitability for surgery. Routine photographs will be taken.

Following the assessment, your surgeon will discuss all available options and formulate an operative plan, including type of surgery and anaesthesia to be used and cost. Any risks and possible complications will also be discussed with you.

It is important that you are clear what your surgery will entail. Well informed patients cope better with breast tightening surgery and you have the right to ask any question you want and expect your surgeon to answer with honesty and without the use of jargon. Informed consent for surgery will also be required.

The Procedure

Where Does the Treatment Take Place?

You will be admitted as an inpatient to New Victoria Hospital.

A Consultant Anaesthetist will meet you prior to surgery. The breast tightening procedure takes approximately two hours and you will need to stay in hospital overnight.

What Can Go Wrong?

If performed by a fully qualified and accredited Plastic Surgeon in a proper operating theatre under sterile conditions on a relatively fit and healthy patient, mastopexy is a safe procedure. In general, complications are rare. However, as with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and complications and these will be explained to you at your consultation.

Following Surgery

How Long Does it Take to Recover?

You will wake up with a dressing covering both breasts, supporting them securely with a drain inserted and stitched in place on either side.

You will need to stay one to two nights in New Victoria Hospital and on the morning after your surgery, your surgeon will check your breasts for any collections of blood or any problems with the nipple areola complex. The breasts will be swollen and bruised and may ooze small amounts of blood over the next two to three days. Once you are discharged from hospital, arrangements will be made to return to see our fully qualified Plastic Surgery Dressings Nurse a week after surgery for a wound check, and removal of some of the stitches. At a final wound check after two weeks, any further stitches will be removed, however, most of the stitches used will be dissolvable.

Once the dressings have been reduced, you should wear a sports bra with no under-wiring, as much of the time as possible for the first three to four weeks.

It is advisable to make arrangements for help at home during your convalescence, which should be at least one to two weeks especially if you have young children.