Dr. Patrick Dedoncker - Plastisch chirurg

Treatments / Breast uplift (mammopexy - mastopexy)

Breast uplift / mammopexy / mastopexy

A pregnancy, loss of weight, age or breast feeding can have a huge impact on the firmness of your breasts. The breasts loosen and often to the extent of drooping. Droopy breasts can happen to small as well as to large breasts.

The uplift is suitable for loose breasts that are of a normal size.
In the case of droopy or more imposing breasts, the breast uplift would be accompanied by a breast reduction (see breast reduction).
Small loose breasts can gain a cup size or more, at the same time as having the uplift. In this specific case the surgeon places an implant behind the muscle in order to enlarge the breast size (see breast augmentation).

What happens?

At the time of the lift, the breasts undergo an important transformation. The mammary gland is reshaped in accordance to the patient’s requirements and then brought back against the muscle in order to obtain a permanent result. Next, the plastic surgeon removes the excess skin, lifts the nipple and in some cases reduces its size. This will result in a firmer and younger bust that a swimsuit or a top will emphasize!

Scar

In the case of a breast uplift a scar is inevitable, these days the 'vertical scar technique’ is standard practice. The previous anchor scar has been reduced to a vertical scar. The scar around the nipple has not changed; this scar will gradually fade away with time.

Anaesthetic

Thanks to a refinement in operation techniques and a constant progress in the anaesthetic field these last few years, the breast uplift is carried out under local anaesthetic accompanied by a mild sedation. After the operation you will feel fit and well. It is not necessary to envisage a night’s stay at the clinic.

Recovery

The operation takes place in the morning and you can leave the clinic the same evening.
You will need to return one or two days later in order to have a check up with the plastic surgeon, take out the drain and replace your bandage.

Normally you will not feel any post-operative pain. You will receive classic pain killers like ibuprofen and paracetamol, to help you face any eventual discomfort.

You will need take a week off work and for this you will receive a medical certificate from us. We equally recommend to live life at a slower rhythm the first week following your operation.

All sutures dissolve by themselves. Thus no stitches need to be removed. After the surgery you will have to wear a support bra for a period of 6 weeks during the day, one with a broad elastic band and adjusted to your new cup size is recommended. After this period you will be able to wear normal underwear again. You will not be able to shower for the first two weeks following your surgery.

You will change your bandage by yourself after one week; the plastic surgeon will show you how to do this.

Precaution

The plastic surgeon proceeds with these operations in conditions of optimal security, surrounded by a professional team.

Even though the breast uplift is generally done under local anaesthetic and sedation, you are constantly watched over under monitoring by the anaesthetist (automatic and repetitive measure of the blood pressure, constant measuring of the oxygen saturation, electrocardiogram). One or more highly qualified nurses will equally supervise. This environment will guarantee that you have faultless safety.

The local anaesthetic allows not only an operation without pain but also a minimal risk of blood loss and the appearance of bruises.

If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, please inform your plastic surgeon of this first (for ex. acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, asaflow, cardioaspirine, dipiridamole, plavix, sintrom, marevan and others).

After the operation, you are able to contact your plastic surgeon at all times on his personal mobile number, if you have the slightest question.

Risks and eventual complications

If you are in good health, you have nothing to worry about as there is no risk linked to this operation.

The healing process can be slowed down if you smoke or suffer from obesity. Due to diminished vascularisation we can sometimes notice the forming of scabs around the nipple. In these cases the vertical scar too will take longer to heal and you will need to treat this on a daily basis with an isobetadine cream. With or without these complications the final aesthetic result will be just as beautiful. Your surgeon will make his knowledge available to you in order to help you best.