Introduction
Drooping or sagging breasts can occur with age, weight changes, pregnancy, or breast feeding. Breast Lift surgery (Mastopexy) is a popular option to correct this problem. Toronto Board-Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong has earned a reputation for excellent cosmetic breast surgery results, and can help you decide if a Breast Lift is the right procedure to meet your goals.
Benefits of a Breast Lift
In addition to “lifting” the breasts, a Mastopexy accomplishes a number of other objectives to make the breasts look more attractive. A Breast Lift eliminates the typical elongated appearance of many women’s breasts, making them look rounder. As breast tissue is shifted up and excess skin is removed, the upper breast takes on a fuller appearance. Additionally, the nipples are re-positioned to the centre of the breast, and the areolas (darker skin around the nipple) are made smaller— this is especially important if they are stretched wide from drooping.1
The many cosmetic benefits of a Breast Lift with Dr. Tong include:
- Elevated breast mound
- Rounder breast shape
- Raised nipples
- Reduced areola size
For patients who also desire fuller, more voluptuous breasts, Dr. Tong may combine Breast Lift with a Breast Augmentation procedure.2
Who is a Candidate for Breast Lift?
If you have any of the following concerns, you could benefit from Breast Lift:
- You are interested in correcting sagging or drooping breasts (ptosis)
- You desire breasts that are perkier, not necessarily larger
- You desire enhanced fullness in the upper breasts
- You have a “long” breast shape and would prefer them to be more rounded
- Your nipple position is low
Other Criteria for Candidates:
- Patients should be generally fit and relatively healthy— Dr. Tong always makes an assessment of your general health and suitability before undergoing any type of surgery.
- Smokers should quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to surgery
- Patients who are breastfeeding / pregnant should wait at least 4-8 weeks after breastfeeding has ceased before having surgery so that the true breast size and shape can be determined
- A patient should have realistic expectations about what can be accomplished though Mastopexy3
Breast Lift Options
There are a number of ways Dr. Tong may approach your Breast Lift surgery. The specific incisions and technique he employs will depend on your unique anatomy and goals, which will be discussed in detail during your private consultation.
In general, breasts that are only mildly affected by ptosis (drooping) will require fewer incisions for a Breast Lift, while additional incisions may be required for more severe cases. The types of incisions used during Breast Lift are:
- Periareolar Breast Lift: The incision is made around the areola. Once healed, scars hide quite well. This scar tends to be the least visible when compared to other scars used for various methods of breast lift.
- Short Scar Breast Lift: The incisions are made around the areola with an additional vertical incision extending from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease. The vertical scar will be visible to some degree when in the nude.
- Traditional Breast Lift: The incisions are made around the areola and vertically to the breast crease (sometimes referred to as a “lollipop incision”), plus an additional horizontal incision is made in the breast fold. The degree of breast sagging determines whether or not the breast fold incision is required. Similar to the short scar breast lift, scars from a Traditional Breast Lift are likely to be visible, although the breast fold scar is usually hidden by the breast itself.4
Any surgical procedure will leave some type of scar. However, a plastic surgeon of Dr. Tong’s calibre has the experience and advanced technique necessary to minimize the appearance of scars once healing is complete.
Preparing for Your Breast Lift
A key step in preparing for your Breast Lift surgery is to attend a private consultation. During your Breast Lift (Mastopexy) consultation at our Toronto plastic surgery centre, Dr. Lawrence Tong will give you his undivided attention. At Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, we understand how important it is for our patients to feel absolutely confident in their treatment plan and in their surgeon. This is why we allot considerable time for each patient’s private consultation, so that you can feel comfortable seeking every answer you need to become fully educated about your options.
Once your procedure has been scheduled, a member of our team will give you detailed instructions about how to prepare for surgery. You will also be given clear expectations about the Breast Lift recovery period.
Details of the Breast Lift Procedure
Breast Lift surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia at our CPSO-accredited surgical centre in Toronto.
To begin the Mastopexy procedure, Dr. Tong removes excess breast skin, which is a result of stretching and drooping. He then reshapes the breast mound by elevating and repositioning internal tissues to create a rounder, fuller appearance. To preserve nipple sensation, Dr. Tong raises nipple position to a higher level without detaching them from the breast tissue. He then reduces the size of the areola to achieve a more proportionate appearance in relation to the size of the breast mound.
Once Dr. Tong has finished lifting and reshaping the breast, the patient is moved into an upright position so that Dr. Tong can accurately evaluate breast shape and symmetry. At this time, he may make minor adjustments to ensure optimal aesthetic results. Once Dr. Tong is satisfied, he meticulously closes the incisions. The patient is placed in a surgical bra and gently awakened from anesthesia.5
Recovery After Breast Lift
Immediately following your Breast Lift procedure, we transfer you to the post- anesthesia recovery area, where you will be monitored by our registered nurses as you awaken. When the major effects of anesthesia have worn off, Dr. Tong will allow you to go home, accompanied by a responsible adult.
We recommend that once at home, you get plenty of rest. You may perform non-strenuous activities such as watching television or reading, but nothing more strenuous. Expect to feel sore in the chest for 3-5 days; your pain medication will help with the discomfort during this time. Surprisingly, the discomfort is fairly mild. Most patients return to (non-strenuous) employment at 5-7 days after Breast Lift surgery.
One week after surgery, Dr. Tong will see you to remove stitches and assess your progress. Dr. Tong will inform you of activity restrictions; patients are usually allowed to start light exercise (e.g. walking) at 1-2 weeks after surgery. Strenuous activity (weight lifting, aerobics, jogging, yoga, pilates, martial arts) may generally be resumed 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Your breasts will look slightly swollen and may have bruising during the first 1-2 weeks. The breasts may have a slightly unnatural shape to them. This is entirely normal, and it takes between 1-3 months for them to fully settle. As the settling occurs, you will notice that the breasts take on a much more natural look and shape. After your initial postoperative visit, you will see Dr. Tong at 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery as well. Post-op photos are taken to document your progress at certain visits.
Risks and Complications of Breast Lift
As with any surgery, there are risks involved with having Mastopexy. Although the procedure has a low risk profile, Dr. Tong will make sure to go through the pertinent potential problems associated with Breast Lift surgery at the time of your consultation.
Breast Lift surgery risks may include (but are not limited to):
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Undesirable scars
- Changes in breast or nipple sensation
- Infection
- Asymmetry and other cosmetic issues
Many Breast Lift complications can be avoided when the procedure is performed by a highly experienced surgeon such as Dr. Lawrence Tong.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift
Will I have scars after my Breast Lift Surgery?
Dr. Tong utilizes a number of different Breast Lift incisions, which allows him to customize each patient’s results depending on her unique goals and anatomy. Scars will remain after any Breast Lift procedure, but Dr. Tong carefully places incisions to result in the most discrete scarring possible.
Will the size of my breasts change after my Breast Lift?
A Breast Lift changes the shape and elevation of the breasts, but not the size of your breasts. If you wish to increase breast size and breast volume, Dr. Tong recommends a Breast Lift with Implants procedure. For patients who desire smaller breasts, Dr. Tong can combine Breast Lift with Breast Reduction Surgery.
Are the results of a Breast Lift permanent?
The results of Breast Lift surgery are long-lasting, but this procedure cannot prevent changes that occur due to aging, weight loss, or weight gain. To help maintain your breast shape after Breast Lift, Dr. Tong suggests that you:
- Maintain a stable weight to prevent weight fluctuations
- Wear a well-fitting bra
- Stop smoking
- Maintain a good skin care regimen
How much does a Breast Lift cost?
Dr. Tong personalizes each Breast Lift according to the patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals, which may impact the cost of the procedure. At the time of your Breast Lift consultation, you will receive clear and detailed information about the cost of your procedure.
Can Breast Lift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Dr. Tong often combines a Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants) as well as Breast Reduction surgery. A Breast Lift is also a frequent and critical part of a Mommy Makeover, which is a customized combination of cosmetic surgery procedures designed to help women restore their figures to their pre-pregnancy appearance.
Contact Dr. Tong
To learn more about how Toronto Breast Lift plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong can help you with your Breast Lift goals, schedule your consultation by giving us a call at (416) 972-0999. Or let us give you a call; just fill out our contact form and we will contact you on the same or the next business day. No physician referral is needed.
See Dr. Tong’s work in our Breast Lift before and after photos.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy) at a Glance
- nipples placed too high
- not re-arranging the tissue to improve fullness and longevity
1 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Lift. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift. Accessed May 15, 2020.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Combining a breast lift with breast implants. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/combining-a-breast-lift-with-breast-implants. Accessed May 15, 2020.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Who is a good candidate for breast lift surgery? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/candidates. Accessed May 15, 2020.
4 Mayo Clinic. Breast lift. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-lift/about/pac-20393218. Accessed May 15, 2020.
5 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What are the steps of a breast lift procedure? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/procedure. Accessed May 15, 2020.
Dr. Lawrence Tong has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.