Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

• What Is Breast Lift Surgery?
• Breast Lift Candidates
• Breast Lift Benefits
• Breast Lift Options
• The Breast Lift Procedure
• Breast Lift Recovery
• Breast Lift Scars
• Breast Lift Results
• Breast Lift Cost
• How to Choose a Breast Lift Surgeon
• Additional Breast Lift FAQs

What Is Breast Lift Surgery?

A breast lift (mastopexy) is a plastic surgery procedure designed to elevate the position of the breasts on the chest wall. To restore diminished breast volume and/or enhance breast size and shape, Mr Townley may utilise either the patient’s own breast tissue or breast implants. Since each woman’s needs and goals are unique, breast lift surgery is meticulously personalised to suit the individual’s cosmetic challenges and desired outcome.

Who Is a Candidate for Breast Lift?

Suitable candidates for breast lift are generally in good health and do not have any conditions that might prevent them from healing properly. Often, women considering breast lift are affected by a combination of cosmetic concerns:

• Loose, stretched breast skin that has lost its elasticity
• Diminished breast volume and fullness
• Breast shape that has changed over time
• Loss of breast firmness
• Breasts that have a drooping shape due to genetics
• Low or downward pointing nipples and areolae
• Stretched or enlarged areolae
• Breast asymmetry that has appeared or become more prominent with age

Whether breast position, shape, and firmness has changed because of ageing, weight changes, or pregnancy and breastfeeding, Mr Townley can design a surgical breast lift plan with the goal of restoring a rejuvenated appearance. For women who desire additional breast fullness, placement of breast implants can be included in the procedure.

To find out if breast lift surgery or another cosmetic breast procedure is right for you, a consultation with Mr Townley is required. During this appointment, Mr Townley will examine the breasts, review your medical history, and listen to your concerns. Based on his findings and your input, he can determine if you are a good candidate for a breast lift and will develop a personalised surgical plan aimed at achieving the new look you desire.

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What Are the Benefits of Breast Lift Surgery?

In the hands of an experienced Consultant Plastic Surgeon, breast lift surgery can create a more youthful-looking bustline by improving the breasts’ positioning, shape, fullness, and symmetry. Additionally, the areolae can be reduced and repositioned during the procedure to enhance the quality of the final result. Provided the patient strictly adheres to aftercare instructions and lives a healthy lifestyle following the procedure, mastopexy can provide natural-looking effects that last many years into the future. 

What Are My Breast Lift Options?

While there are a variety of techniques Mr Townley may use to accomplish your breast lift, generally speaking breast lift surgery is split into two options—breast lift (mastopexy) and breast lift with implants (augmentation mastopexy):

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

A breast lift without the placement of breast implants utilises the patient’s existing skin, tissue, and fat to create a more elevated, firmer, and more optimally shaped breast. Mr Townley favours the use of an advanced “auto-augmentation” technique, which uses the lower part of the breast tissue (which would be discarded using traditional breast lift methods) to fill the upper portion of the breast. With this technique, a youthful and natural-looking breast shape can be accomplished without the need for an implant.

Breast Lift with Implants (Augmentation Mastopexy)

For women who have lost a significant amount of breast volume or those who simply desire additional breast fullness and shape, Mr Townley can perform a breast lift that combines the placement of breast implants (breast augmentation). Implants are typically placed using a dual-plane placement, which partially inserts the top portion of the implant under the chest muscle. This placement helps maintain implant positioning over time and assists in creating the most natural-looking aesthetic result.

Breast Lift with Fat Grafting

As an alternative to implants, Mr Townley can incorporate fat grafting into mastopexy. In such a procedure, the fat is harvested from the tummy, flanks, or other areas via liposuction, then injected into the upper breast. This addition of fat enhances the cleavage and upper pole fullness, and adds the benefit of removing possibly unwanted fat from the donor region. This strategy combined with an autoaugmentation technique can be a great option for those not interested in implants.

During your consultation with Mr Townley, he can suggest the breast lift approach that is the best match for your needs and goals.

What Happens During Breast Lift Surgery?

Breast lift surgery is typically performed under general anaesthesia in hospital as a daycase. The procedure generally takes an average of two hours to complete. Breast lift surgery begins with an incision around the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. For patients who require only a small lift and minor repositioning of the nipple, Mr Townley can perform a circumareolar lift (also called a Benelli or donut mastopexy) that requires only an incision around the areola region, through which the lift can be accomplished and an implant can be placed, if desired. When a more significant lift is necessary and there is an abundance of tissue to work with, Mr Townley generally opts for an auto-augmentation breast lift technique, which results in an incision around the nipple region and a closed vertical incision beneath the areola. During auto-augmentation, tissue from the lower pole of the breast is repositioned into the upper pole to create added fullness and shape. There are additional options for the way in which your surgery may be performed, and Mr Townley will clearly explain the details of how your breast lift will be accomplished prior to your surgery. Once the breasts have been surgically lifted and reshaped, and the nipple has been repositioned, the incisions are bandaged.

What Is Breast Lift Recovery Like?

After breast lift surgery, temporary soreness, bruising, and swelling are expected. As the body heals, these effects should resolve quickly. Generally, patients are able to return to work after about a week of rest; however, every individual’s recovery is unique and your recuperation period may take more or less time depending on the details of your surgery and how your body responds post-operatively. Vigorous exercise, heavy lifting, and other strenuous activities should be avoided until you are cleared by Mr Townley during one of your follow-up appointments. While your incisions will develop scar tissue and may appear reddish and raised in the initial phases of healing, they should fade and flatten over about a year’s time.

Does Breast Lift Surgery Cause Scarring?

Some degree of scarring can be expected after your mastopexy, but not usually in excessive quantities. For many patients, residual scarring from a breast lift can be well-hidden underneath a bra or bikini top. Mr Townley always takes care to make the incisions appear as seamless and inconspicuous as possible. However, patients with a predisposition to adverse scarring may experience more nodular or raised scars, especially early on in the recovery journey. If any abnormal scarring should occur, please feel free to consult the team for a review.

Are Breast Lift Surgery Results Permanent?

While the longevity of results will vary between patients, the majority find their breasts stay pert for decades as long as they take good care of their skin and health, and avoid excessive weight fluctuations. Be aware, though, that pregnancy and breastfeeding can alter work done on the breasts. As such, Mr Townley generally recommends that you only undergo mastopexy if you do not plan to have children in the future.

How Much Does Breast Lift Surgery Cost?

The average price range for a breast lift performed by Mr Townley is as follows:

• Breast Lift without Implants: ￡10,000
• Breast Lift with Implants: from ￡12,000

The exact cost for your procedure will depend upon the unique details of your surgical plan and whether or not you opt to add breast implants. For an accurate price estimate, you must meet with Mr Townley for a consultation. At the end of your appointment, you will receive a detailed quote for the total cost of your breast lift based on the specifics of your surgical plan. You will also have the opportunity to discuss payment options and schedule your procedure with the help of our knowledgeable office team.

How Should I Choose a Breast Lift Surgeon?

Because a breast lift is a major surgery, it’s essential to choose a qualified, experienced surgeon. You should always make sure the surgeon you choose has the proper training and certifications. In particular, they should have earned the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST), which grants them the title of Consultant Plastic Surgeon. They must also have a history of successful surgeries and patient satisfaction, which you can often discern by looking at their testimonials and before-and-after photos.

Mr Townley is highly regarded among London plastic surgeons due to his years of experience, consistently strong results, caring bedside manner, and excellent track record of happy patients. He owes his reputation to the time he takes to communicate clearly and listen patiently. He welcomes all questions and concerns and is gentle and compassionate throughout the entire process. Patients genuinely trust him.  

To see examples of Mr Townley’s breast lift cases, please explore our breast lift gallery. 

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift Surgery

We welcome any questions you may have in regard to breast lift surgery. Here are some of the most common questions we are asked:

When is the right time for a breast lift?

While anyone over the age of 18 is eligible for mastopexy, it’s usually recommended that patients wait until after they have finished having children. Some patients experience excessive droopiness or stretched-out skin earlier in life, especially after significant weight changes. We realise the circumstances are different for every patient, and encourage you to contact us if you require help making your decision.

Is breast lift surgery painful?

Because most breast lift surgeries involve the use of general anaesthesia, patients should not feel anything during the procedure itself; however, many experience some degree of tenderness, swelling, and bruising after surgery. These symptoms can generally be mitigated by prescribed or over-the-counter medications and mostly settle within four to five days. 

How long does the breast lift recovery process last?

While the majority of Mr Townley’s patients are able to return to daily activities after a week or so of downtime, the precise timeline of your recovery will depend on several factors. These include the techniques utilised during surgery, the extent of treatment, and whether or not implants were placed. Throughout your recovery, you will attend follow-up appointments so Mr Townley can monitor your healing. 

Do I need augmentation with my breast lift?

Although breast augmentation and breast lift are not mutually exclusive, you do not need to have both of these treatments at once. However, as explained above, Mr Townley can combine these two treatments in an augmentation-mastopexy. In such a procedure, he uses the dual-plane method to place the implants. This technique allows the breast implants to sit in the most natural position. For patients who desire more fullness in the breasts and a more pronounced volume increase in addition to reduced signs of sagging, an augmentation-mastopexy may be an optimal solution.

Will a breast lift interfere with my ability to breastfeed?

In many cases, breastfeeding after mastopexy is possible. Nevertheless, some do experience difficulty producing milk after they’ve undergone mastopexy. If you plan to breastfeed after your breast lift, let Mr Townley know, as he may be able to alter the technique for surgery to preserve the possibility of nursing in the future.

When can I shower or bathe after breast lift surgery?

Patients are often directed to wait 24 hours after the procedure before showering. However, after that, early showering is encouraged to keep the surrounding skin clean. Showerproof dressings or tape are used for the incision line itself. Tub baths should be avoided for at least six to eight weeks or until Mr Townley deems them safe for you.

What kind of bra should I wear after breast lift surgery?

Wearing a comfortable, supportive bra is essential after breast lift surgery. During the initial recovery phase, Mr Townley usually advises patients to wear soft, supportive bras without an invasive underwire to facilitate healing. These are provided at surgery such that patients wake up in a bra without drains or dressings. After the recovery period, he recommends that patients continue to choose comfortable, quality bras that offer sufficient support for their newly enhanced breasts.

How can I reduce swelling after a breast lift?

While swelling is a normal reaction to the incisions made during breast lift surgery and generally should not be cause for alarm, there are ways to potentially ease swelling during your recovery. For instance, Mr Townley advises patients to refrain from smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and eating especially salty or inflammatory foods. Sleeping in an elevated position and going for brisk walks can also mitigate swelling.

When will my breast lift results be noticeable?

Depending on strategies employed during surgery and other specificities of your breast lift procedure, the results may be noticeable immediately after surgery and should begin to settle within a few weeks as residual swelling subsides. The results should become fully apparent after a few months. Keep in mind that in order to reap the full benefits of your surgery, you must closely follow Mr Townley’s personalised recovery instructions and attend your scheduled follow-up appointments.

Are you considering a breast lift? Contact our office to learn more.