Breast Lift: Information & Breast Lift Specialists

A breast lift is a surgical procedure to correct sagging breasts.

Starting around the ages of 30 to 40, the skin and glandular tissue of the female breast may begin to sag due to natural aging. As a result, the breast loses its youthful firmness. This leads to sagging breasts to a greater or lesser degree.

Also,

• pregnancy,
• breastfeeding, and
• significant weight loss

can weaken the tissue and lead to sagging breasts.

For many women, firm and shapely breasts are a symbol of femininity and youth. That is why some women seek an effective breast lift.

Before-and-after comparison photos of a breast lift © Otto Placik - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Immediately before the surgery, the surgeon makes a precise marking on the breast. This marking is essential for guiding the procedure.

The surgical procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia in the presence of an anesthesiologist. Therefore, some preoperative tests, such as a blood test in the lab and possibly an ECG, are necessary. Thanks to the general anesthesia, the procedure itself is painless for the patient.

The surgery is usually performed on an inpatient basis, meaning the patient remains in the hospital for a certain period of time after the procedure. This ensures that, even during the postoperative phase, the patient can be provided with effective pain medication under the best possible monitoring.

The cost of such a procedure depends primarily on the complexity of the treatment method. In some cases, it may be advisable and necessary to perform a breast augmentation at the same time, which can increase the treatment costs.

The cost of a breast lift typically ranges from approximately 4,000 to 6,000 EUR. The patient is responsible for covering these costs.

Surgeons can choose from a variety of different surgical procedures for breast lifts.

The choice of surgical procedure depends on

• the patient’s anatomical characteristics as well as
• the surgeon’s experience with specific surgical techniques.

The goal of all procedures is to create a well-shaped, symmetrical breast with as few scars as possible.

Before surgery, the surgeon examines the patient in person. During the preliminary consultation, he explains the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure he has chosen. This gives the patient the opportunity to clarify any questions with the surgeon and express her wishes.

In general, and as visible to the patient, the methods differ in terms of the external scars they leave behind. With all methods, it is necessary to reposition the nipple higher, as it has sagged due to skin laxity.

A perimammary lift (Benelli) is possible if

• the nipple needs to be repositioned only slightly upward,
• or there is only mild to moderate excess skin.

With this method, the surgeon removes the excess skin in a circular pattern around the nipple (mamilla). This also allows for optimization of the nipple’s shape. In addition, if necessary, excess glandular tissue can be removed and the entire breast reshaped. Ultimately, only a circular scar around the nipple remains.

The Lejour technique is used for more severely sagging breasts with a larger amount of excess skin and a significantly drooping nipple. In these cases, it is often necessary to remove larger amounts of skin. To do this, surgical procedures are used that

• a scar around the nipple and
• a vertical scar running close to the inframammary fold

.

For even more severely sagging breasts, procedures are required that

• a scar around the nipple running vertically toward the inframammary fold and
• a scar in the inframammary fold

.

Even with the utmost care, complications can occur during or after a procedure.

Bleeding may occur during the operation. While it is extremely rare for blood loss during a breast lift to require a blood transfusion, it can never be completely ruled out.

Even more rarely, blood transfusions can lead to the transmission of pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis viruses. To minimize the risk of infection, discuss with your doctor whether donating your own blood is possible and advisable.

In rare cases, pressure damage to soft tissues or nerves may occur during surgery. This damage usually resolves within a few weeks after surgery.

Possible complications following a breast lift include

• postoperative bleeding,
• bruising,
• numbness in the area of the nipple and breast skin, as well as
• circulatory and wound-healing disorders in the area of the scars or the nipples.

The appearance of scars varies from patient to patient depending on individual predisposition. In some cases, raised, thick, and painful scars (keloids) may develop. Such scars sometimes require corrective surgery.

Depending on the surgical technique, the ability to breastfeed may be impaired following a breast lift or breast reduction. For most women, the breasts are not perfectly symmetrical even before surgery. Perfect symmetry cannot be expected even after surgery.

The surgeon will strive to achieve the best possible symmetry. However, if noticeable asymmetry does occur, corrective surgery may be necessary.

In most cases, women must wear a support and compression bra for six weeks after a breast lift. It must be worn around the clock to achieve the best possible result.

If non-absorbable sutures are used, the stitches are usually removed after 8–14 days. Physical exertion and sports should be avoided during the first six weeks.

Direct sunlight on the scars should be avoided for six months, as this can cause the scars to discolor.