Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison	Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	R	S	T	U	V	W	Z

Breast lift

Definition

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is cosmetic breast surgery to lift the breasts.

Alternative Names

Mastopexy; Breast lift with reduction; Breast lift with augmentation

Description

Cosmetic breast surgery is surgery you choose to have. You do not need it for medical reasons. It can be done at an outpatient surgery clinic or in a hospital.

You will probably receive general anesthesia before this procedure. This will make you unconscious and unable to feel pain. Or, you may receive medicine to help you relax and local anesthesia to numb the area around the breasts to block pain. You will be awake but unable to feel pain.

Your surgeon will make 1 to 3 surgical incisions (cuts) in your breast. Your surgeon will remove extra skin and may reposition your nipple and areola.

Sometimes, women have breast augmentation (enlargement) when they have a breast lift.

Risks

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems, such as pneumonia
• Heart problems

Risks for breast surgery are:

• Inability to nurse a baby after surgery
• Large scars that take a long time to heal
• Uneven position of the nipples

The emotional risks of surgery may include feeling that your breasts don't look perfect, or you may be disappointed with people's reactions to your "new" breasts.

Review Date: 3/2/2009
Reviewed By: David A. Lickstein, MD, FACS, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, Palm Beach Gardnes, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.