Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

With a breast lift the tightness of the Breast can be enhanced. The size of the breast is not changed. However, the surgeon can additionally do a breast enlargement or reduction. If the position of the nipple is changed, the ability to nurse a baby will be lost.

Basic preconditions:
	You are over 18 years old, in good physical and psychological condition and have a realistic idea.
	You are not pregnant and not nursing your baby.

Preparations:
	About 4 weeks before the surgery, you should reduce smoking. Moreover alcohol should be avoided.
	On the day of the surgery you should not have your menstruation.
	About 2 weeks before the surgery you should not take anticoagulants (Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid containing drugs).
	Not later than 3 weeks before the surgery the birth control pill must be discontinued.

Surgery preparations and examinations:
	For the surgery you need a blood count and an ECG. Your GP can provide both. Please bring the findings with you (it should not be older than two weeks).
	If you are older than 40 you need a complete blood count.
	If you are older than 40 a mammography is additionally required.

Length of the surgery:

The surgery takes normally 1-2 hours. If additionally a breast enlargement or reduction is done it takes about 3 hours. The surgery will be carried out during a stationary stay in hospital of about two to three days.

Course of action:

Before the surgery you will be informed during a detailed counselling talk on how the surgery is done, possible complications, risks, and alternatives. Maybe you want to write done your questions on the surgery. The surgery will be conducted under general anaesthesia. Before the anaesthesia you will be advised by an anaesthetist about the risks, complications and possible alternatives to a narcosis. The anaesthetist will be present during the surgery. A general anaesthesia means stress for the body. During narcoses risks or complications can occur, depending on previous diseases and your general state of health.

Before the surgery the new position of the nipple and the necessary incision is drawn on the skin. It is possible to raise the nipple, make it smaller or larger. The mammary glands are fixed to the area below, depending on the type of the tissue. The new form of the breast is created by removing superfluous skin and gland tissue and by a skin lift. Then the breast can additionally be enlarged or reduced. After the surgery the breast is bandaged.

Perception and possible complications:

Usually the pain is worse in the first 48 hours but it can be alleviated by pain killers that you will get in hospital. Normally pain becomes less and less every day. Like after every surgery secondary haemorrhages cannot be excluded. Therefore you should avoid taking acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and other acetylsalicylic acid containing drugs two weeks before the surgery. Despite aseptic measures inflammations can occur. Preventively you will get antibiotics.

After a surgery there can occur blood clots in the main veins (thrombosis), these can be carried further and thus block a blood vessel (embolism). As prevention it can be considered to take anticoagulant drugs (i. e. injections of heparin), however these cause an increased bleeding tendency and in very rare cases grave dysfunctions of blood coagulation.

Even when the wound healing is normal, scars can initially become red or harden. After a while they will fade, they become inconspicuous. You will be informed on further risks and possible side-effects in a comprehensive handout.

After the surgery:

If you have got drainages during the surgery, these are removed the next day. Bandages are removed after 2-3 days. After the wounds are completely closed, you can take showers again. Before you go home, you will have a follow-up examination. You should not drive yourself.

We recommend wearing a supporting bra the first 6 weeks after the surgery in order to reduce swelling and support a good healing. In the affected area you will have some pain; this however can usually easily be eliminated by pain killers. In the first few days you should cool the breasts in order to reduce swellings. Feelings of tautness and numbness around the nipple usually vanish within the first few weeks. The stitches can be taken out by your GP after about 2-3 weeks. In order to improve the healing you can apply scar ointment.

After about 2-3 weeks you can take up your every-day activities again. In the first 4-5 weeks you must avoid lifting heavy things or raising your arms over the height of the shoulders. You should not go to the sauna, do sports, go to the solarium, or take a sunbath in the first 10-12 weeks after the surgery.


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