Breast Lifts (Mastopexy)

In some women, the skin is not strong or resilient enough to support the weight of the breast, causing the breasts to sag. With this condition, called ptosis, there is too much skin compared to breast tissue. To give the breast a lift, the excess skin must be removed. There are three surgical techniques generally used:

• Wise pattern. The incision, in the shape of an anchor, goes around the chest and below the breast.
• LeJeour. The incision goes around the areola and down.
• Donut or peri-areolar. The incision goes around the areola only.

This surgery involves some degree of permanent scarring, but product are available that may help to minimize the appearance of scars.

Will Insurance Cover Cosmetic Surgery for the Breast?

Federal law requires that insurance covers breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. In the case of a cosmetic procedure, however, you should check with your insurance company for details, and talk with your doctor about associated costs.

It's important to know that if you've undergone breast implantation either as an aesthetic or a reconstructive procedure, your health insurance premiums may increase or your coverage may be dropped. In some cases, you may also be denied future coverage. If you experience complications from such procedures, most insurance companies will not provide coverage.

Mammoplasty.Mastopexy - breast lift

Mastopexy is a synonym for breast lift : the surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Mastopexy can easily be combined with other surgical procedures concering breasts.

While considering mastopexy, it is important to be realistic. A mastopexy can not turn an A-cup into a D-cup. Each mastopexy is different as well for the patient as for the surgeon. That is why it is important to have a pre-surgery consultation about mastoplexy.

Why mastoplexy ?

Mastopexy may be necessary because gravity, weight loss, breast feeding, pregnancy or aging has left many women with sagging, shapeless breasts. Sagging breasts often loose volume, so it's sometimes good to consider mastopexy and breast augmentation together.

Mastopexy techniques

Several mastopexy techniques are possible, but there are two major mastopexy techniques : concentric mastopexy suitable to women with bigger breats, and anchor-shaped mastopexy for women with smaller breasts. Anchor-shaped mastopexy leaves the smallest scars since less tissue has to be removed.

Mastopexy takes between 2 and 3 hours and requires general anaestethic, but mastopexy patients can leave the same day. Possible mastopexy complications can be bruises, swellings and loss of feeling in your nipples.

After the operation:

One should wear snug compression garment during the postoperative period which is individual (in general - about 2 weeks).

Rehabilitation period:

7-10 days. Aftercare may be performed either in the clinic or outpatiently.

Alternative:

Endoprosthesis breast replacement, which not only restores the breasts' size, but also lifts the breasts to a certain extent. However, this operation won't suit the patients who have high level of ptosis.

Breast ptosis occurs because of the weight of breasts, so it usually develops as the person grows older or after breastfeeding. Mastopexy can't stop this process for ever, however it can "turn back the clock". It has been proven that mastopexy doesn't influence the state of the breast tissues and doesn't appear to be the cause of mastopathy or any oncological diseases. However, the patient must be examined before the operation (go for mammography) and consult mammologist in order to shut out presence of any diseases. Although durinf the operation no breast tissue is cut out, this operation causes a small size loss, as the conical shape is maintained by removing a piece of skin.