Breast lift
It is not uncommon for the appearance of the breasts to change after pregnancy and breastfeeding. As the volume of the breasts decreases, the skin can feel loose. The bust begins to sag more, often the areola points downwards. The same thing happens when you age or lose a lot of weight. If you are happy with the size of your breasts but feel that the nipples hang downwards, a breast lift can give your breasts a natural appearance.
Treatment
When you do a breast lift, you lift the nipple by cutting it out of the skin, so that it gets a blood supply, the nipple is left against the breast tissue. It is then moved up to a higher position on the chest. The loose skin that remains in the lower part of the chest is cut away. It is a similar operation to that used in breast reduction surgery, but without reducing the size of the breast. The skin that is removed often weighs no more than 20-50 grams. The rest of the breast tissue is left. This way, you can maintain the volume of the breast, but with less sagging.
Risks and complications
When you cut out the nipple, there is a scar around the areola, usually in the form of an “anchor.” There are other techniques that give shorter scars, but they are not always the best fit for giving a nice result.
The most common complications of a breast lift are:
- Wide scars around the areola.
- Infection treated with antibiotics.
- Small wound that takes a few weeks to heal on its own.
- Worse sensation in the areola.
Unusual complications:
- If the blood supply to the areola becomes too poor, a wound can form that leaves a permanent scar.
- Breastfeeding becomes difficult.
This is how the operation works
When you come to us in the morning, you will meet your surgeon who will answer any questions you may have. When we plan the procedure, we draw a “map” of the breasts to know where to move the areola and what skin to remove. The operation takes between 1,5-2 hours. In most cases, we use a similar technique to that used for a breast reduction. In a lift, we only remove skin. This way, the breast volume can be preserved. After the operation, you will stay in the recovery room for a few hours and we will offer you coffee before you go home.
Follow-up & convalescence
One week after the operation, you will meet with your surgeon and a nurse to check that the healing is going as planned. After another week, it is time for another check-up with your nurse. At first, the breasts are swollen and they may differ in size and shape. After about six months, all swelling has gone down and after another six months, the scars have matured. Then you will come back for a final check-up and to assess the final result. Depending on how heavy your work is, you will be on sick leave for between 1-3 weeks. You can start exercising after 3-4 weeks and gradually increase your activity level to normal.
Book a consultation and talk to a specialist to find out what is best for you.