Breast Lift (Mastopexy) in Newcastle NSW
Considering a breast lift (mastopexy)? On this page I explain what the operation involves, how I work out whether it suits you, and what to expect from the process.
A breast lift (mastopexy) removes excess skin, repositions the breast and reshapes the tissue, and lifts the nipple and areola to a higher position. On its own it does not change breast volume. Breast position and skin laxity can change over time, and can be affected by pregnancy or breastfeeding, weight change or ageing.
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Types of Mastopexy
A breast lift (mastopexy) can be performed on its own, or combined with other techniques depending on your anatomy and what you want to change. Which approach suits you depends on your breast position, skin laxity and breast volume, and I assess this individually at consultation.
Mastopexy with auto-augmentation
This uses your own breast tissue, repositioned during the mastopexy, to add upper pole fullness without an implant. Whether it is suitable depends on how much breast tissue you have and its quality.
Breast lift (mastopexy) with implants
This combines a mastopexy with a breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty). Adding an implant at the time of the mastopexy changes breast volume as well as position. Done together, this is a larger and more complex operation than either on its own, with a different risk and recovery profile. For some patients it is appropriate to do both in one operation. For others it is more appropriate to stage the mastopexy and implant across separate operations, which can help protect the blood supply to the nipple and the quality of the scars. Which approach suits you is a clinical decision made with you at consultation, not something decided in advance. You can read more on my breast lift (mastopexy) with implants page.
Breast lift (mastopexy) with fat injections
A breast lift (mastopexy) repositions the nipple and tightens loose skin, but it does not add volume. For patients who want a modest increase in fullness at the same time, fat injections can be combined with the lift. Fat is harvested from another area of the body by liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy), filtered and prepared for grafting, then injected into the breast in the same operation. The volume gain is modest and a proportion of the injected fat is reabsorbed in the months after surgery, so this suits patients seeking shape and a small amount of added fullness rather than a significant size increase. Implants remain the reliable route where more volume is wanted. Whether this combination is appropriate is assessed at consultation.
Breast lift (mastopexy) with liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy)
A breast lift (mastopexy) can be done with or without liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy). Where it helps the overall shape, I may use it, including ultrasound-assisted liposuction (VASER), to reduce and shape the side of the chest and the axillary tail, which is the breast tissue that extends towards the armpit. Whether it adds anything for you is assessed at consultation.
Is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Right for Me?
A breast lift (mastopexy) is one option for changes in breast position and skin laxity. It is not the only option, and it is not right for everyone. Some concerns suit a different approach, and for some people the right decision is not to have surgery at all. This is why individual assessment matters.
Suitability depends on your breast position, skin laxity, breast tissue and general health. In my practice I generally operate on patients who are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have recently been pregnant or breastfed, surgery is usually planned once breastfeeding has finished and your breasts have settled. Timing is worked out individually.
One way clinicians describe breast position is the relationship between the nipple and the breast fold. When the nipple and areola sit below the fold, this is called ptosis. It is a general guide only, and whether a breast lift (mastopexy) is appropriate for you is determined at consultation, not from a page.
Future pregnancy and breastfeeding can affect the result of a breast lift (mastopexy), and surgery can affect your future ability to breastfeed. I will talk this through with you if it is relevant to your situation.
The Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Operation
I perform a breast lift (mastopexy) at Maitland Private Hospital, under general anaesthesia, in an accredited private hospital.
The technique I use depends on your breast position, the amount of skin laxity, and how far the nipple and areola need to move. I go through this with you at your assessment. The main patterns are set out below.
Vertical pattern (lollipop)
This uses an incision around the areola and a single vertical line down to the breast fold. It removes excess skin and repositions the nipple and areola, with a shorter scar than the inverted-T pattern. It suits many patients with a moderate amount of skin laxity.
Periareolar pattern (doughnut)
This uses a circular incision around the areola only. The scar is limited to the edge of the areola, but the amount of repositioning it can achieve is smaller, so it suits a narrower group of patients.
Inverted-T pattern (anchor, Wise pattern)
This uses an incision around the areola, a vertical line to the breast fold, and a horizontal line along the fold. It removes the most skin and allows the most repositioning, so it suits greater degrees of skin laxity. The scar is longer as a result.
Whichever pattern is used, I reshape the breast tissue, reposition the nipple and areola, check symmetry, and close the incisions in layers with dissolving sutures. Scars are permanent, and how they mature varies from person to person.
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Your Consultation
With more than two decades of surgical experience, I use a full range of mastopexy techniques, so the operation is planned around your individual breast anatomy rather than a single fixed approach.
At your consultation I assess your breast position, skin laxity and breast tissue, talk through the options with you, and go through the risks and what recovery involves. Where it helps the discussion, I use Crisalix 3D imaging with you in the room to look at shape, and at implant sizing if implants are being considered.
3D imaging is a visualisation aid used to support discussion during your consultation. It is a general guide only. It does not predict or guarantee your actual surgical result, and results vary between patients. All surgery has complications, get a 2nd opinion
You will leave with clear written information, so you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Whether a breast lift (mastopexy) is right for you is determined at this consultation.
In-person consultations are available, and video consultations on Zoom for patients who cannot attend in person.
Follow-up Care
Your care does not end on the day of surgery. Follow-up is most intensive in the first two weeks, with reviews two to three times a week for nurse and doctor checks, dressing changes, and LED light treatment (Healite II) to support wound healing.
After the first two weeks, I review you at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months to check that your healing is progressing as expected. These reviews are included in your surgical fee.
Your GP takes over your longer-term care, with a formal handover at your 4-week review. If a concern comes up between visits, you can contact Maitland Private Hospital for nurse-led phone advice.