Breast Lift - Introduction

The breasts count among the most important symbols of womanhood. When natural factors such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, or even the normal aging process cause a reduction in the tautness and elasticity of the breasts, cosmetic surgery offers the breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, as a possible solution for lifting and tightening the breast tissue.

It is well known that men naturally look first to a woman's face, and then to her breasts. But many woman are unsatisfied with the appearance of their breasts independent of the attention that the female chest attracts. For a positive attitude toward one's own body, the feeling of looking beautiful and attractive is not insubstantial. A negative attitude toward one's own body always means substantial psychological problems for the person affected. The size of the breasts generally plays a secondary role - the bosom should be tight. However, this ideal image is seldom achieved. In years of change, the breasts often grow due to changes in the glandular tissue but also become less elastic - their weightiness becomes increasingly noticeable. Additionally, weight loss may cause the form of the bosom to change for the negative. Lower tension in the connective tissue often leads to changes in the areolae. All this means a detraction from one's bodily health for many of the women affected; this is often also accompanied by emotional, social, and sexual problems.

When realistic improvement can no longer be expected from balanced nutrition, exercise, and cosmetic aids, a breast lift can be taken into consideration. The growth of the body and the development of the breasts should be complete; the health condition of the patient should be stable. A breast lift is an operation that is normally undertaken using general anaesthesia. The procedure lasts about 2 to 3 hours. Thereafter, you must plan for a clinic stay of 1 to 4 days. In the first days after the breast lift, patients wear a tightly fitting bandage which protects scars and keeps the breasts taut.

Swelling, pains, and possibly even bruising can be expected after the operation. Normally, these problems are treated while you are still staying in the clinic. Assuming good wound healing and thorough aftercare measures, you can return to your normal daily work life after a short time, but heavy physical exertion should be avoided at first. The primary risks in a breast lift procedure are wound infections or sensitivity irregularities in the area of the breast. With correct execution of the mastopexy, these seldom occur. It is also possible, however, that the results do not fully correspond to your aesthetic expectations. A potential second procedure may be of help in this case. Therefore, comprehensive consultation prior to the procedure is indispensable for clarifying your personal risk situation. With professional execution of the procedure, a noticeable tautening of the breasts can be expected. The size and shape of the areolae can usually be corrected satisfactorily.¹