Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Specialists in Breast Lifts (Mastopexy)
Thank you for considering UC Health Plastic Surgery for your plastic surgery procedure. We offer a safe, comfortable atmosphere in our modern, state-of-the-art facility located in West Chester, Ohio, convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. We offer a friendly staff of nurses and administrative support to help with your scheduling issues and questions.
What is Mastopexy?
Mastopexy (or breast lift) is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts, or to reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. Breasts that have lost volume or firmness can be enhanced by a breast lift in conjunction with breast implants. The goal is to move the nipple back to a higher position and to reshape the breast. Patients who are planning a pregnancy should consider waiting because pregnancy is likely to offset the results of the procedure by stretching the skin even more. While future breast feeding ability is not usually disturbed, some extensive procedures may cause the nipple complex to not heal correctly for breast feeding purposes.
Procedure Benefits
- Raise and reshape sagging breasts
- Reshape and move the areola (nipple complex) to a more natural position
- Improve the size and shape of breasts in conjunction with breast implants
- Give a more youthful appearance
Private Consultation
After you and your plastic surgeon discuss your needs and expectations in our conveniently located Cincinnati offices, you will decide on your desired new shape. If you feel that your breasts are undersized, or there is a shortage of breast tissue to reshape, your surgeon may also recommend breast implants. Your surgeon will evaluate your overall health to ascertain that you are able to undergo this procedure. You should be prepared to discuss your complete medical history, including previous procedures and any medications you are taking, including vitamins. You will also discuss the cost of the procedure, keeping in mind that most insurance companies do not consider a breast lift to be medically necessary and will not cover the cost of this procedure.
Preparation
If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, it must be controlled before you can undergo this procedure. For at least two weeks prior to surgery, you must stop taking any blood-thinning medications and herbal supplements. After you have scheduled a surgery date, you will make an appointment for pre-admission testing and a physical exam. Your surgeon may also require you to have a mammogram (breast x-ray) before your surgery. The surgery should take place within 2 weeks after the results of these tests have been returned. You will receive guidelines on eating and drinking, taking vitamins and medications, and smoking. Smoking should be stopped 2-3 months before the operation because it reduces the blood supply to tissue. In fact, some surgeons will refuse to perform elective surgery on smokers due to this risk. You should arrange for someone to drive you home from our Cincinnati offices after your surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed.
Procedure Overview
The procedure is performed in 2-3 hours as an outpatient surgery in our surgical facility in West Chester. You will receive general anaesthesia or a combination of local and regional anaesthesia. The pattern of the scar will be determined by the shape of the breasts. Any excess skin is removed, the nipple and areola are moved to a higher position, and the skin around the areola is brought down and together to reshape the breast. In patients with small breasts and minimal sagging, a much smaller incision is made around the areola. If a breast implant is desired, it is placed in a pocket either directly under the breast tissue or under the chest wall muscle.
Recovery and Healing Time
A surgical bra will be placed over gauze dressings. The breasts will be bruised, somewhat swollen and uncomfortable, but discomfort may be relieved with prescribed medications. Within a few days, the bandages or surgical bra will be replaced by a soft support bra which should be worn continuously (24 hours/day) for 3-4 weeks. Sutures will be removed in 1-2 weeks if they are not self-dissolving. There may be some loss of feeling in the nipples and breast skin, but this should improve as the swelling goes down. Most patients may return to non-strenuous work in 3-4 days (no bending or lifting), but you should avoid lifting anything over your head for at least 3 weeks (or as instructed by your surgeon) and avoid strenuous activities for 3-4 weeks. Sex should be avoided for at least 1-2 weeks. The scars will gradually reduce and fade, but will always be somewhat visible as a lighter area on the breast. The scars are easily hidden by a bathing suit or brassiere.
Procedure Risks
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Swelling
- Redness
- Infection
- Scarring
- Loss of nipple sensation (less than 5% of patients)
- Unevenly positioned nipples
UC Health Plastic Surgery in West Chester, has three nationally recognized Cincinnati plastic surgeons.
Located north of Cincinnati, we serve West Chester, Mason, Loveland, Indian Hill and the rest of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton for all of their plastic surgery procedure needs.
