A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that raises and firms the breasts. While it is a surgical procedure, it is generally not considered a major surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 87,051 breast lift procedures were performed in 2020, a decrease of 21% from the previous year. This procedure has grown by 70% since 2000, outpacing breast implants two-to-one. It’s important to note that any surgical procedure carries risks and should be discussed thoroughly with a healthcare professional.
What Is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to:
- Raise sagging or uneven breasts
- Firm and enhance breast shape
- Reduce breast size
- Reshape breasts for a more youthful appearance
During a breast lift, excess skin is removed, and breast tissue is reshaped to lift the breasts. The nipple and areola are repositioned to a more youthful height.
Benefits of a Breast Lift
- Improves breast shape and position
- Corrects sagging and uneven breasts
- Firms support and enhance breast contour
- Reduces breast size
- Creates a more youthful breast appearance
What Is The Procedure Of Breast Lift?
A breast lift, or mastopexy, reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening tissue to raise and firm the breasts. The procedure involves 5 key steps:
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- The surgeon makes incisions around the areola, vertically down from the areola to the crease, and horizontally along the breast crease.
- Excess breast skin is removed to tighten the tissue.
- Breast tissue is reshaped and lifted.
- The nipple and areola are repositioned to a more youthful height.
- Incisions are closed with sutures, and a surgical bra and dressings are applied.
Is a Breast Lift Major Surgery?
While a breast lift does require going under general anaesthesia and entails surgical risks, it is generally not considered a major surgical procedure. There are a few reasons why:
Shorter Surgery Time
The surgery itself usually takes 2-3 hours. This is a relatively quick timeframe for a surgical procedure. Surgeries lasting much longer, over 4+ hours, are typically considered major operations.
Shorter Hospital Stay
Patients can usually go home the same day as their breast lift surgery. Overnight hospital stays or extended stays over 24 hours are more familiar with major surgeries.
Lower Surgical Risks
Compared to procedures like a tummy tuck, butt lift or body contouring, the potential surgical risks and complications are fewer and less severe. Loss of nipple sensation is one of the main risks.
Quicker Recovery
Most patients return to work within 5-7 days after a breast lift. The recovery is shorter than a major surgery requiring weeks off work.
So, while it is still a significant surgical procedure requiring anaesthesia, a breast lift is not considered a major operation. The surgery required a hospital stay, and the recovery timeframe is relatively short.
Breast Lift Techniques
There are a few different techniques your plastic surgeon may use to perform your breast lift procedure:
Crescent Lift
A crescent lift, the most common technique, involves a small crescent-shaped incision along the top of the areola. It allows for a mild lift, primarily raising sagging nipples and areolas.
Benelli Lift
The Benelli lift uses an incision around the perimeter of the areola that allows for lifting mild ptosis and reshaping breasts with good skin elasticity.
Vertical Lift
A vertical lift adds a vertical incision down to the breast crease from the areola. This allows for a medium-lift, raising and firming moderate sagging.
Anchor Lift
The anchor lift uses an anchor-shaped incision around the areola vertically down the breast and horizontally along the crease. This allows for the most lifting and reshaping of significantly sagging breasts.
The technique depends on factors like excess skin, breast shape and size, elasticity and the amount of lift desired. Your surgeon will determine the best lift method during your consultation.
Is a Breast Lift Major Surgery Compared to Other Breast Procedures?
A breast lift on its own is not considered a major surgery. However, it is a more involved procedure compared to other common breast surgeries like:
Breast Augmentation
- Implant surgery
- 45 min – 1-hour surgery
- Slight recovery – 24-48 hours
- Return to regular activity in 5-7 days
Breast Reduction
- Removes excess breast tissue
- 2-3 hour surgery
- Slightly longer recovery – 5-10 days
- Less risk and physical stress
Breast Lift
- Reshapes sagging breasts
- 2-3 hour surgery
- 5-7 day recovery
- Moderate physical impact
So, while more complex than the other procedures, a plain breast lift is still not classified as major surgery compared to lengthier and higher-risk operations.
Breast Lift Combined With Other Surgeries
A breast lift procedure combined with other surgeries is more likely to be considered a major operation, including:
| surgery | What It Involves | Surgery Duration | Recovery Time |
| Breast Augmentation (Implants) | Implants placed to increase breast size | 45 min – 1 hour | 24-48 hours. Return to regular activity in 5-7 days |
| Breast Reduction | Removing excess breast tissue | 2-3 hours | 5-10 days |
| Breast Lift (Mastopexy) | Reshaping sagging breasts by tightening tissue | 2-3 hours | 5-7 days |
| Breast Lift + Augmentation | Lift combined with implants | 3-4 hours | 7-14 days |
| Breast Lift + Tummy Tuck | Extensive combo procedure | 4-6 hours | 4-6+ weeks |
| Breast Lift + Body Contouring | Multiple procedures combined | 4+ hours | 4+ weeks |
As shown in the table, a plain breast lift is not considered major surgery, unlike combinations with extensive procedures like body contouring, which require more extended surgery and recovery times. However, it does involve more surgical risks and impact than straightforward implant augmentation or breast reduction surgeries.
So, while a breast lift alone is not a major surgery when combined with extensive procedures like implants or body contouring, it can increase the severity, risks and recovery – making it more likely to be deemed a significant operation.
Surgical Risks and Complications
While considered a straightforward procedure, no surgery is without risks. Possible complications from breast lift surgery include:
| Surgical Risks and Complications | Details |
| Infection | Bacteria introduced during surgery result in infected breast tissue or incision site |
| Bleeding | Excessive bleeding during or after surgery |
| Adverse reaction to anesthesia | Allergic reaction or complications from general anaesthesia |
| Blood clots | Clots in veins of legs or lungs |
| Loss of nipple sensation | Numbness in nipples or areolas – may be temporary or permanent |
| Asymmetry | Noticeable difference in size or shape between breasts |
| Inability to breastfeed | Damage to milk ducts preventing breastfeeding |
| Unsatisfactory scarring | Thick, raised or discoloured scars around incisions |
While considered a relatively safe procedure, breast lifts do carry these risks ranging from the more ordinary, like changes in nipple sensation, to severe but rare complications like blood clots. Understanding the potential risks allows patients to make fully informed decisions about surgery.
Serious risks like severe infection, extended recovery times and the need for revision surgery are relatively low. However, knowing the potential complications is important when considering a breast lift.
Recovery After a Breast Lift
Breast lift recovery includes:
- 1-2 days of rest after surgery
- 5-7 days before returning to work
- Avoid exercise and strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks
- Swelling and bruising can last 2-3 weeks
- Numbness can persist for a few months
- See results after 6-12 weeks once the swelling goes down
So, while recovery time is still needed, it is shorter than more complex surgeries. Following your surgeon’s post-op instructions can help facilitate the healing process.
While a breast lift is a surgical procedure requiring careful consideration of the risks and recovery time, it is generally not considered a major operation compared to more complex surgeries. This leads to the common question: is a breast lift a major surgery? In context, it is less invasive and involves a shorter recovery period than many other surgical procedures. With experienced surgical care, a breast lift can provide rejuvenating improvements to breast shape and contour without the extended recovery of major surgery.
If you are considering breast lift surgery in Dubai, Dr. Tarek Bayazid is an experienced, caring plastic surgeon who provides customised treatment plans for natural-looking outcomes.
Book a consultation to discuss your options and see if you are a good candidate for a breast lift or mastopexy procedure.
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