With age, all the tissues of our body are subject to the laws of gravity, and as a result, dropping and sagging, loss of elasticity and former appearance happen. Breasts are no exception. In a woman’s life, there are many factors that affect ptosis of the breast: childbirth, pregnancy, during which multiple stretch marks are formed, breastfeeding, after which signs of asymmetry appear, weight loss, etc. A similar effect is observed after sudden weight loss, as a result of hormonal disruptions and age-related changes.
Neither active physical exercises, nor special diets are able to return breasts to their former forms. Fortunately, today, in modern plastic surgery, there is a method that can fix these defects.
Breast lift (mastopexy) – plastic surgery, which is aimed at the renewal of the lost natural forms and proportions of the breast is the only way to overcome aesthetic imbalance. During the operation, the position of the nipple and areola also moves, removing sagging skin and fat deposits with further redistribution of tissues, remodelling of the breast to give the mammary glands a harmonious look. The advantage of this operation is that the volume of the breast does not change at all. The surgeon works with the tissues that are available.
Plastic surgery improves the well-being and quality of life of patients with severe ptosis and excess breast mass.
Types of ptosis:
For competent and correct conduction of further surgery, it is necessary to establish the degree of ptosis.
Ptosis is divided into 3 degrees:
The breast normally looks as follows: the nipple is located on top of the breast, 2-3 cm above the breast fold. Ideally, lines through the nipples and jugular notch form an equilateral triangle.
I – when the nipple is at the level of the fold under the breast (submammary fold);
II – when the nipple is located below this fold by 1-3 cm, but above the lower edge of the chest;
III – when the nipple is much lower than the submammary fold, about 3 cm or more and “looks” down.
There is also the concept of pseudoptosis and glandular ptosis.
Pseudoptosis – when the nipple is significantly higher than the chest fold, and the lower part of the chest is lowered down, and the tissues that are excessively stretched, form a sag.
Glandular ptosis – the nipple is located above or at the level of the submammary fold, and the glandular tissue (due to hyperplasia) is located below the fold;
Indications for a lift:
– Ptosis (prolapse of the mammary glands) of varying degrees. With age, elasticity and turgor decrease, the skin loses elasticity, the chest sags and loses shape.
– Change in shape and volume after childbirth and breastfeeding. During natural lactation, the mammary gland increases 2-3 times due to milk arriving at it, the hormonal background changes. After the termination of breastfeeding, the amount of glandular tissue that produced milk decreases, and the skin does not have time to get in shape.
– Asymmetry. Through trauma, cancer, and other causes, a difference appears in the shape and size between the two mammary glands.
– A sharp decrease in body weight. During a sharp weight loss, the mammary gland decreases, but excess skin loses its elasticity.
– Stretching of the breast tissue with a normal position of the nipple
– Hypoplasia (anomaly of the development of one breast)
– Omission of the lower third of the breast
Contraindications to breast lift:
– age of the patient is less than 18 years;
– chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, blood diseases);
– hormonal dysfunction;
– oncological diseases;
– tendency to scarring;
– overweight;
– autoimmune diseases;
– planned pregnancy and lactation period;
– mental disorders
Before surgery, the patient must consult with his doctor and pass a number of laboratory and instrumental tests. Only after the patient is fully examined, does the doctor begin to choose the method of the operation, all possible complications and risks are discussed.
There are a lot of options for mastopexy in modern surgery. Depending on the shape of the breast and the degree of manifestation of ptosis, the desired result and many other factors, there are three main methods of breast lift:
- periareolar mastopexy;
- vertical mastopexy;
- T-shaped mastopexy.
Periareolar mastopexy
Who is it recommended to? – To patients with grade I ptosis, elongated breasts (tubular), small or medium-sized breasts. The operation is performed under general or local anaesthesia. The duration of the operation is up to 1.5 hours. Surgical access is performed at the junction of the areola with the breast without affecting the mammary gland. The folds formed around the areola are smoothed out in 2 months;
Full working capacity and recovery takes place after 2-3 weeks, depending on individual characteristics.
Vertical mastopexy
Who is it recommended to? – To patients with different grades of ptosis, excessive stretched skin and a different ratio of adipose and glandular tissue. The operation lasts up to 3 hours. Surgical access is provided around the areola and is complemented by a vertical incision towards the fold. Using this technique, you can give the breast a natural shape, tighten the nipple and reduce the size.
T-shaped mastopexy
Who is it recommended to? – To patients with II and III degree of ptosis. The operation lasts up to 4 hours, under general anaesthesia.
Surgical access is carried out through 3 incisions, collectively resembling the inverted letter “T” (around the areola, vertically down the center of the chest to the chest fold and horizontally along it);
Often this method is combined with reductive mammoplasty – a reduction in breast volume;
Side effect: breastfeeding may be limited, scarring around the areola
