Mastopexy Methods

The mastopexy is a cosmetic surgical procedure to lift the breasts. The need for mastopexy occurs because as breast skin stretches, the breasts droop. In addition, a woman's age, breast size, pregnancies, nursing and gravity cause the breasts to droop even more. The amount of droop determines which mastopexy procedure the surgeon uses. Mild to moderate to advanced droop-- each calls for a different method to raise, reshape and reposition the breast, the role the breast nipple plays in making these choices, and how the surgeon determines the best mastopexy method for you.

Determining Amount of Breast Droop

• As a female ages, her breast skin stretches causing a condition known as "ptosis," or breast droop. During this process, the breasts lose their former shape and position and begin to descend. As the nipple also descends, it passes by the "inframammary crease," the point on the body where the lower part of the breast is attached. By measuring the nipple in relation to its position above or below the breast crease, the severity of the breast droop is determined. This will indicate to the surgeon the correct mastopexy method needed.

Mild Droop

• At this stage, the nipple has started to fall from its position above the inframammary breast crease to a point where it is on the same line as the crease. The mastopexy procedure at this "mild droop" stage is called "The Crescent Lift" and involves removing the slightest amount of thin, crescent-shaped skin around the border of the nipple. Only a local anesthetic and sedative are usually needed here. There is minimal scarring, usually well-hidden around the nipple.

Moderate Droop

• In this position, the nipple is on a plane below the crease. The nipple is also pointing down, yet retaining some degree of lift. The technique used for this minimally invasive procedure is called "The Benneli-Lollipop." Straight incisions are made from under the areola (the darker, donut-shaped area surrounding the nipple) back to the breast crease. Or, skin is removed from both around and below the nipple,
  resulting in some scars in these areas. This procedure normally is preceded by a general anesthesia.

Advanced Droop

• Here, the nipple is well below the breast crease and pointing straight down, with no amount of lift visible. This requires the "Full Mastopexy," the most invasive and extensive of the methods for restoring breast lift. Anchor-shaped incisions are made, which not only remove excess breast skin around and below the nipple and along the breast crease-- but the nipple can be re-positioned and lifted as well. Scarring is expected along the anchor-shaped areas. Naturally, this requires full general anesthesia and a longer recovery time.