All You Should Know About A Mastopexy

WHAT IS A MASTOPEXY?

Mastopexy is another word for a breast lift. Mastopexy comes from two different words: "masto" and "pexy." "Masto-" comes from the ancient Greek word "mastos," which means a "woman's breast." "-Pexy" comes from another ancient Greek word, "pexis," which means "to bind" or "to attach." Therefore, a mastopexy is a "breast + binding/attachment." Basically, during a mastopexy, the breast is lifted.

THE GOAL OF A MASTOPEXY

The main goals of a mastopexy are to elevate the breast and create a more youthful, aesthetic breast. There are two essential parts to a mastopexy. First, the nipple-areolar complex is lifted to a higher position. Second, depending on the amount of breast skin sag, breast skin and tissue are raised, and the extra tissue is removed. Often, during a mastopexy, breast implants are inserted to create more breast fullness. This combined breast procedure is referred to as breast augmentation with implants and a mastopexy or BAM (Breast Augmentation Mastopexy). When breast tissue is removed to reduce the breast's size during a breast reduction, a mastopexy is always performed.

HOW DO I BEGIN MY BREAST LIFT JOURNEY?

The mastopexy process begins with a consultation process. Dr. J. Timothy Katzen will evaluate your breast tissues, nipples, and areola's position, size, and shape during your confidential consultation. Also, Dr. Katzen will consider your breast skin texture, breast symmetry, and breast skin elasticity. Based on all these assessments, Dr. Katzen will make a detailed operative plan that addresses and fulfill your aesthetic desires while keeping safety as the top priority.

HOW DO I FIND A MASTOPEXY PLASTIC SURGEON?

If you’re interested in getting a mastopexy or breast lift, get in touch with a licensed and professional provider and discuss your options and expectations. Consult a highly-skilled Beverly Hills plastic surgeon like Dr. John Timothy Katzen. To learn more mastopexy or breast lift, visit www.timothykatzemd.com. We invite you to schedule a FREE private consultation with him.

WHY DO I NEED A MASTOPEXY?

You might need a mastopexy if you were concerned about the shape of your breasts. Perhaps, you’ve had children, and now, your breasts sag. Maybe, you are concerned about your breast shape. Or maybe, your nipples are pointing to the ground. Alternatively, perhaps you lack confidence because of your breast's appearance as you have aged or after childbirth. A mastopexy is a plastic surgery procedure that modifies the breast. Designed and custom-tailored for you and improve other concerns associated with the appearance of your breasts.

• A breast lift or mastopexy can help you to

• Tighten your loose breast skin

• Remove your loose and excessive breast skin

• Correct your breast drooping

• Reduce the size of your nipple-areolar complexes

• Reshape your breast tissues

• Reduce the size of your breasts (if needed)

IS MY MASTOPEXY COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE?

Sometimes your breast lift may be covered by your medical insurance. A breast lift is deemed medically necessary if you can demonstrate chronic, non-healing rashes underneath your breasts. Please consult with Dr. Katzen to see if your medical insurance may cover your breast lift. Insurance coverage for a mastopexy is more dependent on your insurance plan, rather than your specific breast shape and ptosis grade.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BREAST SAG?

The medical term for sag is "ptosis." When plastic surgeons talk about breast sag, they talk about "breast ptosis." The position of the nipple-areolar complex as it relates to the inframammary fold and the bottom breast contour has been studied and graded. There are three grades.

Simply:

Grade 1 is when the nipple-areolar complex is AT THE SAME LEVEL of the inframammary fold.

Grade 2 is when the nipple-areolar complex is BELOW the inframammary fold and ABOVE the lower breast contour.

Grade 3 is when the nipple-areolar complex is BELOW the inframammary fold and BELOW OR AT the lower breast contour.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A MASTOPEXY?

Mastopexies are performed under general anesthesia. Once you are entirely asleep under anesthesia, your chest and breasts are prepped with an antiseptic to sterilize your skin. You are given IV antibiotics. Once everything is sterile, the mastopexy is begun. At the beginning of the mastopexy, you are elevated on the operating room table into a sitting position. Careful measurements are made, and the nipple-areolar complex is temporarily lifted. If required, the rest of the breast tissue is elevated with temporary sutures or staples. The temporary mastopexy is outlined with a surgical marker. The surgical staples are removed, and the redundant breast skin and areolar are removed. The skin layers are meticulously closed in several layers using absorbable sutures. Glue is applied, followed by a sterile dressing and a loose bra. Usually, drains are not required for a mastopexy. After the mastopexy, you are awakened from anesthesia and brought to the recovery room. Typically, you were monitored in the recovery room until you were stable to be discharged home.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MASTOPEXIES?

CRESCENT MASTOPEXY

During a crescent mastopexy, a crescent-shaped area of breast skin around the areolar is removed. The excised skin is in the shape of a crescent moon, thus a crescent mastopexy. Typically, this crescent is placed at the 12 o’clock position of the nipple-areolar complex. However, the crescent position can be shifted in any particular direction to lift the nipple-areolar complex. The incision and resulting scar from the crescent mastopexy is between the pigmented area of the areola and the surrounding breast skin. During a crescent mastopexy, only a small sliver of breast skin is removed. Usually, the scar from the crescent mastopexy is imperceptible.

360 CIRCUM-PERI-AREOLAR OR DOUGHNUT MASTOPEXY

During this type of mastopexy, an incision is made completely 360 degrees around the areola. During the doughnut mastopexy, the areolar complex can be reduced, reshaped, and resized. Also, during the doughnut mastopexy, the nipple-areola complex can be repositioned. Typically, the nipple-areolar complex is mobilized upwards. However, if necessary, the nipple-areolar complex can be moved towards the center of the chest or medially. Alternatively, the nipple-areolar complex can be moved towards the armpit or laterally. During the doughnut mastopexy, in addition to making the areolas smaller, the breast skin around the areola can be also be removed and reduced. By tightening the skin around the areolas, overall, the breast is tightened. The doughnut mastopexy is called a doughnut mastopexy because the shape of the skin removed around the nipple-areolar complex is in the form of a doughnut. During a doughnut mastopexy, only about a teaspoon of breast skin is removed from each breast. Because the scar is placed around the perimeter of the areola, the scar is very well camouflaged.

VERTICAL OR LOLLIPOP MASTOPEXY

If more of a breast lift is required than a crescent or doughnut, you may need a lollipop or vertical mastopexy. During the vertical mastopexy, an incision is made 360 degrees around the areolar, like described above. An incision is then made from 6 o’clock on the nipple-areolar complex down to the inframammary fold. The inframammary fold is the fold where the breast meets the chest wall. Like the doughnut mastopexy, the scar around the areola is almost invisible. During a vertical mastopexy, between a teaspoon and tablespoon of breast skin is removed from each breast. With time, the vertical scar on the front of the breast also heals very well.

FULL ANCHOR OR INVERTED-T MASTOPEXY

During this type of mastopexy, an incision is made around the areola, down the front of the breast, and in the inframammary fold. An omega-shaped area of breast skin and possibly breast fat are removed. The anchor mastopexy is the most extensive form of mastopexy. During a full anchor mastopexy, about a tablespoon of breast skin is removed from each breast. More than a tablespoon of breast skin and fat is removed, if a concomitant breast reduction is being preformed during a mastopexy. Typically, the anchor mastopexy is reserved for patients with Grade 3 breast ptosis. As with other mastopexies, the final scar is around the nipple-areolar complex, down the front of the breast, and underneath the breast. Usually, the scars heal very well.

HOW LONG IS THE MASTOPEXY PROCEDURE?

Depending on the complexity of your anatomy, most mastopexies take between two and four hours to complete. Typically, the smaller mastopexies, like the crescent mastopexy, take approximately two hours to complete. The more extensive, anchor, or T mastopexies can take four or more hours. If you decide to have other procedures during your mastopexy, your surgery will take longer. Often, the mastopexy is performed with breast augmentation, tummy tucks, and liposuction. You and Dr. Katzen should coordinate whether combining procedures is safe.

WHAT IS THE RECOVERY AFTER A MASTOPEXY?

Whether you undergo a crescent or full anchor mastopexy, plan to give yourself one to two weeks to heal. Mastopexy recovery may be slightly longer if you combine other surgical procedures like liposuction or a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).

WILL I BE ABLE TO BREASTFEED AFTER A MASTOPEXY?

The ability to breastfeed after a mastopexy can be retained from many women. However, suppose breastfeeding is a concern. In that case, it is probably better to complete having children and breastfeeding before undergoing a mastopexy. Usually, pregnancy and subsequent breast engorgement will change the breast and lead to more ptosis. So why undergo a mastopexy before completing having children? During the consultation with Dr. Katzen, it would be best to discuss all these potential issues.

AFTER A MASTOPEXY, WILL I KEEP SENSATION TO THE NIPPLE?

During most mastopexies, nipple-areolar complex sensation can be preserved. The smaller the mastopexy, the less risk of decreased post-operative nipple-areolar complex numbness. Compared to the crescent mastopexy, the anchor mastopexy has the most risk of post-operative nipple-areolar complex numbness.

ARE BREAST LIFT SCARS NOTICEABLE?

The visibility of scars after a breast lift depends on the technique performed. Usually, the mastopexy leaves minimal scarring. Dr. Katzen uses a precise wound closure technique to minimize scarring. Plus, the mastopexy scars tend to fade in visibility over time.

For more information, please call Dr. Katzen's office at 310-859-7770. . Also, for your convenience, Dr. Katzen offers FREE VIRTUAL consultations! FREE CONFIDENTIAL VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS can be scheduled for FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, or Zoom. Alternatively, physical consultations can also be arranged. What is holding you back? Contact Dr. Katzen TODAY to achieve the breasts of your dreams.