Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

A breast lift (mastopexy) at Brandeis Clinic surgically reshapes and repositions the breast mound to counteract ptosis — the downward migration caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss or ageing. MUDr. Lucie Kalinová removes excess skin and repositions the nipple-areola complex to a higher, more anatomically natural position without adding volume. The procedure takes approximately 2 hours under general anaesthesia with a 1–2 day inpatient stay. A pre-operative breast ultrasound is included to assess tissue composition before surgery. The lift can be combined with implants for simultaneous volume and shape correction, or with abdominal or body contouring procedures.

Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) at Brandeis Clinic addresses the structural causes of breast ptosis — the combination of excess skin envelope, reduced skin elasticity, and inferior migration of the parenchymal tissue and nipple-areola complex (NAC) — rather than simply applying external support. **Why ptosis occurs:** The most common causes are pregnancy and breastfeeding (repeated cycles of tissue expansion and contraction), significant weight loss (which reduces parenchymal volume faster than the skin envelope contracts), and age-related decline in Cooper's ligament integrity. The degree of ptosis is graded by the NAC position relative to the inframammary fold: Grade 1 (mild) to Grade 3 (severe, where the NAC faces downward). The surgical plan is adapted to the ptosis grade and the patient's target outcome. **Surgical technique:** The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and typically takes approximately 2 hours. The surgical approach varies by ptosis degree: - Periareolar (doughnut) lift: for mild ptosis, with a scar confined to the areolar border. - Vertical (lollipop) scar mastopexy: for moderate ptosis, with scars around the areola and vertically to the fold. - Inverted-T (anchor) mastopexy: for significant ptosis with excess lower-pole skin, producing a horizontal scar along the inframammary fold in addition to the vertical and periareolar scars. In all approaches, the NAC is elevated to the planned position (typically marked pre-operatively with the patient standing), excess skin is resected, and the breast parenchyma is reshaped and supported with internal sutures. The skin envelope is closed in layers using fine, cosmetic sutures. **Pre-operative breast ultrasound:** A breast ultrasound is included before surgery to assess tissue composition, identify any focal lesions, and confirm that the tissue distribution is appropriate for the planned technique. This is a clinical safety step rather than a diagnostic screening appointment — findings that require investigation are referred before any surgical dates are set. **Combination procedures:** The lift is commonly combined with augmentation (augmentation mastopexy) when the patient also wants increased volume: the lift restores position and the implant restores fullness. The clinic also offers combination with liposuction for lateral chest roll correction, or as part of a mommy-makeover sequence with abdominoplasty. Combination procedures extend surgical time and require individual consultation to plan safely. **Recovery:** Hospitalisation 1–2 days. A compression bra is worn for 6 weeks. Most patients return to office work at approximately 2 weeks. Scar maturation follows the standard 3–6 month timeline; final results are visible at 3–6 months once swelling resolves and the tissue settles. Wound dressings are changed at clinic visits during the first weeks. **Who benefits:** Women who experience breast ptosis after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss, or those with age-related descent where the position rather than the volume is the primary concern. Women seeking augmentation who also have existing ptosis are better served by augmentation mastopexy than augmentation alone, as an implant alone will not lift a ptotic nipple.