Breast Uplift with Implants

If you are concerned about the changing size, shape, and firmness of your breasts, you are not alone. Many women become dissatisfied with the appearance of their breasts over the years, as they lose their youthful shape and firmness. These changes are often caused by fluctuations in breast volume during pregnancy or normal weight changes as well as though the inevitable loss of skin elasticity from ageing and gravity. These factors, combined with your genetic can lead to breast droop.

The combined breast implant procedure with breast uplift (mastopexy) is an ideal operation to manage this breast shape. A traditional breast augmentation alone is not suitable in this situation, as most women with breast droop are less concerned about volume increase of their breasts and mostly wish to elevate the position of their breasts on their chest wall. Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) can reverse the effects of breast droop and deflation by removing excess loose skin and repositioning the nipples to produce a more youthful breast shape. Once the original saggy breast tissue is fitted into a smaller breast skin pocket, the breast volume is naturally reduced in size. An implant is then needed to compensate for this loss of volume and to provide firmness. Therefore, if you wish to stay the same size as before surgery (or bigger), a breast implant will certainly be needed. 

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What is involved in the procedure?

Mr Ghattaura performs the breast uplift surgery at the same time as implant surgery in most cases. He has an extensive experience of this combined procedure though his NHS work specialising in breast reconstructive surgery as well as though his busy private practice. The combined breast uplift procedure with implants is performed under general anaesthesia with a one-night stay in hospital. Mr Ghattaura typically begins by undertaking the breast augmentation part of the procedure first. Once the implant is placed above or beneath the pectoral muscle, he is then able to start the lift. The breast is raised, with the breast mound and nipple centred on the breast implant. If the areola is too large, Mr Ghattaura will reduce this at the same time. Mr Ghattaura uses a variety of incisions to perform the uplift, personalised to your breast size and shape. This could be a periareolar scar, a lollipop scar or an anchor scar (see mastopexy page). 

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Recovering from surgery

After your surgery, you can expect swelling, bruising, and some soreness, which should fade as your body heals. Oral pain medication can be used to alleviate these side effects, which should begin to resolve quickly. Typically, patients recover for about a week before returning to work and resuming normal activities. Exercise and strenuous activity is to be avoided for at least a few weeks following surgery. Incisions made during the procedure may appear red at first, but should fade in colour and prominence over time. Mr Ghattaura provides patients with detailed postoperative care instructions, including tips that can minimise scarring. Although the outcome of this procedure will be evident immediately, you should expect the results to improve over the next few months as the swelling subsides and your body continues to heal.

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It is important to remember that if you are the type of patient that needed a breast uplift, by definition you have imperfect skin with reduced skin elasticity.  Since an implant adds weight to that imperfect skin, there is always a greater tendency for the combined lift and augmentation patients to droop again in the future, no matter how the surgery is done, or who performs it.

Available at HMT Sancta Maria, Spire Cardiff Hospital, Nuffield Health and BMI Werndale