Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

As skin loses its elasticity, breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breast lift is a surgical procedure that raise and reshape sagging breasts and create a more youthful breast contour and attractive position. 

Breast lift – also known as mastopexy procedure – can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. If your breasts are small or have lost volume (for example, after pregnancy or weight loss), breast implants inserted in conjunction with mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size. 

Breast lift surgery

The process of breast uplift involves a cosmetic surgical procedure to lift and reshape breasts. It removes excess fat and breast tissue. Some women also opt to have a breast implant inserted at the same time, to restore fullness and volume to the breasts. 

There are many different techniques of mastopexy, and the position of the resulting scars may vary. There is always a circular scar around the nipple. A second vertical scar running from the lower most point of the nipple to the fold beneath the breast is also common. In some techniques, there is also a horizontal scar in the fold beneath the breasts. The horizontal scar is usually kept quite short, but its length does vary depending on the original shape of the breasts. 

As a starting point, breast uplift surgery patients have an initial consultation with an expert specialist in this area. During surgery, the healthcare team performs the breast uplift mastopexy under local anaesthetic and sedation. A typical procedure takes 2 to 3 hours and patients are fully recovered after around 12 weeks. Scars usually fade after around 1 year.  

For recovery, patients must wear a support bra for a few weeks post-surgery to support the breasts while bruising and swelling subside. 

Mastopexy in the UK 

At 152 Harley Street, cosmetic surgeons carry out mastopexy procedures under local anaesthetic and sedation in our state-of-the-art day case theatre. You will be able to leave the clinic shortly after the procedure, but still receive the same thorough and excellent aftercare that you would expect with a general anaesthetic.