What Does Breast Uplift (Mastopexy) Mean?

1. WELCOME TO COSMETIC BREAST SURGEON Breast Uplift (Mastopexy)

2. What Does Breast Uplift (Mastopexy) Mean? Mastopexy means breast uplift. Sometimes this is just referred to as a breast lift. One of the commonest reasons for women to be disappointed with their breasts is due to breast tissue stretch, a low nipple position and loss of fullness. The low nipple position and loss of shape of the breasts does cause loss of confidence in one’s appearance. When there has been excessive stretch to the skin of the breast with descent of the nipple position, breast implants no longer provide the solution to improve shape. This is because they do not ‘undo’ the excess skin that is present, nor will they make the nipples sit centrally on the front of the breasts facing forwards, as opposed to downwards. This can only be achieved by cutting away the excess skin and repositioning the nipple (we do not need to cut the nipple off to do this, but rather we keep it attached internally and cut around it) on the breast mound.

3. Breast tissue tends to sag with increasing age- Why? Some women are unfortunate with the way their breasts develop in their late teenage years, probably due to genetic, developmental and hormonal differences. In others the changes occur commonly and naturally with time. The degree to which these changes occur is what separates individuals and it can have a profound impact on breast appearance and affect a woman’s confidence. • More common after child birth and breast feeding. This is because as the breast volume increases the ligaments inside the breast stretch and the outer envelope of skin is stretched too. Hormonal changes associated with pregnancy contribute to the relaxation of tissue. After pregnancy and discontinuing any breast feeding the glandular tissue inside the breast shrinks (atrophy), usually to a lesser amount than before and the volume of the thicker glandular structures in your breasts therefore decreases. The ‘bag’ of skin that surrounds the breast tissue is now more flaccid and relatively under-filled. Under the influence of gravity the breast and the nipple position assume a lower position. The degree to which this occurs is different in each individual. The consequences on your cosmetic appearance are therefore also different.

4. Breast tissue tends to sag with increasing age- Why? • Hormonal influences occur throughout your life, from a monthly menstrual cycle, to changes from the pill, and subsequent hormonal decline with the menopause, or the effect of surgery or some prescribed medication. • Gravity has a constant effect. When running or exercising the forces on the breast tissue are magnified and you should always well a high impact bra. If you have large breasts you should also wear support at night. • The internal breast ligaments (Cooper’s ligaments) stretch. These tiny ligaments are not visible to the naked eye but they run through the breast tissue. They stretch when your breasts enlarge and do not return to normal afterwards. • The skin stretches with time. This is an ageing effect and due to hormones and volume changes in your breasts. The stretched skin causes the breast tissue to be less well distributed within the breast skin envelope. When it falls more into the lower part of the breast, the bottom of the breast becomes more redundant and sinks further below the level of the inframammary crease (this is the skin line directly under the edge of your breast where the underwire of your bra rests). Because the nipple and areola are on the skin surface, they may become stretched and get broader. They may descend further down the front of your chest as the breast descends such that they point more towards your feet and come to lie below the level of the inframammary crease. • The medical term for breast sag is “ptosis” and we refer to breasts as ‘having become ptotic’ or ‘looking ptotic’. Ptosis, sag usually and droop are used to describe this somewhat empty, deflated and lower appearance.

5. CONTACT US • Website: www.cosmeticbreastsurgeon.co.uk • Phone: 0113 3882008 • Email: Victoria.Short@NuffieldHealth.com • Address: Jackson Ave, Roundhay, Leeds, LS8 1NT

6. THANK YOU