Mastopexy

Mastopexy is the medical term for a breast lift. A doctor performs a mastopexy on women who have sagging breasts. Occasionally the surgeon makes the breasts of the patient smaller. There is an arbitrary distinction between a mastopexy and a reduction mammoplasty--the amount of breast tissue removed. The nipple is ideally located above the lower breast crease in a young woman. As women age or after pregnancy, the breasts droop. A nipple positioned at the level of the lower breast crease constitutes the first stage of breast drooping. The most severe type of breast drooping corresponds to a nipple position below the lower breast crease. Surgeons perform mastopexy procedures in women with mild to moderate breast droopiness. Standard mastopexy procedures result in an anchor-like scar: around the areola with a vertical scar at the lower breast and a scar at the lower breast crease. More modern mastopexy techniques limit the incisions and therefore the size of the scar, to either only around the areola or around the areola with a vertical scar below the areola. Such mastopexy procedures are perfect additions to breast augmentation in women with moderate to severe drooping. Patients with breast cancer often undergo mastopexy procedures. Surgeons commonly perform a mastopexy on an unaffected breast to improve bust line symmetry.