Breast Lift Oxfordshire

A mastopexy (breast uplift procedure) is an operation performed to tighten the skin of the breasts, make the breasts look and feel firmer and place the nipples in a higher, more youthful position.  It is performed under a general anaesthetic and the operation takes 2 hours and requires a hospital stay of 2 days. There are different technical ways the operation can be carried out depending on a number of individual factors including the starting shape of the breast and this determines the extent and location of the incisions and resultant scars on the breast. The excess skin is excised and the breast tissue tightened with stitches. In addition, a reduction in the diameter of the areola (the pink/brown part of the nipple complex) is usually required. The nipple is moved to a higher, more youthful position and the wounds are stitched with dissolving sutures, and covered with light dressings. The resultant scars depend on the exact techniques employed and vary from only a circular scar around the new nipple/areoalar complex, to additional scars such as a vertical scar passing from the nipple to underneath the breast. In some individuals, it is necessary to have an additional long curved scar passing in the breast fold. It is important to realise that a mastopexy procedure does not alter the size/volume of the breast. but rather its shape. The procedure can be combined with breast augmentation using an implant if an increase in breast size is also desired.

Breast augmentation is the term used to describe the surgical technique of enlarging the breast by inserting implants behind the breast. The operation is performed under general anaesthesia and lasts 1½ hours and requires 1 night in hospital. There are a number of different shapes, sizes and types of implant, all of which can give excellent results and which are ultimately chosen on an individual basis. The operation entails making a 5 cm incision on the underside of the breast and making a space for the implant either beneath the breast tissue or beneath the muscle on which the breast lies. The wound is then sutured with dissolving stitches and covered with simple dressings.

During the procedure, the donor area for harvesting fat is prepared in a similar fashion to performing liposuction. The fat is harvested using a special suction cannula so it is not damaged. it is then centrifuged to allow separation of the intact healthy fat cells from those that have damaged. The live fat cells are then injected in the treatment areas using a very fine cannula to place tiny amounts of fat in tunnels which are carefully built up to form layers which restore volume and shape. Between 50% and 60% of the transferred fat survves. This means a certain amount of overcorrection is required which also contributes to some of the swelling following surgery. Fat transfer is often performed in conjunction with other surgical procedures such as a facelift.

Mastopexy (breast lift) can vary from a crescentic lift (scar above the areola), to around the nipple in a circle (circum-areola), then lollipop lift (around areola and vertical scar down), and for largest lifts an anchor shaped is required (around areola, vertical scar down and scar along the breast crease).