Dr. Dirk Lazarus
Plastic Surgeon

Tel: 021 424 1112
Fax: 021 424 1118

86 New Church St
Tamboerskloof
Cape Town, 8001
South Africa

BREAST LIFT, or mastopexy, is a procedure to lift a woman's breasts and improve shape. Usually this does not involve a change in size and if you are happy with the size of your breasts, but dissatisfied with the degree of droop, then a dermal mastopexy is the operation to consider. It is relatively simple to remove some volume as well, so if they are a little too big, this can be treated concurrently. Removal of more volume becomes a breast reduction (which also lifts the breasts anyway). Addition of volume requires implants which I usually do concurrently with the breast lift, but which does make the operation more complex - a so called pexy augmentation.

I perform most dermal mastopexies as day case surgery under twilight sedation with supplementary local anaesthesia. You will be asleep, pain-free and unaware during surgery, but have a rapid recovery after the op.

Depending on the degree of droop, you may require simply an incision around the areola, or an addition vertical cut down to the crease, or an addition horizontal cut in the crease. The breast is then opened and the tissues lifted. Once the skin is tightened the wounds are closed with dissolving sutures, light dressings are applied and a post-operative surgical bra used. Surgery takes between and one and half and two and half hours.

Recovery is relatively quick although swelling and bruising can take 2-4 weeks to settle. Complications which can occur include bleeding, infection, benign lumps, sensory changes, and delayed healing. Overseas patients can return home after about 10 days. Mastopexy can lift breasts which have been affected by pregnancies, breast feeding and gravity, but at the price of leaving scars on the breast. Although your breasts will be improved following surgery, the effects of ageing and gravity continue.

Testimonials from patients who have had breast surgery.

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