A Breast Lift (Mastopexy) can improve the appearance of your breasts by lifting your nipple position, reshaping your breasts and improving your upper pole fullness to a more youthful and aesthetic appearance.
Your breasts and your body can change significantly over the course of your life. Weight changes, pregnancy and even just time itself can cause your breasts to droop, sag and deflate. This process is normal and is generally due to a failure of the supporting structures of the breast.
Aims of Surgery
The aims for mastopexy surgery are focussed to improve the shape of your breasts. The first aim is to restore the nipple position to a higher, more youthful position. The next aim is to reduce excess skin or drooping skin whilst preserving as much breast tissue and breast volume as possible. And the final aim is to reshape the breast tissue into a higher breast mound with more upper pole fullness and a more projected and youthful shape. Reshaping of your breast is generally achieved with your own tissue, but depending on the specific circumstances, an implant or your own fat can be used to refine the overall shape.
Do I Need Scars Around My Nipple To Have a Breast Lift?
This type of surgery requires scars around the nipple to “lift” it to its new position. If you are not keen to have scars around your nipple, you may consider breast augmentation surgery as an alternative to breast lift surgery. However, if you are not keen to have breast implants, the only alternative is to have scars around your nipple. These scars usually heal very well, and The Clinic Plastic Surgery has a reliable and proven scar management protocol. Dr Liew will discuss scarring with you in great depth, and give you a better understanding of your predicted scar pattern in relation to your skin type and medical history at your initial appointment.
Your Clinic Plastic Surgery Journey
During your initial appointment, Dr Liew will comprehensively take your medical and surgical history as well as performing a physical examination to determine your suitability for mastopexy surgery. Your height and weight will also be recorded by our expert staff. Once this is completed, Dr Liew will discuss the benefits and risks of breast lift surgery with the aid of before and after photos. He will also discuss the type of breast lift surgery that will provide you with your best result. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have about your surgery, and the costs of the surgery will be discussed in great detail with you by one of our expert team.
If you choose to proceed with your operation with Dr Liew, a second appointment will be made to discuss any further questions you may have, and clinical photographs will be taken, followed by one of our team measuring you for your complimentary post-operative garments. You should never proceed with any surgery unless you feel perfectly comfortable with your surgeon and his clinical team.
What Does Breast Lift/Mastopexy Surgery Involve?
Breast lift or Mastopexy surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes approximately 2-3 hours. Dr Liew performs this surgery as an overnight procedure and no drains are used in this procedure. Frequently this procedure is performed in combination with another cosmetic body contouring operation. You will be provided with 2 post-operative support bras to help your recovery. All dressings used will be waterproof, and you will be able to shower normally after the operation.
What Is The Recovery Like After Breast Lift/Mastopexy Surgery?
Post-surgery, you should refrain from heavy lifting for 4 weeks. You can drive when moving freely and not taking any opiate medications, this is usually at 1-2 weeks after your procedure. You will also be required to wear your post-operative bra for 6 weeks.
Dr Julian Liew is a highly qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and his specialty interest is in Breast Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast and Body.. He prides himself in his ability to be able to explain complex surgical issues in simple, easy to understand language and wants you to feel comfortable in your decision to undergo any surgery that you are considering.
Read moreMastopexy surgery improves your overall breast shape by lifting your nipple position, reducing excess or drooping skin and reshaping your breasts to a higher, more projected shape.
Breast lift surgery aims to reduce any asymmetry present between your breasts, thus producing a more balanced and symmetrical appearance of your breasts.
Mastopexy surgery aims to lift the breasts on the chest wall, therefore, creating a more youthful appearance.
Mastopexy surgery repositions the nipple to a higher position and also resizes the areolar to a more youthful size and shape.
Before
After
DISCLAIMER: All before and after photographs are actual cases of Dr. Julian Liew, and are examples only.
All surgical results are subject to individual patient variability and do not constitute an implied or certainty for the result.
After breast lift surgery, your breasts will still undergo the natural changes of the aging process. However, you should not experience your previous level of breast droop for many years. There are several circumstances that can negatively affect your result, for example, pregnancy and weight fluctuations. Dr Julian Liew will guide you through these scenarios so that you can make an informed decision whether breast lift surgery is for you.
This is a very common question, and the answer is sometimes, but mostly it is not covered by your private health insurance. In very select cases, breast lift surgery can be covered by your private health insurance. However, the criteria set by Medicare is very strict.
The item number is 45558 and at least two-thirds of the breast tissue, including the nipple, lies inferior to the infra-mammary fold where the nipple is located at the most dependent and inferior part of the breast contour, and if the patient has been pregnant – the correction is performed not less than 1 year, or more than 7 years, after completion of the most recent pregnancy of the patient, and photographic evidence with a marker at the level of inframammary fold demonstrates the clinical need for this service is documented.
These criteria are very strict, and in most patients, breast lift surgery will be a cosmetic procedure.
You can usually drive 2-3 weeks after your surgery. The requirements for driving are that you are moving freely and not taking any sedative medications. This will be detailed more specifically at your consultation with Dr Liew.
After surgery you are able to walk straight away, but you should refrain from heavy exercise for several weeks. You should avoid any heavy lifting (more than 5kgs) for at least 4 weeks.
The majority of women do not breast feed more than 2 months. Recent studies have shown that more than 50% of breast reduction patients are able to breast feed after surgery. The ability to breast feed after surgery was irrespective of technique.
In order to raise the position of your nipple and reshape your breasts, there will need to be scars on your breast. In general, the scars will heal very well. At The Clinic Plastic Surgery, we use a very well defined and well researched scar management program, to help you get the best scar possible.
Fat transfer at time of breast lift surgery is definitely an option. At the time of your breast lift surgery, liposuction can be performed to harvest fat from your flanks or thighs and used to enhance your breast shape and size without the use of an implant.
A Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon is fully accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and is registered as a Specialist Plastic Surgeon by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Only Specialist Plastic Surgeons are accredited by the Commonwealth Government of Australia through the Australian Medical Council to perform all reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
The difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon is significant. A Cosmetic Surgeon is not recognised as a Specialist Surgeon or Specialist Plastic Surgeon by any of the regulating authorities such as Medicare Australia or the Medical Board of Australia. They also cannot register themselves as a Surgeon with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Specialist Plastic Surgeons normally undergo extensive training in aesthetic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, paediatric plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery following trauma, burns or cancer treatment. After completing the mandatory years of training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, many Specialist Plastic Surgeons undertake a fellowship to continue to gain further experience and training in specific branches of the specialty.
Dr Julian Liew is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Dr Liew is registered as a Specialist Plastic Surgeon by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
After completing his medical degree in 2002 at Monash University, Dr Liew trained in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery before completing his Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery training at the beginning of 2015.
As a skilled Microsurgeon and Specialist Plastic Surgeon his attention to detail and to the skill and precision of the procedure is only paralleled by his passion for the patient-centric experience and his complete involvement along with his talented team, through the patient’s entire surgical journey.
In 2017, Dr Liew realised his vision of combining surgical excellence with an enhanced patient journey by establishing his boutique plastic and reconstructive surgery practice, The Clinic Plastic Surgery, in East Melbourne.
At the time of your consultation, you will be given a detailed quotation for your procedure that will include the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fee, surgical assistant fees and the hospital’s fees.
Please consult your health insurance provider to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your procedure.
Most cosmetic procedures are not covered by Medicare and as a result you are unlikely to receive a rebate or subsidy for these procedures.
As of 1st July 2023, new AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) guidelines require all patients obtain a referral from a General Practitioner or a Medical Specialist before scheduling a consultation with a Plastic Surgeon.
Your qualified Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr Julian Liew, will guide you through your patient journey from beginning to end. Dr Liew will see you at your first consultation, and personally guide you through your post-surgical course. At The Clinic Plastic Surgery, we feel that a close relationship with your surgeon ensures a smooth and satisfying experience.
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