Breast Lift (Mastopexy) in Calgary & Chestermere, AB

When appropriate, Dr. Dawes seeks to bring the breast tissue back to a higher position on the chest. Lifts are very satisfying procedures for women whose breasts have become pendulous. They can decrease the size of the enlarged areolae. They can also take nipples that may be pointing downward and bring them back to their natural higher position.

Dr. Dawes views every consultation as a free-flowing give and take with the patient. He encourages any and all questions you may have about the procedure, its risks, and recovery.

You’ll begin by describing what you dislike about your sagging breasts and how you’d like to see them change. This is important so Dr. Dawes can learn the specific areas you’d like to address, plus it gives him the chance to be sure your expectations are realistic. He will then examine your breasts. At this point he will describe the incision options, including which he thinks is the best approach for your unique situation. He’ll describe how the surgery works, followed by what you can expect during recovery. He’ll go over the risks involved. When your consultation is finished, whether you decide to move forward with surgery or not, the goal is for you to be an expert in what is involved with a breast lift.

Dr. Dawes performs breast lifts as outpatient procedures with the patient under general anesthesia. Depending on the incision type and the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed, the procedure usually takes approximately 2-3 hours.

There’s no stopping the downward pull of gravity and the weakening of support tissues that is a part of normal aging, so your breasts will sag some more as you age. But they will start from a much higher, younger position after your breast lift. The degree of future sagging and flattening will be much less than would occur without having had a breast lift.

Breast lift surgery will lift what tissue you have, but it will not significantly change the size of your breast, or re-establish a rounded contour in the upper part of your breasts. Women with significant ptosis who also want more volume may consider a mastopexy-augmentation, which combines a breast lift with a breast augmentation. Women with significant ptosis wanting smaller breasts may consider a breast reduction.

Patients may experience some pain along the breasts and chest wall that usually settles within a few days. Dr. Dawes will prescribe you a pain reliever.

During the first 2 weeks after the surgery, you should avoid any strenuous activities. A supportive bra should also be worn during this time. For the first 6 weeks, sleeping on the stomach or sides should also be avoided.

Following the surgery, you will have some mild bruising and swelling of the breasts. Most bruising will resolve in two weeks but swelling can persist for several months. The scars will also mature and fade with time and are generally hidden by wearing a bra.

Your post-surgical bra will be put on you prior to your leaving the surgical centre. You must wear the post-surgical support bra day and night for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks you can then begin to wear a sports bra, then at 6 weeks you can begin with an underwire bra if you wish.

Scarring will be a part of these procedures, as the incisions are somewhat lengthy. But you’ll be surprised at how they fade with time and how well they can look hidden. Topical scar-minimizing post-op treatments keep the area moisturized and help to minimize the appearance of the scars. ScarHeal makes one such product called Scar Gel (for the face) and Scar Cream (for the body). Our Pre-orperative Nurse will go over your post-op care instructions with you in detail.

Breast lifts involve a good deal of repositioning of breast tissue, and this can affect nipple sensation in the short term. The nipples can be either numb or very sensitive. This is because the surgery usually disturbs some of the nerve pathways. But regular sensation returns in all but a very small percentage of patients. Still, since the areolae are usually repositioned in a breast lift, there is the possibility that some loss of sensation or sensitivity could occur. Overall breast sensitivity should not be affected. As with the nipples, there may be some temporary loss of sensation, but these issues should resolve as you heal.

Dr. Dawes advises his potential breast lift patients to be pretty confident they do not want any additional children moving forward. This is because the changes he makes with your breast lift can be negated, at least to some extent, by the breast size gain and weight gain of pregnancy and breastfeeding. This can create new sagging afterwards. There is roughly a 40% chance that breastfeeding may be partially or completely hindered after a breast lift.

Breast lifts are major surgery, so they include risks involved with surgery: bleeding or the formation of a hematoma, reaction to anesthesia, infection, and slow incision healing. Risks related to breast lifts include:

• Changes in nipple or breast sensation (these usually revolve within a few months)
• Irregularities in breast contour or shape
• Breast asymmetry
• Necrosis of fat tissue on the nipple areolar complex itself (rare)
• Fluid accumulation
• Possibility of the need for revision surgery

Keep incisions clean and dry as instructed by your surgeon. You'll likely need to wear a surgical bra and avoid submerging the incisions in water until cleared. Topical ointments or silicone sheets may support healing and minimize scarring. Always follow your post-op care plan closely.

Initial results will be visible right after surgery, but swelling and bruising can take several weeks to subside. Most patients see their final results around three to six months post-op, as the breasts settle into their new shape and scars begin to fade.

To preserve your results, maintain a stable weight, wear supportive bras (especially during exercise), and avoid smoking. Also, protect your skin from the sun and stay hydrated. Significant weight gain, pregnancy, or aging may eventually affect breast shape again, but healthy habits can prolong the lift's results.

Light walking can typically resume within a few days to promote circulation. However, avoid more strenuous activities for four to six weeks, or as advised by your surgeon. Always follow your specific post-op plan to prevent complications.

Many women can still breastfeed after the procedure, especially when the nipple and milk ducts are left intact. However, this depends on the surgical technique and individual anatomy. If you plan to breastfeed in the future, it's important to discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation.

To prepare for surgery, you should undergo a full medical evaluation, stop smoking well in advance, and avoid certain medications and supplements that increase bleeding risk. Arrange for time off work, fill any prescriptions your surgeon provides, and ensure you have a support person to drive you home and help during recovery. We will provide a personalized checklist.