Types of Mastopexy

What types of mastopexy do exist?

Simple mastopexy

The simple mastopexy is the surgical procedure aims to correct mammary ptosis, in patients who want to lift and reshape their sagging breasts. Usually patients with ptosis have an excess of breast skin, therefore the surgeon may elevate the nipple-areola complex and remove the redundant skin. Women with large flattened breasts may benefit from the addition of breast implants. In some cases, the surgeon may use the pectoralis major muscle to support part of the glandular tissue of the breast.

Dermal mastopexy

In some cases to restore the shape of breasts, it is only required to reshape the cutaneous covering or skin covering. If adequate breast volume exists, the body of the mammary gland is not affected. This procedure is called dermal mastopexy. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the redundant skin and approximates the cutaneous covering using the dermis to reshape the breast mound. This technique involves the excision and lift of the nipple-areola complex. This procedure leaves the breast with a vertical scar (inverted T) that runs around the nipple-areola complex, like a lollipop with a horizontal incision (excess of skin and fat removal) that lies in the crease beneath the breast. These scars are the resulting effort of the surgical technique to restore the position and shape of the breast mound.

The surgeon will evaluate the level of ptosis to adequate the most suitable technique. Dermal mastopexy can be applied to correct those mild breast asymmetries through the adjustment of the taller breast at the level of the inframammary fold. In some cases where there is not sufficient volume to reshape the breast mound, it may be necessary to place an implant in the subglandular position. After the surgery, a gauze dressing is wrapped around the breast and chest, which should be used for at least 2 weeks.

Mastopexy with breast augmentation


Today, mastopexy with breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures. Many women undergo breast lift with implants. While in the simple mastopexy the surgeon removes the redundant skin, the mastopexy with augmentation involves a combination of procedures to raise the sagging breast by using the skin envelope to content the implant.

This procedure is suitable for women with no excessive skin, in which the nipple is slightly above or directly in front of the inframammary crease. For those women with severe ptosis and significant breast volume and excessive breast skin, the breast reduction surgery should be considered. In the breast reduction surgery, the physician may accommodate mammary volume without using implants.