Mastopexy (breast lift)

You may be a candidate for a breast lift if your breasts sag or have lost shape and firmness, if your nipples point downward or fall below the breast crease, if your areolae have stretched, or if one breast hangs lower than the other. It helps to know that a breast lift does not significantly change breast size; if you would like more or less volume, combining it with an augmentation or a reduction can be discussed.

During your consultation, the surgeon reviews your medical and family history, examines your breasts, and talks through your plans: if you are considering pregnancy or breastfeeding in the future, it is important to mention it, since those changes can alter the outcome and the surgery may affect breastfeeding in some cases. Depending on your case, the specialists at Healthcare by the Sea will help you decide whether a breast lift is right for you.

Mastopexy is performed under anesthesia: either local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the planned technique and what your surgeon recommends.

The incisions depend on how much the breasts sag and on the technique chosen: they may circle the areola, run vertically from the areola down to the breast crease, or extend along that fold. Through these incisions, the surgeon reshapes the breast tissue to improve firmness and contour, moves the nipple and areola to a more natural height, reduces the size of the areola if needed, and removes excess skin before closing with fine sutures.

Afterward, you rest in a recovery room under close observation by the medical team. As an outpatient procedure, most patients return home later the same day, with clear instructions and the attentive support of our team.

Everything starts with a consultation: your surgeon reviews your medical history — including your gynecologic and family history — examines and measures your breasts, takes photographs to plan the surgery, and talks through your goals and expectations with you. Depending on your age and history, a baseline mammogram may be requested before the procedure.

Your doctor may ask you to stop, with the timing they indicate, medications and supplements that increase bleeding — such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or certain herbal remedies; take only what your surgeon approves. If you smoke or vape, stopping is important because tobacco slows healing. Arriving at surgery at a stable weight also helps.

Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure and, if possible, have a family member or friend stay with you the first night. Our team in Puerto Vallarta can help you coordinate these details — especially if you are traveling from another city or from the U.S. or Canada.

After surgery, it is normal for your breasts to be swollen, bruised, and tender for a couple of weeks, and you may notice temporary numbness in the nipples or the skin of the chest; the incisions may look reddened at first. You will typically wear a surgical or support bra around the clock for the first weeks, and in some cases small temporary drains are placed and removed within a few days.

Many patients return to light activities within a few days and to work within one to two weeks, depending on how they recover. For a few weeks, avoid heavy lifting, strenuous effort, and sleeping on your stomach, until your doctor clears them. Scars are permanent, but they usually soften and fade gradually over one to two years, and the final shape of the breasts becomes apparent as the swelling goes down.

Go to the emergency room right away if you develop a high fever, heavy bleeding, pain that gets worse instead of better, or increasing redness, warmth, or drainage at the incisions, and notify the doctor who performed your procedure as soon as possible.

Medical reference source: Mayo Clinic.