How long does surgery take?

Depending on the technique required for your breasts, surgery usually takes between two and three hours.

What is the recovery period?

The recovery from an augmentation mastopexy is more involved than a simple breast augmentation, and it is important to follow the post-operative instructions carefully. By 6-weeks you should be getting completely back to normal, with respect to sporting activities and heavy lifting, but before then you need to be careful. The first two weeks after surgery are particularly important and we would normally recommend taking this time off work. Activities can be gradually increased between weeks 2 and 6, and during this whole period you should wear your supportive post-surgical bra.

How long before daily activities may be resumed?

As mentioned above, it is important not to over do it in the post-surgical period. By 6-weeks you should be back to doing whatever you normally do, including exercise, but driving should be avoided for the first 2-weeks after surgery and you should not try to lift anything heavy until the 6-week mark.

What are the possible complications?

The risks and complications for an augmentation mastopexy include:

• Delayed wound healing and possible wound infection
• Development of a post-operative collection of blood in the wound – this might require draining in the operating theatre
• The long term complications of having breast implants can include a thickening and tightening of the scar tissue around them, which is known as capsular contracture. In addition, implants have a lifespan, and “device failure” may occur over time. Both of these complications might require further surgery (at cost)
• As the nipples are being repositioned and the breast is being tightened, there is a small risk that the nipple can undergo necrosis (die), but fortunately this is rare. Other issues with nipples can include numbness and shape changes.
• There will inevitably be a degree of differences between your breasts – some breast asymmetry is normal
• Malposition of the implant can occur, when the implant settles into an “unaesthetic” position – this would require surgical revision if it occurs.
• All operations carry a risk of blood clots occurring the legs (DVTs) that can migrate to the lungs (PEs) which, whilst rare, are serious.

Revision surgery might be needed to make any adjustments in your result – rates can be around 20%