Breast Lift

1. Understanding Your Goals

• Your priorities: The consultation starts with what you would like to change, what matters most to you and what you hope surgery will achieve.

2. Clinical Assessment

• Clinical assessment: Dr Mercer assesses anatomy, tissue quality, asymmetry, scars and any factors that may affect the operation or healing.

3. Options, Limits & Planning

• Options and limits: Suitable surgical options, likely scars, trade-offs and realistic outcomes are discussed rather than assuming that surgery is the right answer.
• Planning: If you choose to proceed, clinical photography, measurements and a personalised operative plan are completed before a surgery date is confirmed.

4–6 weeks before

• Weight stability: Aim for a stable weight and avoid planning surgery around anticipated major weight loss or pregnancy.
• Nicotine: Stop smoking and nicotine as instructed because breast skin and nipple healing depend on good blood supply.

2 weeks before

• Medication review: Follow personalised instructions regarding medicines and supplements.
• Home support: Arrange help, transport and a supportive postoperative bra.

Anaesthesia

• General anaesthetic: Mastopexy is usually performed under general anaesthesia.

Reshaping

• Skin removal: The scar pattern is selected according to the degree of lift required.
• Tissue reshaping: Breast tissue is lifted and shaped internally.
• Nipple repositioning: The nipple-areola complex is moved to a higher position; areola size can be refined.
• Closure: Incisions are closed in layers and supported with dressings and a surgical bra.

Week 1

• Expected: Swelling, bruising, tightness and temporary changes in breast sensation are common.

Weeks 2–3

• Work: Desk work is often possible once comfort and arm movement have improved.

Weeks 4–6

• Exercise: More vigorous exercise is resumed gradually after review.

3–12 months

• Scars and shape: Breast shape settles while scars soften and fade progressively.

First 2 weeks

• Support: Wear your surgical bra continuously as advised and avoid lifting.
• Wounds: Keep dressings clean and attend wound reviews.

Weeks 3–6

• Activity: Increase walking and daily movement while avoiding strenuous chest exercise.
• Scars: Begin scar care when all incisions are closed.

Early review

• What happens: The team checks wounds, swelling, comfort and any dressings during the first postoperative period.

1–2 weeks

• What happens: Incisions and early healing are reviewed; sutures or dressings are removed when appropriate and activity guidance is updated.

6 weeks

• What happens: Dr Mercer reviews recovery, scars and return to exercise, and checks that healing is progressing as expected.

3–6 months

• What happens: Progress photographs may be taken as swelling settles and scars continue to mature.

Around 1 year

• What happens: A longer-term review can be used to assess the mature result once tissues and scars have fully settled.