Mastopexy surgery (breast lift) doesn’t usually aim to change the size of the breasts. However, some women may find that they require a smaller-sized bra after their procedure. Let’s clear up why this is and explore whether mastopexy surgery actually changes the size of the breasts.
If you’re concerned about what your surgery outcomes may be, a board-certified surgeon can give you personalised guidance. A consultation with a reputable practitioner, such as Dr Craig Rubinstein in Melbourne, is the first step to understanding your potential outcomes.
What mastopexy surgery involves
A breast lift or mastopexy surgery is sought out by women who want firmer and more lifted breasts. It targets breast laxity and ptosis, which can often be a result of age, weight changes, and breastfeeding. When the breasts gain and lose volume, especially in a short span of time, this can stretch the skin and case the breasts to descend.
To address the above concerns, surgeons like Dr Rubinstein create a plan that involves making incisions into the breasts, adjusting the breast shape, and removing any excess breast skin. Unless combined with another breast surgery (like augmentation mammoplasty), these patients don’t typically want to add or remove any breast volume. They want to lift the breasts without changing their size.
These patients may also:
- Have down-pointing nipples
- Have conditions such as tuberous breasts
- Are healthy and non-smoking
- Want to combine the procedure with another breast surgery
Although the surgery by itself doesn’t remove volume, the elevation may create the appearance of smaller or larger breasts. Let’s look at why this may be…
The effect of mastopexy on breast size
One of the major aims of mastopexy is to treat laxity (breasts that have stretched or sit low on the chest wall). Patients who want to increase or decrease their breast volume would opt instead for breast augmentation or reduction mammoplasty, or a combination of methods.
However, changing the breasts’ shape and position in a mastopexy surgery – although it doesn’t directly affect breast volume – may create the appearance of smaller (or larger) breasts.
This is normally a consequence of the surgery rather than a true change in volume. It’s a reflection of the fact that pre-surgery ptotic or stretched breasts may seem larger or require a larger bra size. Then, when the breast position is raised, this can change how your breasts look and how your bras feel on your body.
Why would bra size change if breast volume doesn’t?
The breast volume after mastopexy remains mostly the same – it is the breast shape and position that changes, which can have an impact on a woman’s bra size. Although some women need to size down, others may find that they need to size up their bras. It depends on the individual and their anatomy, surgery, and comfort.
Lots of factors affect what bra size a woman wears, based on the fit and comfort. A woman with breast laxity or stretched breast skin may wear a larger bra size, as a looser bra may feel more comfortable. After mastopexy, she may be comfortable sizing down to the correct size.
This is important to consider, as many patients seek mastopexy because they want a change in breast shape without changing the size. Just because your bra size changes doesn’t necessarily mean that your breasts are smaller – it simply means that you may feel more comfortable in a different size due to the changes in the breasts’ shape.
Your mastopexy consultation with Dr Rubinstein in Melbourne
All women are different, and the effects of mastopexy surgery are slighly different for each patient. Your results will reflect your individual anatomy, body frame, surgical plan, and cosmetic goals, which are discussed in a preliminary consultation.
Dr Rubinstein is happy to discuss with you about your suitability for surgery and what you can expect from the results, as well as risks and other considerations. Get in touch with our team to book your consultation, or read more about mastopexy surgery here.