Breast Lift Surgery (Mastopexy / Breast Uplift)

Before you undergo any cosmetic surgery procedure at Karidis Clinic, you will have a consultation and a pre-operative assessment with your plastic surgeon. They will listen carefully to your concerns and what you expect to achieve and discuss which procedure, or combination of procedures, is appropriate.

At this stage, they will also ensure you are fully aware of the potential risks and complications inherent in that specific procedure and explain to you what you can expect immediately after surgery, throughout the recovery process, and when you will likely see the final results.

During the pre-operative assessment, the surgeon may take measurements of the area to be operated on and assess your skin tissue quality and the degree of skin laxity. The position of the incisions will also be decided upon.

A full medical history will be taken to ensure you are fit and well and can undergo surgery at this time.

After the initial consultation, there will be a two-week ‘cooling-off’ period before you can decide to proceed with surgery. You are welcome to return for further consultations with your Karidis Clinic surgeon, free of charge, if you have more questions.

If you make the decision to proceed with surgery, you’ll be given advice on how best to prepare for your operation, and you will have a dedicated Patient Coordinator who can answer any queries you may have.

Any pre-surgery tests can occur at the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth, a leading London private hospital where Karidis Clinic is based. The hospital has recently built a new wing including a diagnostic department with the latest X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound technology.

We advise patients to stop smoking as soon as possible as nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, which impedes the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the surgical site. This can slow down healing, increase the chance of infection and even cause tissue to die. Smoking also increases the risks of a general anaesthetic, and smokers are more likely to suffer ill effects from an anaesthetic.

You will also be advised when to discontinue taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medication in advance of your operation. You will be asked to fast six hours before surgery.

All Karidis Clinic procedures are performed at the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted and taken to your stylish and luxurious private room with its spacious ensuite bathroom.

The nursing team will take your blood pressure and relevant vitals, and you will see your Karidis Clinic surgeon, who will make the final mark-ups. Our anaesthetist will also visit you.

Clinical photography will be taken to assist in your care and to enable clinical assessments to be made. These become part of your confidential medical record. These include photographs of the operation site and any distinguishing features and will be taken pre-op and post-op. 

Your procedure will be performed under a general anaesthetic, and once the surgeon has sutured the incision site, you will be taken to a specialist recovery room.

Once the hospital nursing team has ensured your recovery is complete, you will be taken to your hospital room for your overnight stay. The hospital nursing team will be on hand throughout the night, and you will be fitted with compression stockings and a compression device if required.

The following day, you will be visited by your Karidis Clinic surgeon or nurse and then discharged into the care of a friend or family member by the hospital nursing staff.

The pain and discomfort experienced after surgery are unique to the individual patient and the extent of their procedure. However, it should start to subside in the first week and should be easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers.

If necessary, you’ll be advised to wear a specially designed surgical support garment for approximately six weeks after surgery to support you during the healing process.

Depending on the nature of your job, you can usually expect to be able to return to work and normal activities between one to two weeks.

You’ll be given a comprehensive plan for the recovery process, including dates for your cast or suture removal and your check-ups with your Karidis Clinic surgeon. However, we are always on hand throughout this period, and you have access to our dedicated surgical nurse 24/7 if you have any concerns.

Breast Uplift surgery requires a surgeon fee, an anaesthetist fee and a hospital fee. The price also includes all of your pre-operative and post-operative care. The cost may vary slightly depending on your unique requirements, but we will give you a detailed quotation following your consultation.

For more information on what our surgical fees cover, please click here.

In circumstances where there is both an element of drooping and “emptiness” of the breast has developed, particularly in the upper half, then an uplift on its own is probably not enough to give a satisfactory result.

In these situations, an increase in volume through the addition of a breast implant is also indicated. A breast augmentation and uplift is therefore simultaneously performed. This will be discussed with you at your consultation. Read our FAQs on implants here.

After surgery, you may notice that the breasts feel quite firm and taut, particularly along the edges of the incision site. You may experience some minor to moderate degree of pain which will be well controlled with pain killers. This usually improves and dissipates after the first 4-5 days.

Depending on your exact procedure, bandages are left on for 10-14 days. You will also be instructed to wear a moderately firm supporting bra without an underwire.

You should be able to move your arms reasonably provided you use common sense not to overdo things.

Scars are not a complication but a normal event after any surgery. In a breast uplift, the scars, depending on the degree of sagging and the technique used, can be lengthy and will take many months or even up to two years to settle.

However as they are around and below the nipples, scars shouldn’t be noticeable even in low cut clothing or a bathing suit. You should always expect the scars to be red, raised, lumpy and even itchy to begin with but with time they should fade and flatten.

This is the natural evolution of the healing process. Daily massage of the scars during this time period is advised to expedite and facilitate this process. The office of Mr Karidis also provides you with special silicone gel sheets which when applied to the scars improve their appearance.

You must understand however that no responsible surgeon will ever be in a position to predict any scars ultimate appearance.

Breast uplift surgery is never as painful as most people think it will be. Newer techniques have ensured more minimally invasive and therefore less traumatic surgery. For a few days after your surgery, you will probably only experience minor to moderate degree of pain which should be well controlled with pain killers. This usually improves and dissipates after the first 4-5 days.