Breast Lift in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift, known medically as mastopexy, is an operation that repositions the breast higher on the chest and gives it a firmer, rounder shape. The surgeon removes a strip of loose skin, gathers and supports the breast tissue beneath, and moves the nipple and areola up to sit level with or just above the fold under the breast. The areola can also be made smaller if it has stretched.
A breast lift works with the volume you already have. It changes position and shape, while breast size stays much the same. When the breasts have also emptied or flattened, a lift can be combined with an implant in one plan, an operation surgeons call augmentation-mastopexy, so shape and fullness are restored together. The nipple stays attached to the breast tissue beneath it throughout, which keeps its blood supply.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, mastopexy is performed in-house by the surgical team of the plastic surgery department, with consultation, surgery and follow-up in one place.
Who needs it
Breasts drop over time for several reasons: pregnancy and breastfeeding stretch the skin and ligaments, large changes in weight empty the breast and leave extra skin, and age and gravity play their part. Surgeons grade the degree of drooping by where the nipple sits in relation to the fold under the breast, and that grade guides which lift pattern is used.
A breast lift suits women whose main concern is breasts that sit low, point downwards or have a stretched areola, who are in good general health, whose weight is steady, and who have finished having children or are planning around pregnancy. Where the breasts are also heavy enough to cause neck, back or shoulder pain, a breast reduction lifts and reduces in the same operation. Where the main wish is more fullness with only mild drooping, a breast augmentation alone may suit.
Other choices include a well-fitted supportive bra or simply leaving things as they are. The decision is shared: the surgeon measures and examines both breasts, talks through your goals, and shows you the scar pattern that fits your grade of drooping before you decide.
What happens
The first visit is a consultation with Dr. Hamid Esmaeil, Specialist General & Cosmetic Surgeon. He takes a history, including pregnancies, breastfeeding plans, weight changes, smoking and any breast lumps, then examines and measures the breasts while you stand. Depending on your age and history, breast imaging is carried out first to give a baseline.
Together you agree one of three common scar patterns. A scar around the edge of the areola alone suits a small lift. A "lollipop" scar, around the areola and straight down to the fold, suits a moderate lift. An "anchor" scar, which adds a line along the fold under the breast, suits a larger lift with more skin to remove. The pattern is marked on the skin, with you standing, on the morning of surgery.
On the day, the breast lift is performed at Dar Al Kamal Hospital under general anaesthesia. The surgeon removes the extra skin, reshapes and supports the breast tissue, moves the nipple to its new position and closes the wounds in layers, usually with dissolving stitches. If an implant is part of the plan, it is placed through the same incisions. You wake in a soft supportive bra, and the team tells you beforehand whether you go home the same day or stay overnight.
Preparing for it
Stop smoking well before surgery, as healthy blood flow to the nipple and skin edges matters in a lift. Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements, since some affect bleeding. If you are breastfeeding, the surgeon asks that you finish first and allow the breasts to settle before surgery. Keep your weight steady in the months beforehand. Buy two front-fastening sports bras without underwire, and plan help with lifting young children for the first weeks. Many women in the UAE plan recovery away from Ramadan and the hottest summer months.
Afterwards
Expect some tightness, bruising and swelling of both breasts at first. You wear the supportive bra day and night as advised, sleep on your back, and increase lifting and exercise gradually as your surgeon guides. The breasts settle into their final shape over several months, and the scars start pink and fade gradually. In Sharjah's humidity, keep the fold under the breast clean and dry, as sweat collects there easily.
Follow-up visits take place at Dar Al Kamal Hospital with the surgeon who operated, to check the wounds and the shape as it settles. Regular breast checks continue as usual.
Contact the hospital promptly if one breast becomes much larger, harder or more painful than the other, if a wound opens, leaks or smells, if the nipple turns dark or cold, or if you develop a fever. Go to the nearest emergency department if you have chest pain, sudden breathlessness or a painful swollen calf.
Cost and insurance
A breast lift for appearance is cosmetic surgery, so it is usually excluded from UAE health insurance and paid for by the patient. A lift performed as part of breast reconstruction after cancer, to match the other side, is assessed differently and may be covered with pre-approval. After your consultation, the team gives you a written estimate covering the operation, any implant and follow-up. Call Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 for details.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of a breast lift?
A breast lift carries the general risks of surgery and anaesthesia, including bleeding, infection, blood clots and slow wound healing. Specific risks include wide or raised scars, changes in nipple sensation, uneven breasts, partial loss of nipple or skin from reduced blood supply, and a possible need for further surgery. Adding an implant brings implant-related risks too. Smoking raises the chance of wound problems, and the surgeon explains your own risks before consent.
Will a breast lift make my breasts bigger?
A breast lift reshapes and raises the breast, and the size stays much the same or appears slightly smaller because skin is removed. For more fullness, a lift can be combined with an implant in the same operation.
How long does a breast lift last?
A breast lift is lasting, but it does not stop ageing, gravity, pregnancy or weight change from affecting the breasts later. Keeping a steady weight and wearing a supportive bra help preserve the shape.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift?
Many women can breastfeed after a breast lift because the nipple stays attached to the breast tissue, though milk supply can be affected. Share any plans for future children at your consultation, since pregnancy after a lift can also change the result.
Will the scars show?
A breast lift leaves permanent scars around the areola, and depending on the pattern, down the front of the breast and along the fold beneath it. They sit where a bra or swimsuit usually covers them and fade over many months, but how scars settle varies from person to person.
Is a breast lift covered by insurance?
A breast lift done for appearance is usually excluded from UAE health insurance and is self-funded. A lift to match the other breast after cancer reconstruction may be covered with pre-approval, so check your policy with the team on 06 599 7777.
What is the difference between a breast lift and a breast reduction?
A breast lift raises and reshapes the breast while keeping its volume, and a breast reduction removes breast tissue as well as lifting. A reduction suits heavy breasts that cause pain, and a lift suits breasts that sag without being too large.
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