Breast Lift

The goal of breast lift surgery is to lift your breasts to a size that is in better proportion with your physique and makes you feel more comfortable. It is important to note that both breasts, nipples and areolas are never exactly the same size and shape.

Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon at Assure is the best person to determine if your expectations are achievable and can give you a good idea of the likely size you will be after surgery. They will take your desired size into consideration when recommending the right procedure or technique for you. It is important to maintain realistic expectations that are in line with the natural possibilities of the procedure.

Currently, there are various techniques available for breast lift surgery in Perth, all with the common goals of removing excess breast tissue, lifting the breasts, and repositioning the nipples. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will carefully assess your physical condition and individual requirements to determine the most suitable technique for you.

If breast implants are inserted as part of your procedure, your breast implants will be registered with the Australian Breast Device Registry. This nationwide initiative, established by the Australian Government, aims to monitor the safety and quality of breast implant procedures. Participation in the Registry is free of charge for patients.

The surgical procedure is conducted in a fully-accredited hospital in Perth under general anaesthesia. Typically, the surgery lasts between one to three hours, although it may take longer in some cases. Following the surgery, you can expect to be discharged on the same day, or occasionally, after a brief hospital stay of one to two days. A post-operative consultation will be scheduled around seven days after the breast lift surgery, with another follow-up appointment four weeks later.

Every plastic, cosmetic, and reconstructive surgical procedure carries inherent risks and possible complications. It is vital to comprehend and minimise these risks in order to achieve a successful surgery. While every effort is made to mitigate these risks, some risks are unavoidable.

The information provided on this page is of a general nature. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will thoroughly discuss the particular risks and complications that are relevant to your specific surgical procedure during your consultation. General risks for surgery are listed here.

Breast lift surgery, in particular, has its own set of specific risks, including but not limited to:

• Fluid accumulation: After the surgery, there is a possibility of fluid accumulating around the breast. This condition, known as seroma, may require additional procedures to drain the fluid. To prevent any fluid or blood accumulation, thin tubes called a drains may be temporarily placed under the skin while you’re in hospital.
• Fat necrosis: This is a rare complication that can occur when fatty tissue dies. It can cause hard lumps under the skin, but it is usually not a serious problem.
• Changes in breast and nipple sensation: Breast lift surgery may lead to temporary or permanent changes in breast and nipple sensation. Some individuals may experience increased sensitivity, while others may notice reduced sensation.
• Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts: This is a rare complication of breast lift surgery. It can be caused by a number of factors, including differences in the size or shape of the breasts before surgery, or problems with healing.
• Excessive firmness of the breast: This is a rare complication of breast lift surgery that can be caused by the formation of scar tissue.
• Potential partial or total loss of the nipple and areola: This is a very rare complication of breast lift surgery. It is usually caused by damage to the blood supply to the nipple and areola.
• Requirement for further surgery to address complications: This is a rare complication of breast lift surgery. It may be necessary to correct problems such as asymmetry, excessive firmness, or loss of the nipple and areola.

While scars are an inevitable result of surgical procedures, Assure’s Specialist Plastic Surgeons have extensive experience with the latest surgical techniques, including the ‘short scar’ technique, and will prioritise reducing their visibility. In the case of breast lift surgery, the scars are usually hidden on the undersurface of the breasts and thus become less visible after a period of time.

We recognise that certain patients may have a predisposition to develop keloid or hypertrophic scars, so we urge you to inform your surgeon if you are aware of this tendency in yourself. Your surgeon will carefully consider this information to enhance your outcomes and minimise the likelihood of visible scarring.

Patients typically resume their regular routines within approximately three weeks. It is crucial to allow for proper healing, so it is advised to avoid excessive exercise during the first three to four weeks. The timeline for returning to work or normal activities varies for each individual and will be guided by your Specialist Plastic Surgeon. To minimise swelling and aid in the healing process, you will need to wear post-surgical compression garments for up to six weeks.

However, it is essential to understand that each patient’s recovery process requires sufficient time, support, and appropriate postoperative care. Recovery duration and the ability to participate in different activities may vary among patients due to individual differences in healing capacity and pain tolerance.

An initial consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will cost approximately $250, which is payable in full at the time of booking your consultation. Your consultation will take approximately 30-60 minutes. If a Medicare item applies to your potential procedure then you will be entitled to a rebate from Medicare of approximately $80, providing you have a written referral from your GP or specialist. GP referrals are valid for 12 months and specialist referrals for 3 months.

Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will provide an indication of the likely costs, such as your surgeon’s fee, cost of breast implants (if applicable), anaesthetist’s fees and hospital and theatre fees. Your surgeon’s fee includes all post-operative care and nurse dressings. Pricing will vary from case to case, but an indicative range of your surgeon’s fee is $6,000 to $8,000 excluding GST. Breast implants cost approximately $1,500 to $2,500. Anaesthetist, hospital and theatre fees are additional.

There may be Medicare and private health insurance rebates available for breast lift surgery in Perth depending on strict Medicare eligibility criteria. Your surgeon can provide you with more information, but you would then need to talk to your private health insurer to determine exactly how much cover they will provide and confirm what your final out-of-pocket costs will be.

A good starting point is to book a consultation with one of our experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeons at Assure Cosmetic Centre. You will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask questions. You will be provided with detailed information regarding the treatments or procedures that can help you, the expected outcomes, and the costs involved. Click here to make an appointment.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website is a helpful and reliable source of information online. Their website is an excellent place to research a range of surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments, and view video animations.

Utilising a search engine can also be beneficial in finding relevant information on these topics.

For patients seeking breast augmentation, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) breast implant hub also has several documents regarding breast implants, covering various subjects such as Breast Implant Associated-Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), consumer inquiries, and related matters.