Well, what is the difference?
Sydney Plastic Surgeon, Dr Damian Marucci recently answered this very question on the breast.com.au forum.
The questions was:
When one has a breast reduction, is a lift involved as well or are these two separate things?
And Dr Marucci’s answer was:
Hi and thanks for your excellent question. A breast lift or “mastopexy” is done when the shape of the breast needs to be changed – and the most commonly requested change is to put the nipple and breast tissue back up on the chest where nature intended. The ideal position of the nipple is at, or slightly above, the level of the fold underneath the breast (the infra-mammary fold, or “IMF”). With pregnancy and ageing, the position of the nipple can “sag” so that it is below the level of the IMF – a condition known as “ptosis”. A mastopexy or breast lift attempts to improve the position of the nipple whilst removing as little breast tissue as possible (a small amount of breast tissue and excess skin is always removed). The breast tissue is re-arranged so that the breasts are back up on the chest and the nipple is sitting at or above the level of the IMF. A breast reduction procedure is performed to decrease the volume or breast tissue – but normally women with large breasts also have a degree of ptosis (where the nipple is below the level of the IMF). The vast majority of cases, not only do the breasts need to be decreased in size, but the position of the nipple and breast tissue needs to be elevated. Often the scars are identical to those associated with a breast lift procedure. Rarely, there are patients who have large breasts which they would like reduced, but where the nipple is in a good position. In these cases, no breast lift is performed, but the volume of the breast is reduced. I hope this clears things up.
Dr Damian Marucci is a fully qualified expert Plastic surgeon. After completing his training in Sydney, Dr Marucci undertook training in advanced plastic surgery in Oxford England. He then did a further fellowship in Cosmetic Surgery in London with Mr Barry Jones, one of the world’s best plastic surgeons. Dr Marucci practices in Sydney with rooms in Kogarah and Caringbah.
To see some of Dr Marucci’s outstanding results, click here or here or even here.
