Breast enhancement is among the most popular cosmetic surgeries in America and in 2002, almost 300,000 women went under it. Some patients want to have more youthful looking breasts and there are some cosmetic surgeries to enhance them. Mastopexy is one kind of plastic surgery that is used to reduce the size of areola, change the shape and raise the sagging breasts. In breast augmentation, in which implants are used to resize the breasts, enhancement can be performed as well.

Many women have sagging breasts because of pregnancy, gravity or aging. These women are good candidates for a breast enhancement surgery if they are completely healthy, physically and emotionally. They should also be aware of the results of the surgery and be realistic about what they can achieve through it. Mastopexy can only enhance the breasts and women who want to have breasts with better shape and size should go under breast augmentation surgery with implants.

This procedure is on an outpatient basis and can be with general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. It usually takes one to four hours, during which an incision is made around the nipple and down the breast, also across the fold of the breast. Then the nipple will be repositioned and extra skin will be removed. This could also be done from an incision that is made around the areola. The breast is just lifted to a more natural looking position during mastopexy breast lift surgery. The size of the breast is not changed, but an augmentation surgery could be performed along the enhancement surgery as well.

If breast augmentation and enhancement are performed at the same time, the incisions are made around the areola, across the breast fold, in the armpit, in some cases in the belly button, and the implants are placed. Breast implants are not permanent and should be removed and replaced every five to ten years, sometimes even sooner.

As with any surgery, there are complications and risks. Bleeding, infections and complications from anesthesia are reported, although they are very rare. The more common ones are scarring, bruising and swelling after the surgery. Patients usually recover in a few weeks to months after the surgery.