Breast uplift in Edinburgh, Scotland

A breast uplift, also called a breast lift or mastopexy, reshapes the breast and raises the nipple position. Mr Chris Cartlidge offers assessment for uplift with or without implants to patients across Scotland. Consultations take place at the Mayfield Clinic or Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh.

Uplift alone or uplift with implants?

An uplift addresses breast shape and position. If you also want more volume, Mr Cartlidge can assess whether a combined breast augmentation and uplift would suit you. If you want to reduce breast weight, breast reduction may be more appropriate.

Combined breast implants and uplift

Augmentation mastopexy combines an implant with an uplift. Planning must balance the desired volume, breast shape, skin quality and scars. At consultation you will have an examination, try implant sizers where appropriate, and receive an information leaflet before deciding.

Combined implants and mastopexy starts from £10,000. Uplift without implants is quoted following assessment. A consultation costs £200. View the current surgery prices.

Your surgeon and hospital

Mr Chris Cartlidge is a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon with Royal College of Surgeons of England cosmetic breast surgery accreditation. Your consultation includes a breast examination and a discussion of the benefits, limitations and risks of surgery.

Surgery takes place at Spire Shawfair Park Hospital in Edinburgh or Circle Kings Park Hospital in Stirling, depending on your preference. Consultations take place in Edinburgh.

Patients travel from across Scotland, including Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders. Discuss travel and follow-up arrangements at your consultation so you can plan your hospital stay and recovery at home.

Book a breast uplift consultation in Edinburgh

Book a £200 consultation with Mr Chris Cartlidge at the Mayfield Clinic or Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh.

Mayfield Clinic: 07533 006004
Spire Murrayfield: 0131 334 0363. Please ask for Mr Cartlidge.

For queries, use the website enquiry form.

Arrange a consultation

Why do people have a breast uplift?

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes and ageing can alter breast shape and nipple position. Some patients want a lift without additional volume; others want both lift and fullness. A consultation helps you decide what is achievable for your anatomy.

Read about breast surgery after weight loss.

What types of breast uplift are available?

There are 4 types of breast uplift procedure that can help to improve the look and feel of your breasts. After a full cosmetic consultation, you will be able to choose which of these is most likely to give the look you desire.

Benelli Lift

This is also called a periareolar mastopexy and involves removing a doughnut-shaped ring of skin from around the nipple-areolar complex. The skin is tightened and the nipple moved upwards slightly. The scar follows the border of the areola. Its appearance varies and it will remain a permanent scar. This works best when there is only a small amount of sagging of the bosom.

Vertical-scar (Lejour) Uplift

With this procedure, there is a scar around the nipple which extends down to the lower crease of the breast, like a lollipop. This can give more uplift than the Benelli procedure without the need for a scar in the lower fold of the breast.

Anchor-scar (Wise-pattern) Mastopexy

Similarly, the scar travels around the nipple-areola, vertically downwards and then across the lower breast fold. The shape produced is an anchor although the horizontal scar is well-hidden in the lower part of the breast. This procedure give the greatest change in the shape of the breast and usually provides a consistent result.

Implant Mastopexy

Occasionally, enough of a breast lift can be provided by placing a breast implant alone. Sometimes, the best result is with a combination of breast implant and an uplift procedure. This is complex surgery and needs to be planned carefully in advance with your surgeon. When done well, the results can be a dramatic improvement.

What is the normal procedure?

Your care starts with a consultation and examination by Mr Chris Cartlidge. You will discuss your goals, suitable options, expected scars and risks, and receive an information leaflet to read before deciding.

If you decide to proceed, the hospital arranges pre-assessment and Mr Cartlidge sends a final letter before surgery.

Surgery takes place at Spire Shawfair Park Hospital in Edinburgh or Circle Kings Park Hospital in Stirling, depending on your preference. Consultations take place in Edinburgh.

Discharge is on the same day or the following day, according to your operation and recovery. A nurse reviews you to remove the dressings. You then have a final consultation with Mr Cartlidge and are discharged when you are happy with the outcome and your care is complete.

Follow the individual advice supplied by your surgical team about dressings, pain relief, support bras, driving, lifting, exercise and returning to work. Arrange help at home and transport after surgery.

What are the potential risks?

Breast uplift is normally safe surgery with a low risk of complications. However, as with any operation it is important that you are fully informed about the potential risks.

There are some rare but important early complications:

1. Bleeding – if you have bleeding after your surgery there is a chance you may need an emergency operation to stop it. Rarely, you may require a blood transfusion or extra time in hospital. Bleeding affects 2-3 out of every 100 patients.

2. Infection – extensive precautions are taken both before and during the procedure to reduce the risk of infection. You will receive antibiotics at the time of surgery. Infection happens in fewer than 2 out of every 100 patients undergoing mastopexy.

3. Wound healing problems – for various reasons, including vaping, using e-cigarettes, smoking or diabetes, the small blood vessels of the skin may be insufficient. This increases the risk of wound breakdown. This may require additional surgery to fix or revise the scars. You should not smoke for at least 6 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after your operation.

4. Asymmetry – although we are extremely careful to make sure that the breasts appear symmetrical following the procedure, there can be differences between the two sides when you have healed. In the worst cases, this may require revision surgery.

5. Unsatisfactory result – occasionally patients do not feel satisfied with the result of their surgery, and improvements in appearance are not as good as they might have hoped. It is important that you are clear with your surgeon about what you want, and realistic about what can be achieved. The outcome of your surgery can be expected to change with time, particularly as a result of ageing or weight changes.

6. Nipple necrosis – breast uplift normally involves a change in the position of the nipples. This means that great care must be taken to preserve the blood supply to the nipple. In rare cases, the blood supply may not be as good as hoped and this might lead to death (necrosis) of the nipple. This is a risk that all surgeons should discuss with you.

Arrange a consultation

Explore your breast surgery options

Arrange a consultation

Book a £200 consultation with Mr Chris Cartlidge at the Mayfield Clinic or Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh.

Mayfield Clinic: 07533 006004
Spire Murrayfield: 0131 334 0363. Please ask for Mr Cartlidge.

For queries, use the website enquiry form.