Answers
"I want to get a breast lift, but I don’t like all of the scarring. I am a 36B and want to stay that size, but my breasts need to be lifted. Is there a variation in the procedure? I believe it’s called endoscopy."
— Answered by David R. Finch, MD
Neenah, WI
Endoscopy is the method of performing surgery using an endoscope—a narrow, telescope-like device—to view the interior of an area of the body through a small incision. This minimally-invasive technique is not applicable to a breast lift. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is performed to correct drooping breasts due to stretching of the skin from pregnancy, or weight gain and loss. Since there is excess skin present in these circumstances, it needs to be removed to bring the breasts back to their normal position. Removal of this skin will cause scarring. Sometimes incisions can be made just around the areola (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple), where they will be less noticeable. Other times incisions will extend down to the breast fold. And sometimes there will be an incision underneath the breast as well. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has performed a number of these procedures. He or she will be able to advise you as to an appropriate technique in your specific case.
