Breast lift (mastopexy) in Istanbul

Most people return to desk work after about a week, and swelling and bruising settle over roughly two weeks. Heavy lifting, exercise and other strenuous activity usually wait until around week 6, and many people switch to a normal bra at about week 8. The incisions take a few months to heal fully.

Yes. The scars are permanent but usually fade considerably. Depending on the pattern, they sit around the areola, along a vertical line below it and sometimes in the fold under the breast. At around 6 weeks they are red and slightly raised; by a year they are usually much closer to your skin tone.

The result is long-lasting, although ageing and gravity keep acting on the breasts. Keeping a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle helps, while pregnancy and significant weight loss can reverse part of the lift. Cleveland Clinic describes the result as lasting several years; how long depends on ageing, weight and pregnancy.

Yes. A lift on its own raises and reshapes the breast, but it does not noticeably change the size or fill the upper part. If you want more fullness, an implant can be added in the same operation or later. Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker raises this when your own tissue would not be enough for the shape you want.

Yes, a single-stage operation is possible, and whether to combine or separate the two is a decision for your surgeon. In a review of 4,856 single-stage cases, 13.1% had a complication and 10.7% needed further surgery. Recurrent sagging (5.2%), poor scarring (3.7%) and capsular contracture (3.0%) were among the problems reported.

Plan a lift once you have finished having children and breastfeeding, since pregnancy can reduce or reverse the result. There is no fixed waiting time in the published guidance, so ask Dr. İlker how long to wait in your case. Your breasts are assessed at the consultation before a date is set.

Yes, once your weight is stable. A stable weight is part of being a suitable candidate, because losing a lot of weight after surgery can undo part of the result. If you are still losing weight, it usually makes sense to reach your goal first and then plan the lift.

Possibly, but not being able to breastfeed is a known risk of a lift. ASPS advises considering a lift once you have finished having children, partly because pregnancy can also reverse the result. If you plan to breastfeed in future, raise it at your consultation, as it may affect both the timing and the technique.

There is no fixed day. You sleep on your back at first, and some surgeons prefer this for several weeks after a lift while the incisions heal. Ask Dr. İlker at your check-up when you can change position, because the answer depends on the technique used and on how you are healing.

NHS guidance is to wait 5–7 days after breast surgery before flying, because surgery and flying both raise the risk of blood clots. Plan your stay in Istanbul around this, have your wounds checked before you leave and agree who will see you once you are home.

Walking and light activity usually return after about a week. Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and intimate activity may be restricted until around week 6. Build up gradually once you are cleared, starting with low-impact exercise, and ask before restarting anything that strains the chest or arms.

They cannot do what a lift does. A mastopexy works by removing excess skin and moving the nipple and breast tissue higher, and those are surgical steps. If you are not ready for surgery, a consultation can still help you understand your options and the right timing.