Breast Feather Lift

The breast feather lift or APTOS breast lift is marketed as a non-surgical breast lift procedure. Actually, the procedure is indeed surgical, but is minimally invasive and requires no significant incisions. The APTOS lift is an interesting option among non-surgical breast lift techniques and might be a good choice for some women requiring a minor temporary lift effect. This technique is also sometimes called a suture suspension breast lift.

Breast Feather Lift

What is a Breast Feather Lift?

The APTOS lift uses small barbed threads called APTOS threads (also called Barbed Polypropylene Sutures). These threads are implanted into the breast using a specially modified hypodermic needle. The threads are barbed with tiny unidirectional spikes and hooks which catch on organic tissue, pulling it upwards and securing it to the collar bone of the patient. This is the same procedure used to perform minimally invasive complete and partial face lifts around the world. The technique was developed by Russian Dr. Marlen A. Salamanidze around 1999.

Breast Feather Lift Indications

The feather lift is indicated for women who have small to medium breasts demonstrating minor ptosis or asymmetry. The procedure will help to lift skin and provide added support for breast tissue, temporarily slowing further sagging and tissue degeneration. This procedure can not be used in large breasted women and shows poor results for moderate to severe ptosis issues. The technique is best suited for women who feel they might need a small correction to their breast placement, but are not ready to undergo an actual surgical mastopexy operation.

Risks of APTOS Breast Lift

As with any surgical technique, there are some chances for complications during surgery or post-operatively. The most commonly reported complications include: infection, continued bleeding or pain, uncomfortable muscular interaction during athletic activities, and poor surgical results. Generally, the risks of this technique are far lower than open surgical lifts, but it is always advisable to discuss every potential risk with your doctor prior to undergoing the procedure.

Recommendation on Breast Feather Lifts

This procedure is a good option for women who might not be ready to undergo mastopexy surgery, but still want to refresh the appearance of their breasts. The results of any APTOS lift are temporary, but the range of effective support can vary greatly. Some women continue to experience a noticeable lift after a few years, while others lose almost all benefit within months. Breast size and other factors will certainly influence the duration of effective treatment. Although the procedure is minimally invasive, it still generally requires full anesthetic and sometimes an overnight stay at the hospital or clinic. Many women report severe pain for several days to weeks after the operation. There should be no permanent scarring from the technique, which is a big plus. The cost of the procedure is not cheap and can rival some surgical methods of breast lift. Many women prefer to have this operation performed overseas, since the cost is often considerably lower than in their home country. For more information on this practice of traveling for plastic surgery, please see my article on Medical Tourism.

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2/1/08 Revised 3/13/08