A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that raises the breasts and nipple position by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast. Many women feel their breasts “sag” or “droop” after life events such as childbearing, breastfeeding, and weight loss, leaving their nipples in a lower-than-desired position. A breast lift can help address these concerns.

If you have ample breast tissue, you may only require a breast lift to reposition the breasts to a more lifted position on your chest. If you need more volume added to your breasts, you may benefit from an implant being used at the time of the lift. If you want a little less volume, then a breast lift may still be right for you. However, if you wish to see a significant decrease in your breast volume, you may need a breast reduction. This is similar to a breast lift but removes much more tissue to help you achieve your desired breast size.

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the volume and external projection of the breasts. This procedure generally involves carefully inserting saline or silicone implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles, making the breasts look fuller and rounder. In some instances, fat grafting to the breasts may also be an option for increasing breast volume.

Please know that breast augmentation does not lift the breasts; it only fills loose skin and makes them fuller. If your nipples are positioned too low on your breasts now, they will still be too low after augmentation alone. In most cases, a lift is needed to correct the nipple position. There is also a widespread myth that using a larger implant will prevent the need for a lift. This is not true. A bigger implant will give you bigger breasts and lead to more skin stretching over time.

If you desire to add more volume to your breasts at the time of your life, the addition of breast augmentation may be fitting for you.

Generally, you and your plastic surgeon will need to make five fundamental decisions before you undergo a breast lift surgery with a breast lift:

• What technique of augmentation to use (fat grafting versus implants)
• What type of implant to use, if applicable
• Where to place the implant, if applicable
• What size implant to use
• What kind of lift to have

The benefits of a breast lift are unique to each individual. A breast lift can:

• Improve your breast shape and cleavage
• Correct sagging and lack of firmness
• Adjust nipples that are too low or point downward
• Boost your self-esteem
• Improve your self-confidence in and out of clothing
• Restore lost breast volume from pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
• Add balance to your figure

Maybe your breasts have changed over the years. Perhaps they were never as perky as you would like or have changed significantly after weight loss, childbearing, or breastfeeding. For those whose breasts are lower on their chest (“sagging” or “drooping”) than they would like, a breast lift may be the right option.

In addition to deciding whether a breast lift can meet your personal goals, several factors must be considered in determining whether you are a good candidate for a breast lift. Good candidates for a breast lift include those who:

• Want to improve their breast shape
• Want to enhance breast sagging
• Want to improve the position of low nipples
• Want to achieve optimal proportions for their figure
• Have generally good physical and mental health
• Are you a nonsmoker, or are you willing to stop smoking before breast lift
• Have realistic expectations from breast lift surgery

While a breast lift can address various concerns, it has limitations. Knowing these limitations and understanding when you may be a candidate for a different type of surgery is essential. A breast lift cannot:

• Make your breasts larger. A breast lift alone will make your breasts slightly smaller. If you want to improve fullness to balance your figure, you may need a breast lift with augmentation.
• Increase your upper pole fullness.
• Change skin quality

Several factors must be considered while planning your breast lift surgery. Your surgeon and her team will help you make these choices and understand all the decisions associated with a breast lift.

Incision Location
We make every attempt to minimize scarring on the breasts. Our plastic surgeons will determine the appropriate incision to optimize your results.

• Vertical Pattern (Lollipop-type scar)

This incision is placed around the areola and down the center of the lower pole of the breast.

• Wise Pattern (Anchor-type scar)

This type of incision is placed around the areola, down the center of the lower pole of the breast, and in the natural breast fold where the bottom meets the chest.

• Periareolar (Crescent-type scar)

This type of incision is placed around the side of the areola. Certain patients may be good candidates for this approach.

After excess breast skin is removed, the nipple and areola are shifted to a higher position. The areola, which may have been stretched in a sagging breast, can be made smaller.

The incisions from your breast lift surgery will heal and fade over time. However, it is important to realize, however, that the incision lines will be permanently visible. In some instances, they will eventually be only faint lines. Some women may have more noticeable incision lines. Fortunately, the incisions for your breast lift are in locations easily concealed by clothing, even low-cut necklines.

Implant Selection and Placement/ Fat Grafting
If your surgeon decides that a breast augmentation is indicated to improve your breast volume, she will discuss these options with you. Please refer to the breast augmentation procedure page to learn more about these options.

A breast lift is an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia in an operating room. After your surgery, you will be placed in dressings and a bra. You will spend a short time in the recovery room before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.

It is expected to experience some pain and swelling in the first few days after surgery.

Incisions usually heal between 2 and 3 weeks after surgery.

Depending on your type of work, you will usually be able to return to work within one to two weeks. You will have some activity restrictions initially, but most people are able to return to full activity by six weeks after surgery.

You may notice less sensation in the nipple and areola areas. This is usually temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months, or even more than a year before the sensation returns to normal. Your breasts may also require some time to assume a more natural shape. Incisions will initially be red or pink. They should fade and soften over time (up to 18 months after surgery). Final results are usually seen at six months to a year after surgery.

Every patient’s recovery is different. Your recovery may be quicker or take more time than average.

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