Mastopexy

Breast Lift

Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a procedure designed to elevate and reshape sagging breasts for a more youthful and perky appearance. Over time, factors such as aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or genetics can cause breasts to lose their shape and firmness. A breast lift restores a natural contour by removing excess skin, reshaping the breast tissue, and repositioning the nipple to create a balanced, lifted look.

What are Some of the Causes of Sagging Breasts?

Breasts can change due to a number of factors. Like facial skin, breast skin loses much of its elasticity with age, the ligaments that hold the breasts begin to weaken, and gravity takes a toll, causing breast tissue to become lax and saggy. Some women may find that their breasts become stretched during pregnancy and breastfeeding, producing loose skin when they shrink back to their original size. Weight loss and menopause may also contribute to this condition. Some women also experience breast ptosis following breast implant removal, and a breast lift is often recommended for women who choose to remove their implants without replacement. Breast ptosis is usually graded on a scale from mild to severe, which measures the nipple location is relation to the inframammary fold, or breast crease.

Benefits of Breast Lift Surgery

Breast lift surgery is ideal for those looking to achieve natural, long-lasting results and feel more confident in their body. At Clinic 360, our experienced surgeons work closely with you to ensure your results align with your aesthetic goals and personal needs.

• Youthful Contour: Restores a perky, lifted shape to the breasts, helping you regain a more youthful silhouette.

Improved Symmetry: Corrects uneven breasts and realigns nipples for a more balanced appearance.

• Enhanced Confidence: Boosts self-esteem and comfort in clothing, especially bras, swimsuits, and fitted attire.

• Rejuvenated Appearance: Eliminates the drooping or deflated look caused by aging or life changes.

No Change in Volume (Unless Desired): Focuses on reshaping and lifting the breasts without significantly altering their size, although it can be combined with augmentation or reduction for customized results.

     

    Types of Breast Lifts

    Breast lift techniques vary depending on the degree of sagging (ptosis), the desired outcome, and the patient’s unique anatomy. Each type of breast lift involves different incision patterns to achieve the best results for individual needs. Here’s an overview of the main types of breast lifts, the incision methods used, and the ideal candidates for each:

    Crescent Lift

    • Incision: A small crescent-shaped incision is made along the upper edge of the areola.
    • Best for: Patients with mild sagging (minimal ptosis) or who want a slight elevation.
    • Details: This technique provides a subtle lift and is often used in combination with breast augmentation to add volume while making minor adjustments to nipple positioning.

    Peri-Areolar (Donut) Lift

    • Incision: A circular incision is made around the areola.
    • Best for: Patients with mild to moderate sagging or who wish to reduce the size of the areola.
    • Details: This method allows for modest reshaping and lifting. The scar blends naturally with the edge of the areola, making it discreet.

    Vertical (Lollipop) Lift

    • Incision: A circular incision around the areola with a vertical incision running down to the breast crease (hence the “lollipop” shape).
    • Best for: Patients with moderate sagging and those seeking more dramatic reshaping without an extended incision along the breast crease.
    • Details: This technique reshapes the breast tissue, improves projection, and provides noticeable lifting while maintaining a natural contour.

    Anchor Lift (Inverted-T Lift)

    • Incision: Combines a circular incision around the areola, a vertical incision down to the breast crease, and a horizontal incision along the breast crease.
    • Best for: Patients with significant sagging or those with a large amount of excess skin, often after major weight loss or pregnancy.
    • Details: This method allows for maximum lift and reshaping. It’s also ideal for correcting significant asymmetry or repositioning nipples that are far below the breast fold.
    Let’s See

    Breast Lift Before & After Photos

    Combining Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation or Explant

    For many women, a breast lift can be combined with breast augmentation or breast implant removal (explant) to achieve their desired results. This approach allows patients to address multiple concerns in a single procedure, such as enhancing volume, reshaping the breasts, or restoring a more youthful contour after implant removal. Combining these procedures can save recovery time and provide comprehensive results tailored to your aesthetic goals. If you’re considering adding implants for fuller, more symmetrical breasts, learn more on our Breast Augmentation with Lift page. Alternatively, if you’re ready to remove or replace your implants, visit our Breast Explant page to explore your options.

    Breast Lift Surgery Overview

    A breast lift procedure typically lasts between 1 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the surgery and whether additional procedures, such as breast augmentation, are being performed simultaneously. General anesthesia is commonly used during the surgery. After the procedure, most surgeons recommend wearing a compression garment to reduce swelling and fluid buildup. Additionally, you may be fitted with surgical drains, which are usually removed within a few days. It’s normal to experience minor pain, bruising, swelling, and numbness, which generally subside within a few weeks. Most patients can return to work approximately one week after the surgery, but it’s crucial to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for 4–6 weeks.

    What to Expect After Breast Lift Surgery

    While results are typically noticeable immediately after the procedure, it can take several weeks to months for the breasts to settle into their final position. Scarring is to be expected; although scars will fade over time, some may remain visible. It’s also important to note that a breast lift cannot stop the natural effects of aging, and the results may diminish over time. Patients are often advised to complete pregnancy and breastfeeding before undergoing a breast lift, as these events can lead to a recurrence of ptosis (sagging), potentially reversing the benefits of the procedure.

    Breast Lift Surgery Risks

    Because it is a surgical procedure, a breast lift carries all the risks associated with surgery, including bleeding, scarring, infection, and the possibility of adverse reaction to anaesthesia. Additional risks specific to breast lift include loss of sensitivity, nipple necrosis, or loss of breastfeeding ability. These complications are rare in healthy individuals.

    Breast Lift FAQ

    What is a breast lift?
    A breast lift is a surgical procedure designed to correct breast sagging or drooping, modifying the contour and elevation of the female breasts and contributing to an overall appearance of lifted, shapelier, firmer breasts.
    Why do women undergo breast lift procedures?
    With age, menopause, weight gain/loss, following pregnancy and breastfeeding, or due to genetic factors, many women experience a condition known as breast ptosis, or sagging. Many women find this condition unpleasant and become dissatisfied with the appearance of their breasts, potentially leading to a loss of self-confidence. Women with excess skin and sagging breasts who don’t necessarily require an increase in volume may choose to undergo breast lift procedures in order to restore tightness and firmness to their breasts.
    What causes breast sagging?
    Breasts can change due to a number of factors. Skin naturally loses elasticity with age and the ligaments which hold the breasts in place begin to loosen and weaken. Some women find that their breasts expand during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and become saggy when they shrink back to their pre-pregnancy size. Similarly, some women experience breast sagging following breast implant removal. Weight loss and menopause may also lead to breast ptosis.
    How do I know if I need a breast lift?
    Breast ptosis is graded on a scale from mild to severe, which measures the position of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold, or breast crease. Patients with moderate to severe ptosis may be good candidates for a breast lift.
    What are some of the risks of a breast lift?
    A breast lift is a surgical procedure and carries all the risks of any surgery, such as those associated with infection, bleeding, scarring, and anaesthesia. A breast lift may also interfere with future breastfeeding ability. Other risks include loss of sensitivity and nipple necrosis, but these complications are rare in the hands of an experienced surgeon.
    How long does a breast lift procedure take to perform?
    A breast lift is a highly variable procedure that can take anywhere between one and four hours to perform, depending on the type and extent of work required.
    What type of anaesthesia is used for a breast lift?
    A breast lift is usually performed under general anaesthesia.
    What types of incisions are used for a breast lift?
    The typical incision pattern for a breast lift is anchor-shaped, incorporating a periareolar incision (around the border of the areola), a vertical incision from the areola to the inframammary fold, and a horizontal incision along the inframammary fold or breast crease. Variations of this incision pattern include a “lollipop” incision, which incorporates only the periareolar and vertical incisions, a “crescent” incision that is made above the areola, or a “donut” incision which involves the removal of a concentric ring of flesh around the areola. These variations are used in cases of less severe breast ptosis.
    Will I experience scarring following a breast lift?
    The incision patterns used for a breast lift are designed to minimize visible scarring. However, because a breast lift is slightly more invasive than a breast augmentation, you may experience some scarring. Scars usually follow a similar healing pattern. In the case of a full breast lift, the periareolar scar is hidden by the darker skin of the areola, the vertical scar is hidden in the lower breast hemisphere, and the inframammary scar is hidden in the breast crease. Of the three, the vertical scar between the areola and breast crease tends to remain the most visible, while the inframammary scar tends to be the thickest. While most scars do fade with time, patients are advised that some scarring may always be visible following a breast lift.
    What is the recovery time following a breast lift?
    Most women are able to return to work within a week following a breast lift, although heavy lifting and other strenuous activity should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks. Minor pain, bruising, swelling, and tenderness can be expected in the days following the procedure, and can be treated with prescription pain medication. Your doctor may recommend a compression garment to prevent excess swelling and fluid buildup.
    Does a breast lift hurt?
    The procedure itself is performed under anaesthesia and is therefore painless. Some mild pain, swelling, bruising, and tenderness is to be expected following the procedure, and can be treated with prescription pain medication.
    Can I breastfeed following a breast lift?
    While every effort will be made to retain sensation and function, because a breast lift is a delicate procedure, there is a risk of severing milk ducts and therefore inhibiting breastfeeding function following a breast lift procedure. Women are furthermore advised to complete all breastfeeding prior to undergoing a breast lift, as there is a risk that further breastfeeding will reverse the results.
    Will I lose sensation following a breast lift?
    In most cases, there will be little loss of sensation following a breast lift. However, because of the nature of the procedure and the abundance of nerves in the surgical area, permanent loss of sensation is always a risk. Some temporary numbness and tingling is normal following the procedure, but it should subside within a few weeks.
    What kind of results can I expect following a breast lift?
    While some results should be immediately evident following a breast lift, it may take weeks or even months for the final results to be apparent. While it is important to maintain realistic expectations, many women find a breast lift to be an effective procedure for restoring breast tightness and reversing breast ptosis. Patients report that their breasts felt lifted, firmer, and more toned, and that their nipples were elevated and perkier than before the procedure. Some women report improved self-confidence and body image.
    Can I combine a breast lift with a breast augmentation/reduction?
    Yes, these procedures are commonly combined, although combining procedures may slightly lengthen surgery time and make for a longer, more difficult recovery.
    Can I get a breast lift without implants?
    Yes. If you have adequate breast volume and simply want to firm and tone your breast area, a breast lift alone may be sufficient to deliver the desired result.
    Will my results be permanent?
    Patients are advised that the results of a breast lift are not always permanent, and may be adversely affected by weight gain/loss, subsequent pregnancies or breastfeeding, and aging.
    How do I know if a breast lift is right for me?
    If you are in generally good health, a non-smoker, and have excess skin or breast sagging but aren’t looking to increase breast volume, a breast lift procedure is a safe, effective way to restore some of the tightness lost through aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss.
    360 Sleeve Clinic Consultation

    At Clinic 360, our patient consultants will provide you with honest answers and complete assessments to ensure that all your questions and concerns are properly addressed.

    We are thrilled to provide efficient and convenient treatment options for our patients from out of town and abroad.

     

    Alina Tsymbalarou

    Manager

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