Patients seeking a breast lift are looking to remove droopiness and place the breast at a higher place on the chest to achieve a more youthful and full appearance.
This type of procedure might be right for you if you've ever said:
“I wish they looked like they did when I was pregnant!”
Mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty (breast reductions) are essentially the same surgery, but they are performed for different reasons. A lift aims to remove droopiness from the breast to give a perkier appearance or shift volume back to the upper chest. These patients are typically more “deflated” in appearance than a patient seeking a breast reduction. Patients desiring a lift usually have too much breast skin and not enough volume rather than too much breast tissue or heavy breasts that would lead someone to have a breast reduction.
Breast lifts are a common procedure after childbirth and are part of the classic “mommy makeover.” These patients are looking to place the breast at a higher place on the chest to achieve a more youthful and full appearance. This procedure is often combined with an augmentation either with fat grafts or implants to increase the volume of the breast and accentuate the cleavage.
The procedure
All lifts require some incision around the nipple and areola. Some of these are only partial depending on how much lift is necessary. Incisions can be extended vertically down the breast as well as in the breast crease if needed. These are often described as a “lollipop” and “anchor” incision pattern. Breast tissue is then elevated and reshaped to give a perkier and more full appearance to the breasts. Lifts can be performed in the clinic, but sometimes require going to the operating room if combined with more extensive surgery such as tummy tuck or larger liposuction cases.
After surgery
After surgery, you can expect to be sore for a few days. You will need to limit your activity for at least the first 2 weeks, but then you can get back to cardio exercises. For heavy lifting, I recommend at least 4 weeks, but sometimes up to 6 weeks depending on how you’re progressing. Most patients will not require a drain after surgery. The incisions are usually pink and swollen for the first 6 weeks and then fade and soften over the next year. By 3 months after surgery, almost all of the swelling is gone and the scars have faded nicely and you have perky new breasts to enjoy!
