Breast Lift Overview

A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure to correct sagging and drooping of the breasts. A woman's breasts may start to sag as she gets older, and this drooping may be compounded by pregnancy and breastfeeding. Gravity and time can also take their toll. A breast lift returns the breasts to a younger-looking position and appearance.

A plastic surgeon can combine a breast lift with the insertion of breast implants to enhance the shape and size of the breasts for women who have lost volume. However, a woman who needs a breast lift should not get breast implants without a lift since the weight of the implants can cause further drooping of the breasts.

There are several techniques used to correct sagging of the breasts. Which one you and your surgeon choose depends on how much your breasts sag. The more minimal surgeries can correct only minimal sagging, while more extensive lifts can deal with breasts that have sagged a great deal.

The other major difference in the techniques is that the more extensive lifts also involve longer and more extensive incisions and therefore more scarring. There is no getting around the fact that a breast lift will leave some scarring. Although most plastic surgeons try to place the incisions as inconspicuously as possible, some people (especially smokers) are more likely to have conspicuous scars.

There are basically four types of breast lifts:

The Crescent Lift provides the minimal amount of lifting and is good for breasts with just a bit of sagging. The surgeon makes an incision around the bottom half of the areola around each nipple. He or she then removes a crescent-shaped piece of skin around the bottom of the areola and closes the incision. The removal of the crescent of tissue pulls the breast upward slightly. Because the incision is at the edge of the areola, it is often inconspicuous.

The Periareolar or Donut Lift can correct a bit more droopiness than the crescent lift. The surgeon makes an incision completely around the areola at the edge and then another, wider circular incision. The donut-shaped piece of skin (and perhaps some subcutaneous fat) between the incisions is removed. The outer edge of the skin is then gathered slightly to fit the inner incision line, which lifts the breast. As with the crescent lift, the scar is at the edge of the areola and is usually inconspicuous.

The Lollipop or Benelli Lift can correct a moderately sagging breast. A keyhole shaped incision is made around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the crease under the breast. Skin and tissue are removed and the incision is closed up. In addition to any scarring around the areola, there is a vertical scar down to the crease under the breast. It gets its name because the incision looks like a lollipop after it is closed up.

The Anchor Lift is a full mastopexy and completely reshapes a severely drooping breast. The incision is like the lollipop lift, but the incision is then extended to either side along the crease under the breast. After tissue and skin have been removed and the incision is closed, the scar looks like an anchor, hence the name.

Most breast lifts can be done on an outpatient basis and you go home the same day as your surgery. The length of the surgery depends on how much correction is needed, but is usually between 1.5 to 4 hours, longer if breast augmentation is also performed.

Although a crescent lift may be done under light sedation, most breast lift procedures are performed under general anesthesia.

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