How is a breast lift performed?
Mastopexy is typically an outpatient procedure. There are several techniques for removing breast skin and reshaping breasts that determine the incision locations and resulting scars. Below outlines the general steps for a breast lift; however, these steps may vary depending on the technique you and your aesthetic plastic surgeon decide on.
- Your surgeon will make incisions that follow your breasts' natural contour (see breast lift options section below).
- Your surgeon removes excess breast skin and shifts the nipple to a higher position. (The nipple is NOT removed from the body.)
- If you have a stretched areola, your surgeon will reduce its size.
- Your surgeon then reshapes your breast by bringing the skin located above your areola down and together, beneath your breast.
- Your surgeon removes excess skin, reshapes the breast with sutures, and closes the incisions which tightens the skin.
- You will have scars hidden under your breasts, and you may have some light scarring on top of your breast.
- Your nipples and areolas will remain attached to underlying mounds of tissue to preserve sensation and the ability to breastfeed.
- In some patients, it may be possible to avoid the horizontal incision beneath the breast and the vertical incision that runs from the bottom edge of the areola to the breast crease. If you are a good candidate for a modified technique, your aesthetic plastic surgeon will discuss this with you.
What are my breast lift options?
There are several different incision patterns and techniques. Your aesthetic plastic surgeon will select a technique based on your breast size and shape, areola size and position, degree of breast sagging, skin quality, skin elasticity, and how much extra skin you have. In general, the more incisions the surgeon makes, the greater the ability the surgeon has to modify the breast.
The "Anchor" Incision
Your surgeon makes an incision around the perimeter of the areola, vertically down from the areola to the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease. If you have a severe degree of sagging or are getting a breast reduction with your breast lift, your surgeon will likely recommend this approach. This technique produces the greatest lift, but also leaves the most scars.
IMAGE IMAGE CAPTION:An “anchor” incision is around the areola and then vertically down and under the breast crease.
The "Keyhole" Incision (also known as a "lollipop" lift)
Your surgeon makes an incision around the perimeter of the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease. If you have a moderate degree of sagging and do not want breast implants, your surgeon will likely recommend this approach. This technique produces moderate scarring.
IMAGE IMAGE CAPTION: A “keyhole” incision is around the areola and then vertically down to the breast crease.
The "Donut" Incision (also known as a "periareolar” incision)
Your surgeon makes an incision around the perimeter of your areola only. If you have a mild degree of sagging or asymmetric areolas, your surgeon may recommend this approach. Very skilled, board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons may be able to successfully perform this technique on patients with more pronounced sagging in conjunction with breast implants. This technique produces the least amount of scarring.
IMAGE IMAGE CAPTION: A “donut” incision is around the areola.
The "Crescent" Incision
This technique is less common. Your surgeon makes an incision along the upper half of the areola, removes a crescent-shaped piece of skin above that line, and reattaches the areola to the surrounding skin. If you have minor sagging or are getting a breast lift in conjunction with breast augmentation, your surgeon may recommend this approach. You will not get the same degree of lifting with this approach as you would with other incision techniques.
IMAGE IMAGE CAPTION: A “crescent” incision is around the upper half of the areola.
The "Scarless" Lift
If you are concerned more about your breasts’ volume than sagging, your surgeon may recommend a “scarless” procedure. This option is the least common, as it’s very difficult to achieve a scarless result, and it is appropriate for only a minimal amount of sagging. You also have the option to combine your mastopexy procedure with breast implants. Your surgeon may recommend Thermage, Smart Lipo, or Quill Threads to lift the breasts with minimal scarring. However, these options all require incisions of some sort, no matter how small or well-hidden. If you have very little sagging, this may be a good option for you; however, you will not have the same amount of lift as the other techniques, and the results are not as long-lasting.