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Breast lift



Mastopexy (breast lift) with breast augmentation is a combination procedure that lifts sagging breasts while increasing their size and enhancing their shape. Aging, pregnancy, weight loss and gravity can all cause breasts to sag. When sagging cannot be corrected by implants alone, augmentation mastopexy may be recommended. During mastopexy alone, excess skin is trimmed away, supporting tissue is tightened, the breasts are “lifted” to sit higher on the chest, and the nipple and areola are repositioned or resized. By adding augmentation with implants to the procedure, the breasts can also be made larger and firmer.

Joyful older women playing with hula-hoops


Reasons to have breast lift surgery

Having uplifted breasts with a pleasing shape can improve a woman’s confidence and self-image. The following circumstances are often unavoidable and can result in a breast appearance that is less than ideal.

 

Aging

As we age, our skin loses collagen and elastin — structural proteins that keep the skin firm and tight. As these proteins deteriorate over time, the skin stretches more easily and loses its ability to return to its original form. This leads to thin, loose breast skin that cannot support the tissues and often results in sagging or pendulous breasts.


Weight loss

Weight gain causes the breast skin to stretch to accommodate for the increase in volume due to excess fat cells. After weight loss, the skin is often unable to shrink back completely because it has been stretched too much or for too long. This can result in breasts with loose, wrinkled skin and a deflated shape.


Pregnancy

Similar to weight gain, pregnancy causes the breasts to swell and the skin to stretch to accommodate for the increase in size. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts can return to their pre-pregnancy size but may have loose skin or change shape.




Breast lift surgery corrects sagging, pendulous breasts by removing excess fat and breast tissue and tightening the skin. The breasts are raised to a higher position, made firmer, and shaped into a more youthful contour.

Breast lift options

Crescent Lift

  • Ideal For:  Slight sagging
  • Technique:  A crescent of tissue above the top of the areola is removed
  • Benefit:  Least invasive; produces inconspicuous scarring

Benelli Lift

  • Ideal For:  Minimal sagging and slight nipple asymmetry
  • Technique:  A doughnut-shaped area of tissue around the areola is removed
  • Benefit:  Produces inconspicuous scarring around the areolas

Lollipop Lift

  • Ideal For:  Moderate sagging and stretched nipples
  • Technique:  A lollipop-shaped incision around the nipple and down to the breast crease is used to remove excess tissue
  • Benefit:  Effectively lifts low-hanging breasts

Anchor Lift

  • Ideal For:  Moderate or severely sagging, pendulous breasts
  • Technique:  A lollipop-shaped incision that also extends along the breast crease is used to remove excess tissue
  • Benefit:  Provides the most significant lift to the breasts


Athletic woman kayaking at the lake on a summer day

Candidates for breast lift surgery

Good candidates for augmentation mastopexy have sagging breasts that have lost fullness at the top. Candidates must be in good overall health, maintain a stable weight, and have realistic expectations about what augmentation mastopexy can do. A woman who chooses to undergo augmentation mastopexy is unhappy with her breast size, and has one or more of the following:

  • Sagging breasts
  • Breasts that have lost shape or volume
  • Breasts that are flat or elongated
  • Nipples or areolas pointing downward
  • One breast lower than the other
A woman planning to have (more) children should not undergo augmentation mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing can counteract its benefits.



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Breast lift procedure details

Breast lift FAQ

How much does a breast lift cost?

The cost of a breast lift will depend on several factors, including how much ptosis (drooping) is present and the surgical technique to be used. A quote for the procedure can be provided after a consultation appointment with Dr. Yonker.

Is a breast lift covered by health insurance?

Most health insurance companies do not cover the costs of a breast lift, as this procedure is usually for cosmetic purposes only and not deemed medically necessary by insurance.

How is breast augmentation different than a breast lift?

A breast lift does not add volume to the breasts. The goal of a breast lift is to return the breasts to a higher position on the chest. Breast lifts remove excess sagging skin to eliminate any flattening that has occurred as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding or simply from natural aging. In most breast lifts, the nipple complex can be moved higher to match the new breast position.

Because breast lifts don’t add volume, many women opt to have a breast lift with augmentation. That way the sagging skin is removed and the breasts are brought back up on the chest, plus volume is added with implants. It is possible to add augmentation to a breast lift because the implants can be inserted through incisions already made for the breast lift.

How long will breast lift results last?

The resulting uplifted breast position and improved breast shape will be long lasting. However, the breasts will continue to age naturally and may be affected by weight fluctuations.

Although there are instances in which they last much longer, breast implants have a life expectancy of about 10 years, so women who want to maintain the size and shape of their breasts should expect to undergo a number of surgeries to maintain results.