Breast Lift

Surgical Technique

During a breast lift surgery, incisions will be made around the skin-color line of the areola. The incision may either extend vertically down to the crease of the breast and end, or further extend horizontally, following the crease of the breast. How extensive the incision will be depends on how much skin must be removed. The excess skin will be trimmed away and the underlying tissues tightened. The remaining skin will be stretched up and closed with sutures. An implant placed underneath the chest muscle may also supplement the lift, as it can provide additional support to keep the improved projection in place.

Incision Types

Women who contemplate undergoing breast lift surgery often wonder what the incisions will look like and how bad the scarring will be after the procedure. The incisions vary depending on how severe the breast sagging is and how much tissue volume is present. The most common incisions are noted below.

• Incision made along the line surrounding the areola;
• Incision made along the line surrounding the areola, plus a vertical incision down to the natural crease below the breast;
• Incision made along the line surrounding the areola, plus a vertical incision down to the natural crease below the breast, and another horizontal line following the direction of the breast fold.

During/After the Surgery

Breast lift surgery is performed using general anesthesia at an accredited surgery facility. On average, the procedure may last up to 2 hours. The recovery will vary as some patients will have had a breast lift done in combination with a reduction surgery or breast augmentation. Regardless, patients will be encouraged to move around within the first 48 hours. Activities such as carrying heavy objects or any activity that puts pressure on the chest must be avoided. Most patients can resume normal activities within a couple of weeks, but exercise should not be attempted for 6-8 weeks. There will be some scarring associated with this procedure, but with extra care they will heal and fade, and many patients feel they become secondary to a more beautiful breast shape.