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Breast

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

 

Home/ Breast/Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

As we age, gravity, pregnancy, and nursing all take their toll on the elasticity and shape of the breast. You may notice your breasts

A breast lift will raise and reshape the breast.

Mastopexies vary widely. An analysis is done of your breast shape, skin elasticity, and breast volume. For some, just a lift is needed. For others who have lost volume or have small breasts, breast augmentation can be performed in conjunction with the mastopexy to give the desired volume and shape. There are different kinds of lifts, with different locations and amount of scar.

do i need an implant?

Do you need to use an implant if you do a breast lift?  This is an area where you will see differences in opinion.

I think you need an implant only if you want to be bigger.  I do not think you need an implant for shape.

  • If you are smaller than you want to be, you need a breast implant.
    • The implant gives you the size you want.
    • Also an implant will give more fullness, particularly in the upper part of the breast and cleavage.
    • In this case, the potential negatives of an implant are overcome by the great positives of volume and shape the implant provides.
  • If you are the size you want, I tend to recommend just a lift, with no implant.
    • An implant guarantees you a second surgery at some point.
    • Implants turn hard, deflate, get infected.
    • Implants do not age as natural tissue ages.  Please see my blogs on the snoopy or waterfall deformity.
    • The vertical lift, in my hands, can give a great shape. I have patients whose friends think they have implants, not a simple lift.
    • If you are a C cup or higher, please consider the issue of tissue vs. implant aging.  You will need a future operation if you use an implant.

Many older surgeons, particularly those who do the anchor lift, believe you need an implant for shape. I would respectfully disagree.

types of breast lifts

The periareolar lift, donut scar, only around the areola.

  • Also known as the Benelli or donut mastopexy, involves a scar just around the areola.
  • This is appropriate for a small lift only. When I use it, it tends to be for a small repositioning of the nipple.
  • The issue? The permanent suture around the areola, it flattens the breast (poor shape), it is a skin lift- not the same internal suturing, a tendency for the skin to bunch and wrinkle if too much lift is needed, and the areola can widen if the suture fails.

The vertical lift, which I also refer to as the lollipop, is my favorite lift.

  • I find it allows me to reshape the breast in addition to lifting. This shaping gives a firmness and roundness to the breast.
  • I do internal suturing which helps hold the shape and lift.
  • The scar is smaller than the traditional anchor scar lift. The scars are flat and tend to fade well with time.
  • It has better longevity with the lift due to the internal sutures.

The inferior pedicle, an anchor scar.

  • Also known as Wise technique is likely still the most common lift.
  • This leaves you with an anchor style scar, so in addition to the scar around the areola and vertical scar, you have a long scar running the length of your underwire.  This can keloid or be visible near the cleavage or axilla.
  • This is the traditional technique and was the workhorse of breast lifts and reductions for over 30 years.
  • I rarely do this technique anymore. I like the shorter scar, shaping, and better longevity I find with the vertical technique.
“She did an awesome job on giving me my body back; my breasts haven’t looked so good since I was in my early 20s. She is caring and responsive and I would highly recommend her to anyone. Her work on helping me fix what the babies did to my body, particularly by breasts, really transformed not just my body but my attitude. I am so confident now and happy with my body, which I have not been in more years than I can remember. The results are worth it! ” – E., Breast Lift and Liposuction patient, Atherton C
*Individual results may vary
View More Testimonials

Breast Lift Blogs

COMBINED BREAST LIFT AND IMPLANT. SHOULD YOU DO IT?

WHAT IS THE SNOOPY OR WATERFALL BREAST DEFORMITY?

WHAT IS THE VOLUME (IN CC) OF A CUP SIZE?

WHAT MAKES A BREAST LIFT LAST?

Breast Lift Blog

Preparation and Recovery

  • During your breast lift consultation at my office, we will review your goals and the possible ways of achieving them.
  • It is best to lift and tighten after you have had kids and breastfed.
  • Try to be at your ideal weight before surgery. If you lose weight later, you may loosen your lift.
  • If over the age of 35, get a baseline mammogram. It is best to evaluate any abnormalities, do biopsies, etc before having a surgery.
  • The surgery lasts about three hours.
  • Recovery time is one week off work.

cost of a breast lift

What is the cost of doing a breast lift?

Here in the Bay Area in Silicon Valley, the cost of a breast lift is around $13,000 – $15,000 dollars.  This estimate for Palo Alto includes surgeon fee, operating room, and anesthesia. This does not include the cost of an implant.  If you are doing a lift with an implant, expect the cost to go up $1500-$2500, depending on the type of implant you choose.

Why do costs vary?