Breast lift surgery is very common. As a woman ages, the effects of gravity and/or childbearing cause the breasts to sag and lose volume. The main factor in determining the need for a lift is the location of the nipple relative to the lower breast crease. If the nipple position is below the lower breast crease, then a lift is necessary to obtain the best breast shape. Even though breast tissue is not removed with a lift, a small implant is often necessary to achieve the most optimal result. If you still desire to have children, then it is probably best to wait on surgery as the skin will simply stretch out again.

If a small lift is needed, an incision only around the areola (pigmented skin) is possible. For the majority of patients, however, an incision extends around the areola, down to the lower breast crease, and occasionally, if needed, for a short distance in that crease. The procedure will also reduce the size of the areola, which has typically stretched out over time.

A breast lift is typically performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. After surgery your breasts will be wrapped with a compressive bandage and you will return to the doctor’s office the following day and checked. You will be placed in a sports bra at that time and can shower that evening. You will need to avoid strenuous activity for the next 4 to 6 weeks.