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Breast Lift

Breast Lift

If you are happy with the size of your breasts but not the appearance, a mastopexy, or breast lift, is the surgical solution. With the help of a breast lift, our patients can achieve perkier breasts and eliminate frustrating sagging.

Over time, the effects of gravity, along with the loss of the skin’s natural elasticity, begin to have an effect on the appearance of a woman’s breasts.

These factors, combined with pregnancies and nursing, will often cause the breasts to lose their youthful shape and firmness. Breast droop can occur from many causes; pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight gain and loss can all cause breast droop.

If you want a larger size and a reduction in sagging, that can be achieved with implants alone or with a breast lift and implants. An implant is needed for a lot of superior fullness. Breast implants inserted in conjunction with a mastopexy procedure can increase firmness, superior fullness, and size.

Methods of Correcting Breast Sag

Correction for breast ptosis depends on the degree of droop. For mild degrees of droop, simple enlargement of the breasts with an implant may be all that is needed.

For moderate degrees of droop, a shaped implant that is anatomically shaped like a teardrop may partially or totally correct the droop. The implant may be placed in the bi-planar position, partly covered by muscle, which helps correct droop.

If you have a small amount of droop or loss of fullness and do not wish an implant, breast fat grafting can be done. Fat grafting usually increases the breast by one half cup size and can add superior fullness.

The greatest degree of droop is not correctable by either of these methods and would require a breast lift to correct the droop.

Other breast shape problems include the tubular breast deformity (the breast is more tube-shaped and based on a very narrow base) or an underformed breast, where the inferior portion of the breast is very tiny compared to the superior part of the breast. These issues often require a mastopexy or use of an expandable breast implant.

The breast lift also can reduce the size of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple).

A Breast Lift with Implants

If you are happy with your breast size, a breast lift without implants may be all that is needed. However, if you wished to enlarge the breasts significantly, you may benefit from a breast augmentation with lift.

It might be better to do the breast lift and the augmentation as two separate operations for several reasons. The lift is trying to tighten the breast and the implants are expanding the breast. The increased complications of the two procedures together must be balanced against the increased cost of two separate procedures.

A larger implant usually is best done as a separate operation after the breast lift. A small implant may not give fullness. An expandable saline implant can be placed with the breast lift and expanded after the breast has healed.

Types of Breast Lift

Mini Breast Lift (Donut scar lift, Benelli Lift)

A more attractive-looking breast can be achieved with a mini-lift that uses a shaped implant and the scar is limited to just around the nipple. The incision around the nipple alone draws up the skin in a draw string purse fashion and will take time to flatten and improve, and sometimes needs revision.

Short Scar Mastopexy (Breast Lift)

This version of the full lift has an “L” shaped scar. It avoids the medial scar or scar closest to the cleavage. It is best for smaller breasts or thinner women. It has more superior fullness and less “bottoming out” over time but does have a higher touch-up rate. It also does not look as good at first, since less skin is removed and you need time for it to resume the better shape.

Mastopexy (T-Shaped Scars)

This is a full lift that requires an incision around the nipple and an inverted “T”-shaped incision. It has the best initial appearance and is better when tissue is needed to be removed or more lateral shaping is needed.

Breast Lift Patient Experiences

  • “I am very happy with the results of my surgery. I feel so much better with smaller breasts. The staff makes you feel so comfortable.”
    – P.K.
    Individual results may vary


    “This Mastopexy (Breast Lift) has changed the way I feel about myself both physical and mentally. My breast lift is fabulous!”
    – T.J.
    Individual results may vary

The Recovery Process

After the procedure is complete, you will return home to rest and heal. During the recovery process, you will need to follow post-surgical care directions closely. You will need to wear a surgical bra to control swelling and bruising, and time off from work will be required.

Complications include permanent numbness, excessive scarring, revisions of the scars, changes in nipple sensation, and healing problems. You must quit smoking to have a breast lift due to the significantly higher risk of complications.

Other complications include bleeding (hematoma) or infections. Many women react to the dissolvable sutures. Touch ups of the nipple/areola size or shape may be done.

Arrange a Consultation

Genesis Plastic Surgery has the experience needed to give you the best breast lift results possible. To find out more about the breast lift in Davenport, contact our office today for a consultation. During the consultation, you will learn more about price, preparation, and many other aspects of the procedure.

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