Need a Lift? 4 Options to Lift Sagging Breasts

Childbirth (breastfeeding) and constant exercise can cause the breasts to sag over time. Many patients inquire about what they can do to lift their breasts. Basically, there are 4 options to lift (aka mastopexy) sagging or ptotic breasts:

1. Breast implants - least amount of lift, but incisions can be very small and hidden very well

2. Periareolar mastopexy - more lift than just breast augmentation, but the incision goes all the way around the areola

3. Vertical (lollipop) mastopexy - great breast lift option that also restores projection to your breasts, but the incision goes around the areola as well as extending down from the 6 o'clock position on the areola

4. Wise pattern (anchor) mastopexy - greatest amount of lift achieved, but the incisions go around the areola, straight down vertically, and along the inframammary fold underneath the breast

Typically, if breast implants are chosen, I place the breast implants in first and then perform the lift. If I can stay away from the vertical portion then so much the better, but I do explain to my patients that several decisions can only be made in the operating room once the implants are placed. This is because it can be difficult to determine how the skin and breast tissue will react to the implant and different types of mastopexy. Either way, a breast lift should be an "uplifting" experience!