Breast lift is the bonus of breast reduction surgery

A very large overdeveloped breast will almost always have a degree of droop to the breast which surgeons call ptosis. The amount of droop is evaluated by measuring the position of the nipple in relation to the fold or crease under the breast, something like a finger test where you place your finger in the fold and measure the distance above or below this point. The nipple of course is the center proper, not the edge of the areola or colored portion of the skin. The best position is near an inch and a half above the fold. This may also correspond to the middle of your arm at a point your plastic surgeon will refer to as the mid humeral line. In my years of experience with breast reduction the nipple and reduction pattern is marked to provide this lift as the breast is reduced. The correction of the droop or floorward pointing nipple is just as important as size reduction to our patients as they hope for a result that is pretty to look at both in and out of a bra.

After breast reduction the nipple position should be stable and change only little over time. Your breast size can change with weight gain and loss, though the nipple will stay up front and center. This lift is the bonus of a well done breast reduction and is very lasting. Your skin may become a little more lax over time but the shape should hold up just fine.

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Breast reduction or another term called reduction mammaplasty removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate discomfort which is associated with large breasts. It usually leaves the appearance of smaller, lighter and firmer breasts.  Breasts sagging or appear to fall down can be the usual result of normal aging, pregnancy or weight loss.

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A breast reduction involves a breast lift as well. Therefore, you will not have the same sagging as prior to surgery. However, over time, your skin will stretch and the swelling will go away which will make it appear as though the breasts have "fallen". If you review your before and after photos with your surgeon, you will see this progression if you look at the photos 6 weeks post-op and 6 months post-op.

Generally, not much changes after 6 months. Over the long term, however, aging still progresses and you will see signs of aging which will much slower that the post-op changes you see in the first 6 months. You will still be in a better position than before surgery.

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After a breast reduction, the breasts are typically perky and full in the upper pole. After some time the tissues relaxe and the upper pole is less prominent. The nipples should maintain their position. For a mastopexy (breast lift) I recommend a small implant to maintain breast shape long term. This would not be appropriate in a breast reduction.

When performing a breast reduction, it is common to also perform a concommitant breast lift (mastopexy). Typically, we overcorrect, knowing that the breasts will fall over time. Eventually they will settle at a stable point. In the average woman, this occurs about 6-9 months after surgery.

Once you have reached this point, your breasts should remain relatively stable unless  you gain weight, become pregnant, go on hormonal therapy, etc.

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