Breast Lift: Q&A

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What is a Benelli Lift?

I've been considering a breast lift and trying to do some research, but a lot of terms are thrown around like I should know what they mean. What is a Benelli lift? Who is a good candidate for a Benelli lift?

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Seek an experienced breast surgeon

Just because you can spout the terms doesn't mean you either know about the procedure or that it will be helpful. Be examined by a good plastic surgeon who will explain the alternatives of your surgery and will tell you what will be best for you.

Benelli Breast Lift

The French surgeon, Louis Benelli, described a procedure in which the excess skin of a saggy breast was removed by removing the outer donut around the bull's eye of the breast (IE nipple) and the lifting occurred when the outer circle was pulled to the inner circle with "round block" interweaving stitching. The limitations of this operation are that it is only applicable to very small sagging. When attempted on larger breast sagging it ALWAYS flattens the breast and if the sutures... more

Benelli Lift

A Benelli Lift is named after Louis Benelli who described the procedure in 1990 and has been also called the "round-block", circumareolar, concentric, periareolar, "donut or doughnut" lift. Although it describes a very specific procedure (reference below) the original technique has been largely abandonedand has been used as a generic reference for a breast lift with the scar limited to around the areola. In it's original description, it included modification of the... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Benelli Breast Lift

A word of caution: many surgeons perform what they call a 'circumareolar' (or 'donut' or 'Benelli' ) mastopexy. In my opinion there is absolutely no such thing as a 'circumareolar mastopexy'. Removing skin around the areola may enable a surgeon to elevate the position of the nipple/areola complex perhaps 1-2 cm on the breast mound, but it DOES NOT lift the breast itself. In most cases, unfortunately, it serves to distort the shape of the breasts, making them appear flattened at the top. If... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

No one is a good candidate for a Benelli lift.

A Benelli lift is a type of periareolar lift that relies on an incision around the areola. The problem is that there is quite a bit of tension afterward that tends to distort the areola, and very little improvement in breast sagging. The surgeon is placing the incision where he or she wants to place it, but not where it needs to be! The vertical technique is a good alternative. Few experienced plastic surgeons use the periareolar technique anymore because of numerus... more

What Is the Benelli Lift?

Louis Benelli, a Parisian plastic surgeon, described a form of breast lifting with the only scar being around the edge of the areola. If you go to my website, breastimplantcenterofhawaii.com, on the bottom left hand side is a link to a YouTube video describing the Benelli mastopexy in great detail. In the right hands, this lift is a very valuable surgical procedure for minimal scarring in conjunction with breast lifting. We plastic surgeons have our own set of coded... more

Benelli Lift?

The Benelli breast lift involves removing skin completely around the areola. This circumferential excision involves more skin excision superiorly and inferiorly, allowing for the nipple/areola to be moved up. It is a useful breast lift for a limited number of patients given that only a small degree of breast lifting can be achieved with the technique. Also, the breast profile (side view) tends to flatten with this procedure. Sometimes, areolar spreading can occur... more

Benelli Lifts affect projection

As mentioned by the many posters, Benelli lifts are useful in very limited situations and for very modest lifts. It is simply another tool for surgones to achieve a rejuvenated apperance to your breast but I personally find that it has a tendency to flatten/diminish nipple projection and the scarring is not always as desired. You have to make sure your surgeon is experienced in this procedure and if promises are made, get it in writing.

Curtis Wong, MD

7 reviews

Redding Plastic Surgeon

Benelli lift

The history has been answered by the other posters in detail. As for who is a candidate, I recommend mild ptosis or a distance from the sternal notch to nipple of 24 cm or less. Also I have done a 2 staged Benilli with great results though this is very unusual. From MIAMI

Benelli lift

A Benelli lift is a breast lift procedure encompassing a circumareola approach and breast molding to improve the appearance of the breast for only moderately ptotic breasts.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Benelli breast lift

As has been described by my collegues below, Benelli lift is a form of breast lift that is used to remove some skin and reposition the nipple areola on the breast. Also known as peri-areolar breast lift, it is best used in combination with a breast augmentation. The implant can be placed through the same incision.

Benelli breast lift leaves scars around nipples only.

Hi. This type of breast lift is useful for women with mild sagging and when it is done together with breast implants. For severe sagging you need vertical (Lejour) lift with lollipop scars.

Benelli breast lift is useful but not for everyone

In 1991 I had the privilege of scrubbing in on a case with Dr. Benelli, the French surgeon who pioneered the donut breast lift. It was helpful to learn from the master but over the years I have come to appreciate the limitations of the procedure too. It has the very appealing benefit of doing a lift with the only scar around the outer edge of the areola, where it is typically very inconspicuous. However, it tends to flatten the breast a bit, and this can be overcome to some degree with an... more

Benelli lift = periareolar lift = donut mastopexy

While the Benelli lift was named by the doctor who described it, today the term is interchangeable for periareolar or donut lifts. The best candidate needs a implant because this doesn't improve breast shape without one. The nipple should be no lower than the lowest point of the crease below the breast and the nipple must not be pointing down.