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Will Breast Lift Decrease the Volume of a Breast?

I had a lumpectomy 3 years ago, that breast sags now and the other one just a little.

Asked 30 months ago by Eva A in Virginia Beach, VA

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lumpectomy volume

Depending on how much skin is removed, you may lose some volume

A breast lift involves removing breast skin, or at least the top layer of skin, and reshaping of the underlying breast mound. Some breasts tend to be more elongated and flatter than the nice round shape that breasts start off with. If a lot of skin has to be removed, in order to develop a nice shaped breast, then a patient may lose as much as a half cup size. This is especially true in larger breasts that have noticeable sagging, where the nipple is at least 1 inch below the inframmary crease. more

Joseph M. Perlman, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

A sagging breast generally appears larger (optical illusion) than a lifted similarly sized breast.

This depends on your preference. In most instances the breast lift will reduce the skin but not necessarily the volume. However, a lifted breast gives the optical illusion of a smaller breast when compared to a sagging (ptotic) breast. IF you desire a reduction, express your wish to your plastic surgeon and it can be accomplished.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Lift and Volume of Breast?

Thank you for the question. Breast lifting surgery involves removal of skin to tighten up the breast skin “envelope”. This skin excision serves to the decrease the breast skin surface area and elevate the breasts on the chest wall. The nipple/areola complexes are moved superiorly as well. Although breast lifting does not necessarily involve removal of any breast tissue/volume, sometimes the breasts “look smaller” after... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast lift can decrease the volume of a breast

A breast lift will excise excess skin or sagging and help recontour the breast mound. To create a significant lift or remove a large amount of sagging tissue, skin and breast tissue must be excised. This process may decrease the volume of the breast. For this reason, a breast lift is best used when the patient's priority is to change the shape or position of the breast. If the patient wants additional volume to the breast, and auto augmentation or a breast lift with... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast lift does not make breasts smaller.

Hi. A well done breast lift definitely does not decrease breast volume. The lift is done internally. The breast tissue is reshaped and moved up. Only a tiny amount of skin is removed.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Typically yes

The goals of the lift are to rais the nipples, even the breasts, shape the breasts, and eliminate the stretched skin. A variable but small amount of breast tissue may also be removed for shaping, or to improve symmetry between breasts. When this is done, the tightened skin envelope compresses breast tissue and raises it, making the breast slightly smaller. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Should not.

Hi, Thank you for your question. A breast lift should not decrease your breast volume too much. However, usually skin (not breast tissue) is removed to lift the breast, so there will be a minimal reduction in size. Your breast may also feel firmer or tighter as the volume of tissue is fit into a smaller area. Best regards, Dr. Speron

Sam Speron, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast volume after mastopexy

Hi Eva, This is a great question. After you undergo a breast lift, particularly one in which a large amount of skin is removed, your breasts may look smaller. Even if breast tissue has not been removed, the breasts are not as droopy, thereby making them look smaller. The overall breast volume, however, will not have changed significantly. As a result, your breasts will be perkier and firmer, and should fill out your existing bras well. Some mastopexies, however, are really small breast... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift will not really decrease breast volume

Hi Eva, 2 questions in one. 1."Will Breast Lift decrease the volume of a breast?" - Not really. A breast lift (mastopexy) removes some breast skin but mostly lifts the breasts making them perkier. It does not add volume and the only volume loss is the little excess skin removed by the procedure which rarely really affects breast size. 2. " had a lumpectomy 3 years ago, that breast sags now and the other one just a little" - If the breasts are otherwise equal in volume... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast lift concentrates the volume, often making the breast seem larger

If only skin is removed, the skin envelope which contains the breast tissue is left smaller after a breast lift. This makes the breast feel fuller and higher on the chest. If your breasts have atrophied following childbirth or because of the lumpectomy, you may also need breast implants for a full breasted look.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast lift and final volume

A breast lift usually does not alter the overall volume too much. However, some skin will be removed and maybe a small amount of breast tissue to provide an adequate contour. It should be a very small amount in most cases.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Does a lift decrease volume?

Eva, although a lift does not decrease the breast volume it does take away skin therefore decreasing the amount of breast. When I see a patient for a breast lift I usually advise them they will lose about 1/2 a cup size although the shape of the breast will be much better and there will be better projection. The breast is tightened internally so it feels firmer and the position of the nipple is much more aesthetic over the apex (high point) of the breast. I am curious if you had a... more

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Steven Schuster, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast lift will not change size of breast

A breast lift will do exactly what it say - lift the breast. When done correctly, it will not change the volume of the breast because no breast tissue is removed or added. The breast will take on the shape of your breasts in a push-up bra - but without the bra! In reality, the breasts may appear slightly larger, because they are "perkier." Also, you will likely need new bras because the shape will be changed slightly - but not the volume. Most people who have drooping breasts... more

Matthew Schulman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast Lift or Mastopexy

A breast lift alone does not appreciably reduce the breast volume. When performing a breast lift alone the breast tissue is repositioned and reshaped to improve the appearance and form of the breast. There is a small amount of skin removed but that volume is minimal – usually less than the volume of a ping pong ball. Thus the actual size and volume of the breast remains essentially the same. There is, however, a visual illusion that the breast is smaller. Prior to a breast lift, the... more

Alexander G. Nein, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast lift

Breast lift can reduce the size of your breast if volume is removed with tissue excision. Alternatively, you can have a volume repositioning procedure which maintains the volume in your breast during the lifting procedure. Good luck with your surgery.

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast lift vs implants for improvement of sagging

If you had a lumpectomy, that breast likely has less tissue than the other. A bilateral breast lift (mastopexy) will lift both breasts to help symetrize them. If needed, a small amount of tissue can also be removed from the larger breast to improve symetry. If you are happy with the size of your breasts in a bra, then a lift alone may suffice. However, some patients choose a modest breast implant to improve the sag instead of the necessary scars which a lift entails. Discuss this with... more

Darrick E. Antell, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Amount vs. volume of breast

A skin tightening breast lift reduces the amount of skin but maintains the amount of breast tissue. However, in the process of lifting the breast, the breast tissue wil usually become compressed into a smaller volume. At this point, the breast feels firmer because of the relationship between volume and pressure. It is similar to wearing a bra or putting on a pair of pants that is smaller in size.. If you have breasts of different amounts with different degrees of sagging, when you do a lift... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast lift versus Breast reduction

Both a breast lift (mastopexy) and a breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) will decrease the extra amount of skin of the breast which will lift the breasts higher on the chest wall and place the nipple back to its correct position. The choice of which procedure to use depends on the patients body and breast characteristics. The goal is to achieve youthful symmetric breasts that fit your body appropriately. This may mean that one breast would undergo no reduction of breast tissue while... more

James C. Grotting, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

A breast lift doesn't have to decrease the volume of the breast gland

if you think of your breast as an envelope of skin(mother natures bra) with breast contents(fat and breast glandular tissue) and a nipple place somewhere. A breast lift or Mastopexy in the simplest way of thinking is making a new bra out of your existing skin. So the answer to your question is NO-the volume doesn't have have to be reduced--only the skin- taking care to preserve circulation to the nipple and place it in an appropriate location