Can I Get a Breast Lift Without Huge Scars?

All of the I have seen on this site show that the women have huge, long scars afterward. I want a breast lift but I don't want huge scars! Is there any way to get the lift with some other incision that won't run all the way from my areola to my breast fold? Are there alternatives like some sort of mini breast lift?

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We hate scars as much as you do!

If we could avoid breast lift scars, we would. When we can reduce their length, we do. But they are there for a reason. The brief answer to your question is that yes, breast lifts can be done with a scar only around the areola. But depending upon your breast shape and size, that may not give an ideal shape. The history of breast lift surgery (and breast reduction, too) is really a journey into finding a better pattern of scars for removing the excessive skin, so that there is an optimal... more

Minimal Scar Breast Lift

In the past, breast lift was performed in the same manner as breast reduction, except for removing the extra breast tissue. The scar looked like an anchor, around the areola, down the breast, and across the loser breast. Newer understanding has allowed surgeons to appreciate the specific factors that lead to breast droopi loss of skin tone, laxity of Cooper' s ligaments (internal support tissue), and breast volume loss. The keys to a successful breast lft include: 1.... more

Minimal Breast Lift Scars

If you have breasts that sag only a small degree, you do have two options to correct the problem while leaving only small scars. The first option is the Crescent Mastopexy, which removes skin from the upper area of the areola, leaving a minimal scar around the outer edge of the upper areola. The second option is the Concentric, or Doughnut, Mastopexy. This procedure will correct breasts with slightly more ptosis. Your surgeon will remove skin from both above, as well... more

You CAN get a breast lift without huge scars

Hi, Yes, there is a technique that allows your breasts to be lifted regardless of how saggy you are without visible scars. With this procedure the scars are hidden around the areola and under the breast mound. There is no vertical scar. Your breast mound is reconstructed into a cone and permanently fixed to your chest muscles. This allows the lift to be supported by more than just the skin envelope, and therefore making your lift more permanent. Breasts are firm and perky much like... more

Types of incisions for lift candidates

The type of incision indicated to provide the results the patient would like to achieve will depend on the severity and complexity of each particular case. Consulting with a board certified platic surgeon, will allow you to discuss the best and safest possible option for you. In some cases, some women may benefit from a limitied lift, also known as a "benelli" lift. This involves an incision around the areola only, or a "donut" incision. This allows the areola to be... more

Breast lifts and scars

It is not possible to perform a good, long-lasting breast lift (mastopexy) without leaving some form of scar. The more minimal breast lifts that involve just a circular incision around the areola often times give only a minimal result and can sometimes distort or flatten the breast shape. For a more involved breast lift, you may require an incision from the areola down to the breast crease, this is referred to as a lollipop incision (vertical mastopexy). The scar is more involved however... more

Breast Lift Using a Vertical Incision

The 'vertical scar' breast lift For several years I have been using a 'vertical scar' technique for most breast reductions, which eliminates the long, horizontal incision in the inframammary fold below the breasts. I have also adapted this technique for breast lift surgery, and have been extremely pleased with the results. As with breast reduction patients, this new technique not only eliminates the horizontal incision, but also creates more impressive breast projection... more

Michael Law, MD

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Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Scars depend on the surgeon and the patient

As answered by many of my colleagues, the amount of sagging and the size of your breasts determine the number of scars necessary to properly lift your breasts. Trying to do a major lift with minimal scars is like trying to hem a dress with only one or two stitches--it won't work! Many types of breast lift exist, each trying to give a nice shape and as few scars as possible. You cannot shape a breast properly with only a few scars, regardless of whatever is done inside the breast,... more

Mini Lift = Mini Results

There are always tradeoffs with surgery. It is too easy to delude yourself into a procedure or treatment that is "less invasive," less expensive, with less scar, and faster recovery that will give the same result. Rarely (if ever) true. Wanting it to be so isn't enough to make it so. Make sure your surgeon understands your expectations and the planned surgery is the best one to likely meet those expectations. If not, are the tradeoffs worth it to you?... more

Breast Lift Without Large Scars

The type of breast lift performed primarily depends on the amount of breast sagging that needs to be addressed. The absolute minimal scar is called a 'crescent' lift and involves a small scar (half circle) over the top of the areola. This provides only a very small lift and is not used very often. Most breast lifts involve incisions that go around the areola (a full circle) and possibly a vertical scar ('lollipop' incision that extends directly down... more

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Farhad Rafizadeh, MD 23 Feb 2013

There are several techniques in performing a breast lift (mastopexy) and breast reduction. Traditionally an anchor shape or inverted T shaped closure is used to create an ideal breast shape. Several other closure patterns have been popularized in order to limit the scaring on the breast, but it is important to understand that these techniques do not necessarily produce the same results. Shorter scars is obviously desirable and is the reason many patients may opt for these options, but it is important for the plastic surgeon to have a discussion with the patient about the differences in the end results and shape. There is no question the the anchor technique will give the plastic surgeon the best control of the breast shape. He or she can create additional projection by removing more skin in the vertical direction and narrow the base of the breast. The curvature of the breast profile between the nipple and the infra mammary fold can be controlled by the horizontal skin excision. The periareolar skin resection will control the nipple projection. The vertical technique does not reduce the distance between the nipple and the infra mammary fold even though the parenchymal manipulations and shaping can reduce that distance to a certain extent, the lower pole of the breast remains rounder. The periareolar procedure will flatten the breast and reduce nipple projection. The control of areola diameter will require a permanent suture that can be felt as a ring around the newly formed areola. There are complications associated with that suture.

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