Do I need to have a combination reduction and lift for a lifted breast?

Breast reduction involves reducing the size of the breast. A breast lift involves lifting the nipple-areolar complex and reducing the excess skin of the breast. Breast reductions can involve just liposuction in patients who have more fatty tissue than glandular breast tissue. Liposuction alone indeed does reduce the volume of the breasts. However, sagging of the breast can result and liposuction alone is therefore performed usually in highly selected patients.
Many different types of breast lifts are now available in conjunction with a breast reduction, including lifts just around the areola (periareolar), vertical/lollipop mastopexies (incision around the areola and down to the breast fold, and full breast lifts with an anchor incision. For patients who have very loose skin in the armpit or back, axillary or bra lifts are also often combined with breast reductions.

Every breast reduction that I perform includes elevation of the nipple and positioning of the gland higher on the chest wall.  Translation:  Every breast reduction includes breast lift (mastopexy), no extra charge!!

Great question! When considering breast surgery, it’s important to understand the differences between a breast reduction and a breast lift.
Breast Reduction: This procedure reduces the size of the breasts by removing both excess breast tissue and skin. In the process, the nipple-areola complex is lifted to a more youthful position, and the breast is reshaped. Essentially, a breast reduction also functions as a breast lift because the removal of excess tissue and skin naturally elevates the breast.
Breast Lift: A breast lift, or mastopexy, focuses on removing excess skin and tightening the remaining skin around the breast. It lifts the nipple-areola complex, but it does not significantly reduce the size of the breast, although some minor tissue removal may occur.
For many patients, if the goal is to both reduce the size and lift the breast, a breast reduction alone typically addresses both issues. However, in some cases where the breast is mostly fat and the primary concern is sagging, a breast lift alone may be sufficient.
It is important to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who can customize your surgical plan and determine the best technique for you based on your individual anatomy and goals. Be sure to ask about experience and options for surgical techniques.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Hello and thank you for your question!
Your breasts will be lifted along with the breast reduction. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Thanks for your question. By definition a patient undergoing a breast reduction gets removal of excess skin and breast tissue and there is uplift of the nipple areola complex. While someone undergoing an uplift only gets removal of excess skin and uplift of nipple aureola complex. In both procedures, the areola might need reduction to make smaller and proportionate.

Hi. Thanks for posting your question regarding breast lift and breast reduction.
They are essentially very similar procedures. The difference is in the amount of breast tissue removed. In a breast lift procedure, the nipple areolar complex is lift to a better position on the breast, and some breast tissue is removed and the breast envelope tightened. In a breast reduction, the nipple areolar complex is also lifted, but much more breast tissue is removed. 
All the very best.
Dr Ray Goh

A breast lift is part of doing a breast reduction since the nipples are placed at the right place on the chest when changing the volume of breast tissue. 

A breast reduction and a breast lift both involve the removal and tightening of excess skin resulting in  the breasts being lifted.  A breast reduction also involves the removal of excess breast tissue resulting in a reduction in the size of the breast.  I hope this clarifies your concern. 

almost all breast reactions include in essence a lift.  In the process of reducing the breast skin and tissue the breast is lifted

Breast reduction surgery involves removing excess breast tissue, as well as typically reducing the size of the areola and lifting the position of the nipple. Therefore, if your goal is to have smaller breasts AND get a lift, breast reduction surgery will accomplish both.  If you are happy with the size of your breasts, but would like them to be more lifted, mastopexy alone (without reduction) would be recommended. 

There are multiple surgical techniques to do a breast lift/reduction.  Normally I tell my patients that the only difference between both is mainly the amount of breast tissue that is removed.  A reduction and a lift likely can share the same types of scars, is the amount of tissue removed that can be the difference.  A breast reduction will also give a lift to the breast. Hope this helps.