Breast Lift Q&A

84%

WORTH IT RATING

219 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Lift Cost: $7,800

Learn about Breast Lift

1,233 people and 670 doctors are talking about Breast Lift

Get Free Email Updates

What is the Most Effective (And Preferably, Least Visible) Method of Breast Lift?

asked 11 months ago by sunshiiine
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 325 times
Tags: asymmetry, after weight loss, best, technique

Due to considerable weight loss, I have been left with asymmetric breasts, one of which (the larger of the two) requires a mastopexy. I have consulted with several plastic surgeons and have received widely varying perspectives, ranging from the vertical lift (lollypop incision) to the crescent incision, on what approach is best. Being that the point of the operation (which will be accompanied by a breast augmentation) is to attain symmetry, what approach is the most effective?

15 answers to What is the Most Effective (And Preferably, Least Visible) Method of Breast Lift?

Breast lift options- minimal scarring, maximal results

There are many types of breast lifts, ranging from crescent to periareolar to lollipop to anchor types. The more severe the drooping, the more powerful the type of lift required. If doctors try to perform too great a procedure through too small an incision, the results can be poor. We have several examples of aggressive Benelli-type procedures that resulted in large, gathered appearing areolas. These required revision to anchor type incisions... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Effective breast lifting

As suggested by other posts, it is difficult to be specific without pictures, but it may be helpful to validate that there are many differing opinions and no one "perfect" answer. Combining the lift with implants also makes this a more difficult operation. The fact that you have had weight loss is also pertinent, as I tell my patients that have lost weight ( usually a moderate to large amount), that this probably will require some of the more powerful lifting... more

Jerry Lugger, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

What is the most effective form of Breast Lift?

In my experience, I have not seen a crescent lift that did anything other than create a scar and stretch the areola to a larger more oval shape. Maybe it is possible to get a very mild nipple elevation out of it, but I am doubtful...there is no way to control the areolar size and shape so there is nothing to resist stretching of the areola. The best lift is the lift that you need depending upon how much sagging you have...the lower the nipple and the more the overhang past the... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lifting After Weight Loss?

Thank you for the question. Congratulations on your successful weight loss. Most patients who have achieved significant weight loss benefit from some form of mastopexy (breast lifting) as well as breast augmentation surgery. The type of breast lifting surgery necessary and “most effective” will depend on the individual's physical examination and goals. Therefore, it is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. in my... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

2 Surgeries = Higher Predictability

* Unfortunately you may need to accept possible poor scarring if your skin scars easily. A W pattern full Mastopexy with reduction of your larger sized breast followed by a Breast Augmentation of your smaller breast at a later date may give you the most predictable results.

Ivan Thomas, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Best Breast Lift Method in a Massive Weight Loss with Breast Sagging and Assymmetry

Your frustration is evident in your question but a few points must be made clear. - very few women have truly symmetrical breasts. If you look carefully you will see that Asymmetry IS the rule of nature. If your breasts are asymmetrical to start with, it is very likely that they will be less asymmetrical after surgery but achieving perfect symmetry is not common and may be a source of disappointment. - Massive weight gain with breast expansion followed by loss and breast deflation... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and breast implants

There are many different ways to perform a breastlift and even more minor variations of those ways. What is effective in one patient will not be so effective in another. As you have found out if you see 10 different plastic surgeons you will get 10 different answers as to what type of breast lift should be performed. The aesthetic goal in breast surgery (augmentation, reduction and lift) is nipples that are 20cm from the notch on top of the breast bone, 11cm from the midline and 7cm from... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

The most effective breast lift procedure

Breast lift is about nipple position, shape of the breast envelope, and breast projection. The most effective breast lift will give good control of all three, though of all, nipple position is most important. The anchor lift will allow the nipple to lifted to any degree and permit adjustment of the skin in both the horizontal and vertical direction, and allow the glandular breast to be shaped and coned for better projection without an implant. A vertical lift is very effective for most, a... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and augmentation

I agree with Dr.Sowder . The combination of the lift and augmentation is a difficult procedure with very high complication and redo rate. Please send picture to give you better answer. The pattern of lift should be decided by your board certified plastic surgeon based on your degree of ptosis, skin quality and amount of breast tissue.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and correction of asymmetry

There are four different types of uplifts and each depends on what you need and what type of scarring you will accept. I always try and minimize the scars which usually do heal well but can also be unattrractive-raised/red and spread. My suggestion would be to do the smallest uplift with the least amount of scars. You can always do more but once the scars are there, you cannot remove them!

Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and augmentation after weight loss

Breast lift at the same time as augmentation is a very, very tricky procedure and the revision rate is high. Pick your surgeon carefully and don't make the mistake of insisting on a certain type or length of scar. Really saggy breasts need a lot of reshaping and that reshaping requires incisions and incisions leave scars. Body contouring after massive weight loss has taught many of us (sometimes the hard way) that shape and contour should trump scar... more

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.sowdermd.com

Breast Lift After Weight Loss

Dear Los Angeles9126, Both patients and doctors want to minimize visible scars. Unfortunately, after significant weight loss, there often is a large amount of excess breast skin and drooping. In this situation, an anchor mastopexy (with or without breast implants) is usually necessary. If there is only moderate drooping, a lollipop mastopexy may suffice. I would consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. Warmest wishes, Dr. Fan

Larry Fan, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Most Effective Breast Lift Incision

There are 2 major incision choices, the Benelli Mastopexy, and the Vertical Incision. The Benelli approach just leaves a scar around the areola edge. This is great, but tproblems include the follwoing - doesn't lift the breast that much - your areola may spread, or become bigger and wider, after surgery The vertical incision, of "lollipop" incision, seems to be more popular, because - you can generate more breast... more

Roy Kim, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift after weight loss

In my opinion a crescent "lift" after weight loss will accomplish nothing other than giving you a scar. In general, the more skin you have to remove (and the lower the breast hands), the more you need an anchor mastopexy. A lollipop mastopexy can help those with moderate droop but it is more difficult to achieve a good result in severe droop.

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift

Well, unfortunately this type of question is impossible to answer without an examination and measuring your breasts and discussing post-op cup size. There is a variation in approaches and opinions. I will say the lesser lift, the lesser degree of correction the surgeon can accomplish. If your asymmetry is significant, a crescent incision would not appear adequate.