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

Lollipop Vs. Anchor Incision Breast Lift, Which Should I Choose?

asked 1 year ago by Dani in Oregon in Eugene, OR
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,022 times
Tags: anchor, lollipop

I've had two consultations with different surgeons. One of them said they would use the B type pattern, which would result in a J shaped scar. The other said that won't be enough lift and won't be long lasting. He wants to do the full anchor type lift. Both said they would do internal reshaping of breast tissue. The one suggesting the anchor type lift has been practicing for quite a bit longer and is slightly more expensive. Now I'm not sure which one to go with. Thanks for your answers.

20 answers to Lollipop Vs. Anchor Incision Breast Lift, Which Should I Choose?

Breast Lift Patterns - Lollypop and Anchor

Hello Dani, Your breasts have significant and asymmetric sagging ( your left breast has more). In your situation, I would want the lift that allows me to totally reconstruct the breasts and make them as symmetrical as possible. The anchor incision mastopexy does just that. It can best deal with horizontal and vertical skin laxity without putting any forces of tension on the areola, which could distort the areola in it's shape or projection. When a breast is a great... more

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

drminniti.com

Breast Lifting: Pick Surgeon not Technique.

Thank you for the question and pictures. In the process of selecting a plastic surgeon, I would suggest that you take the surgeon first ( after careful due diligence) and allow him/her to help you with the exact technique necessary. This is because, in the wrong hands, you can end up with unsatisfactory results matter what technique is performed. I would suggest you visit a few surgeons whose practices concentrate on aesthetic surgery. Ask to see... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift surgery using a vertical technique works well

Based on your photos, my recommendation would be a vertical breast lift with a small submuscular breast implant to provide some upper pole volume. An 'anchor scar' breast lift seems excessive for the amount of skin that you have.

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Anchor vs lollipop

Based on your photos, there is no reason for you to have an anchor lift. A vertical mastopexy which leaves a lollipop scar will lift your nipple and also allow the surgeon to push the breast tissue up to give you a little more upper pole fullness. A well done vertical mastopexy makes the breasts look a little bit bigger and fuller, not as much as a implant does, but just a little bit. A vertical mastopexy is not just about the scar, it's also about how the breast tissue... more

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.sowdermd.com

Lollipop Vs. Anchor Incision Breast Lift, Which Should I Choose?

Dear Dani; As you can read ALL the expert reviews there is a wide range of differing answers. I'm very logical, so I would offer the vertical or lollipop to minimize the scars. If you were not completely satisfied with the lift result than under local anesthesia convert to a full anchor lift. Yes 2 operations but it just makes sense because you can not convert the anchor to a vertical. BEst of luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

I vote Lollipop scar

Based on your pictures you have a moderate amount of skin excess. The anchor type scar will take out more skin than the lollipop scar. You mentioned nothing about increasing your size. After a lift you will be slightly smaller. Another new procedure for you to consider if you wanted to be 1/2 to 1 cup bigger would be to add your own fat taken from some other location and transplanted to your breasts. Good Luck

Charles Virden, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift

Each surgeon has his/her preferences usually based upon experience and consistent results. In other words two different surgical techniques may still result in a very good outcome. So if you trust both surgeons equally, then the decision sometimes comes down to what technique you the patient would prefer. Based upon your photos, a vertical (lolipop) mastopexy (breast lift) seems very reasonable. Best of luck...RAS

Ryan Stanton, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Lollipop

Actually, you may not have a choice if breasts are too large with a lot of sagging. There is no way to do a lift with that much extra skin without have a scar in the fold of your breast (anchor). Looking at your photo, you should be able to have the lollipop.

E. Anthony Musarra II, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift

Solely based upon your photos, I think that a vertical lift using a limited incision appraoch would give your the best results. Good luck.. I do not think that you need an inverted "T" approach.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Anchor scars almost never best for breast lift.

Hi. 1) Just going by your pictures, I feel strongly that you should not have anchor scars for your breast lift. They are almost obsolete. Anchor scars are indicated for breast lifts only in massive weight loss patients, which is a completely different situation. 2) For breast lifts, we use circular scars around the nipples only in 30% of patients, and lollipop scars in 70% of patients. 3) You get the best long term results in breast lifts with either... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Depends on your surgeon's expereince

You can see that there is a difference of opinion on this matter. The correct answer is the technique that your surgeon feels more comfortable. Please ask to see after pictures of each procedure. Make sure that after pictures are year after surgery. The talent of your surgeon is more important that the scar pattern.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Vertical lift is the best option

There has been a steady trend away from the anchor pattern breast lift and in breast reduction as well for that matter. Our vote is for a short scar or 'lollipop' breast lift. You will not lose any volume with the vertical lift as well. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Anchor vs lollipop lift

Before even considering what type of lift you need you should really think long and hard on whether or not a lift will achieve your goals and make you happy. With a lift you will be slightly smaller than you currently are. Will you be happy with that: smaller breasts + scars? In my experience, no lift maintains superior fullness in the long run so if that is important to you and you want to be a bit bigger, you need to consider adding an implant. Since implant and lift surgeries are working... more

Marcel Daniels, MD
Long Beach Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift options

There are many types of incisions for a breast lift. Some methods are better suited for certain anatomic issues. From your photo, a vertical (lollipop) lift may be all you need. At times, usually because of asymmetry of the breasts, I have needed to add a "J" or "L" or even a small "T" to one or both sides. The main concern should be to have a result that produces equal appearing breasts regardless of the incisions used. When the... more

Ricardo Izquierdo, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift

Sometimes there isn't a single correct answer, and that often confuses patients. As surgeons, we get familiar and comfortable with some techniques more than others. Communicate with your surgeon the ultimate size you wish to be, and left them do the best job possible.

David A. Lickstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

It is not about the scar!

The important part of a durable breast lift is the internal reshaping. In my hands, I can perform the lift with internal reshaping through a lollipop scar (LeJour) or though a scar only around the areola (Goes). The Lejour is great for almost all shapes and sizes. The Goes is great for those breast with sagging nipples less than 25 cm from the sternal notch.

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.breastenlargement.net

Lollipop. Akways

You are a great candidate forca vertical or lollipop lift. I only use vertical lift and reduction with superior results. Thanks. Luis vinas md

Luis A. Vinas, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

I prefer the lollipop scar

In my opinion, the lollipop approach and the anchor pattern both have their places depending on your anatomy. In general, I reserve the anchor for particularly large, pendulous breasts, which it doesn't appear that you have. Your breast shape and size would be very well suited to a lollipop (also called a short-scar, or vertical breast lift) incision to avoid the large additional breast fold scar. The downside of the operation is that there is inevitably some bunching... more

Samuel Sohn, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Deciding between anchor and lollipop breast lifts

In some cases, there is so much lower pole skin excess that the lollipop just isn't well suited to a great result in my opinion. I like to keep the scars as short as possible but long enough to tailor out all the excess skin with a great shape right from the start. So, I customize it to each person and don't get locked in to an all or none thing with respect to crease scars. Ask them for examples of folks generally starting like you and ask the lollipop guy how often... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Which breast lift techniques give the best results?

Thank you for the photos. Based on these, I would choose a short scar, or lollipop breast lift technique. As you can see from the previous answers, this is the preferred way to go for long lasting results with minimal scars and good projection. I've been doing the lollipop technique for 11 years, never regretted it and never returned to the anchor scar in any size breast! The anchor scar technique uses the skin as a brassierre to hold the breast, with an unnatural short vertical scar... more