Breast Lift Q&A

84%

WORTH IT RATING

220 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Lift Cost: $7,800

Learn about Breast Lift

1,236 people and 672 doctors are talking about Breast Lift

Get Free Email Updates

What is the Truth About the Benelli Lift/areola Reduction? Does It Make Areola Stretch More?

asked 5 months ago by 7000xo in las vegas
Latest answer by Robert M. Freund, MD
Question viewed 403 times
Tags: benelli, options

Every surgeon says something different. I'd like to know if the areola stretch or become larger or not after a benelli lift/areola reduction. Some say yes others say no, so which one is it? Also, is the stitch from that surgery visible under clothes when not wearing a bra?? Thanks a lot.

16 answers to What is the Truth About the Benelli Lift/areola Reduction? Does It Make Areola Stretch More?

Benelli Mastopexy

Hello 7000xo, The answer is 'it depends'. Unfortunately, the benelli mastopexy (lift) is the most frequently named surgery in medical malpractice cases for cosmetic breast surgery. This is because surgeons use this lift in patients that are not good candidates, and are best suited for a vertical or full anchor mastopexy. Kinda scary to think that so many doctors don't know what they're doing, huh? So, there are not just cases of... more

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

drminniti.com

Periareolar Techniques are Great-Think about a Goes!

The circumareolar scar from the latest techniques using permanent sutures are excellent. The number of revisions per year in minimal and quite often the scars are better than from other types of reduction/lifts. Benelli is only one of the earlier types of circumareolar lifts. In my practice, the Goes technique with and internal brassiere support is the best. Key features; 1- internal brassiere with mesh for added durability. 2-Can lift breasts that have a nipple to sternal... more

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.breastenlargement.net

Wonderful procedure when indicated for the right patient

Yes, scars can stretch after a Benilli Lift or Peri-areolar Mastopexy, however, I now use a permanent suture when performing this technique and my rate of revision has gone down dramatically for this procedure. Since switching to permanent sutures I have maybe one a year that needs to be revised due to the areola stretching. This is a wonderful technique if indicated for the right patient.

Renato Saltz, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

www.saltzplasticsurgery.com

Benelli Mastopexy Has Distinct Limitations

The problem is that in women who truly need a vertical or full mastopexy, but refuse to have the incisions that these operations require, we as surgeons tend to compromise and subsequently will push the limits of this operation. When we as surgeons try to push the limitations of an operation like the Benelli lift, a number of problems can occur, such as stretching or spreading of the areolar complex. The reason for that there is no general consensus with respect to Benelli Mastopexy, is... more

Kevin Brenner, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Periareolar breast lift

The goal of every breast lift should be to 1) minimize length of scars, while 2) maximizing quality of scars and 3) maximizing breast shape. For the ideal patient, a periareolar lift is a fabulous operation. However, trying to get too much lift out of a periareolar lift can leave a poor quality "purse-string" scar and a flattened breast shape. In my hands, the ideal candidate for a periareolar scar approach has slightly "cone shaped" breasts that... more

York Jay Yates, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Benelli mastopexy issues

Intuitively and in practice, in my opinion, the Benelli approach is rarely prudent - sacrificing shape to minimize the total length of the scars. This is rarely a good trade off. The breast shape with this approach is more blunted and flat versus a more natural conical shape. Furthermore, there is either stretching of the areola with time and/or problems associated with the permanent sutures employed to prevent this from happening in the first place.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

The Periareolar lift works great in the right patient but it can be overused

For an implant patient with a need for a very minor lift, the periareolar lift works great when done properly with areolar size stability provided by a permanent suture. The main problem with this procedure is that it can leave the breast flat in front and baggy at the bottom when it's utility is overextended into the patient who really needed a real full lift.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Benelli Breast Lift and Spreading of the Areola?

The “truth" about the Benelli breast lift, is that like any that other procedure, a variety of different outcomes are possible ( including spreading of the areola) depending on factors such as appropriate patient selection, technique used, suture material used, skin elasticity concerns etc. In other words, if all of the above factors are “optimized", the procedure will work well; if not, it won't. I hope this... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Risk Of Areolar/Scar Widening In Benelli Breast Lift

When the periareolar breast lift is done well and in the properly selected patient, it can give a good result without the areolas or the surrounding scars becoming wider. The problem is that it is often chosen enthusiastically by the patient to avoid any lower breast skin scarring when it may not be the best breast lift choice given their amount of breast sagging. In these cases when combined with an implant, both the areolas and scars can become wide and very visible. The problem is not the... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Benelli lift

I love benelli lifts in the right patient. For women that just need a small areola lift and need an implant, then it is a great operation, The areola size is controlled by a permanent suture around the border of the areola.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Truth about Benelli lift/areolar reduction.

You WILL get differing views about the Benelli lift, but certain issues are clear. If the breasts are very low, a Benelli won't work and you need a full or T anchor mastopexy, to decrease the amount of skin while lifting the breast tissue, making a new skin brassiere and repositioning the nipple/areolar. The Benelli lift does flatten the front of the breast. To prevent areolar widening a permanent suture must be placed around the areolar and it depends on the patients... more

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Benelli Lift done properly does not stretch areola

I frequently do a Benelli lift in conjunction with breast implants and have been very happy with the results. The first key is proper patient selection. The procedure is good for reducing the size of the areola and achieving a small amount of nipple lifting. Those who need a larger lift are better served by another technique such as vertical mastopexy. The second key is proper technique. To prevent the areola from stretching out over time a "round block" suture of a soft... more

John Squires, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

The benelli or purse-string mastopexy works well when used properly

Hello, The Benelli/purse-string mastopexy is really designed to reduce the areola diameter or to move the areola a very small distance approximately 1-2 cm. How the procedure is performed and which patients are selected to undergo it is the key to how well it will work and look. There are disaster purse-string mastopexy results and then there are routinely excellent results. Take a look at your plastic surgeons before and after results and ask lots of questions. All... more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

www.aaaplasticsurgery.com

Benelli lift fact and fiction.

Benelli described a periareolar breast lift technique that bears his name, yet many surgeons perform some sort of periareolar lift that differs from the details Benelli himself describes. In other words, some surgeons do a slightly different lift technique, and also use different suture materials, each of which can have a bearing on the answers you are receiving. Every surgeon who DOES something different will be truthful in SAYING something different. Here's the skinny: If a... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Areola and Peri-areolar lift

The goal of a peri-areolar lift is to lift the nipple and areola to a higher position on the breast while tightening the breast skin. It should make the areola smaller if the permanent suture is placed around the areola. This can stretch somewhat over time depending on your tissues and the size of the implant used. I tell my patients that they will be able to feel the suture but I do not typically say it will be visible through clothing. The other aspect to consider is that the peri-areolar... more

Michael C. Edwards, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Benelli lift

You are absolutely right. You are going to hear different things about this operation. A lot of it will depend on whether this surgeon actually does the procedure or not. This has been my lift operation of choice for those who qualify for at least 15 years now. Obviously I am going to give you a positive response. Then again I do not do the operation in people who are over a D cup or are extremely low. As to seeing the suture without a bra. I have not had a patient comment on that so I... more