What is a Doughnut Mastopexy?

Question

I know that a mastopexy is just the technical term for breast lift surgery, but what does the doughnut part of doughnut mastopexy stand for?

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

A doughnut mastopexy is
indicated for mild cases of breast sag and therefore has limited
application.The procedure is often
referred to as a periareolar mastopexy or Benelli breast lift.In cases of mild breast sag, the excess skin and sag can
be treated with a doughnut mastopexy.This procedure removes and tightens the excess skin around the
areolar.This leaves a scar at the
junction between the areola and surrounding tissue.This procedure can be done in combination
with breast augmentation when patient’s want larger breasts as well.The success of the doughnut mastopexy is dependent upon
appropriate patient selection.When sag
is minimal, the procedure is less invasive and wounds heal nicely with minimal
scarring.Unfortunately, the procedure
is often utilized when moderate amounts of breast sag are present.This results in tension on the wound closure
which can cause spread of scars and flattening of the areola complex.With appropriate patient selection, the results of
doughnut mastopexy can be excellent and are associated with high levels of
patient satisfaction.In select cases,
the doughnut mastopexy may be the treatment of choice for breast ptosis.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

The #BenelliLift, developed by French surgeon Dr. Benellil, better known as the "Donut Lift"to most surgeons, is performed by removing a #donut-shaped piece of the areola and the surrounding skin. Followed by applying a #Pursestring, or, a double purse-string suture, to tighten the skin. Initally, a #Benelli was developed to access a majority of the breast through the incision. The breast is then shaped and lifted with sutures.  This is a very complex procedure which is not often performed. However, the term is widely used to refer to breast lifts involving an incision around the #areola.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

The periareolar ("donut" or Benelli) technique is suitable for the treatment of mild to moderate ptosis (classified as grade I or II). It is also the least invasive form of breast lift. You may find that you won't be able to achieve the results you want with this technique.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Doughnut mastopexy is known as a periareolar mastopexy.  The doughnut is not an acronym of anything.  This technique involves an incision around the native areola and allows for removal or reshaping of the breast as well as removal of excess skin.  The end result is a smaller shapely breast with a smaller areolar.

	Dr ES

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

SEE VIDEO BELOW BY CLICKING "MORE": There are several different technical terms for a mastopexy that have developed lay names. For example:

Traditional Wise/Lexer pattern vertical and horizontal mastopexy = anchor
Vertical or Circumvertical mastopexy = lollipop or tennis racket
Circumareolar = donut or doughnut
Periareoalar = crescent

The donut (doughnut) removes a circular piece of skin around the areolar. The removed skin is a circle with a hole in it that resembles a doughnut and that is why it is called a donut mastopexy.
It is typically performed with an implant or with some rearranging of the breast tissue sometimes called a "roundblock" or Benelli modification.

Heather J. Furnas, MD · Answer

A donut mastopexy can reduce the size of the areola (but doesn't have to), and it can slide the position of the nipple up to a limited degree. The patient in the case below had severe asymmetry improved with a breast augmentation and a donut mastopexy.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

There are various incision options for breast lifting (mastopexy) surgery. The "donut" incision is used to achieve a limited lift. The incision is made around the areola which makes it possible to also reduce the size of the areola as well if you choose. However, depending on where you are starting off initially will determine whether you would have a significant enough lift with just the donut incision, or you may require a "lollipop" or "anchor" incision.

	Finding pictures of what look you would like woud help. The nipple areola complex will be raised to provide a lift. Due to the obvious pigment change between the areola and the breast, the scar fades and blends in very nicely. I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure. For more information regarding breast lift surgery, please check out and compare before and after photos of patients.

Pat Pazmino, MD, FACS · Answer

There are many different surgical techniques for a breast lift. If the patient requires a reposition of the nipple and a small amount of lift, a donut mastopexy is an excellent option. In this procedure, we make incision around the perimeter of the nipple and then an outer incision into the breast skin. The breast skin that is removed is in the shape of a donut. Through this incision, we can recontour the breast and also change the shape and size of the nipple. The final scar is a difficult to notice line around the edge of the new areola.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

A doughnut mastopex looks like a donut when the skin between the areola and the native breast skin is removed. This area of denuded skin it then sutured together and you have a small areola lift. This can be employed with a breast augmentation in many cases to avoid more incisions on the breast.

Michael D. Yates, MD · Answer

A doughnut mastopexy can help lift the breast by removing skin around the areola. The skin excised is in the shape of a doughnut, and the larger outer circle is cinched up around the smaller inner circle (the border of the areola). This can provide some lifting and firming of the breast and is useful if a minimal amount of lifting is required. If more lifting is necessary, then incisions below the areola and perhaps in the crease line of the breast might be appropriate.
A breast implant can be combined with any mastopexy pattern to add volume to the breast and provide further lifting. This is a safe combination, but I believe that the implant should be placed underneath the muscle. This allows the breast tissue to remain attached to the muscle, deriving a robust blood supply, and allowing safe shaping of the breast with the mastopexy procedure, and reducing the risks of healing problems.

What is a Doughnut Mastopexy?

Answers (19)

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