Do You Have to Have Breast Tissue Removed when Getting a Breast Lift?

If you truly have C-cup volume now, I'm not sure why the doctor you consulted with told you that you had to lose 2 cup sizes, as it is totally untrue. When I have a breast lift patient whose breasts are the size she likes, I remove only 15 - 30 grams of tissue per side (the skin needed to be removed to provide a more tailored and youthful "skin brassiere"). This is 1/2 to 1 ounce, skin only. This leaves all her native breast tissue intact except for that tiny amount of skin. No change in size, only "perkiness."

Of course, more tissue may be removed if the patient desires a small reduction--the pattern and incisions are the same; only the amount of tissue removed varies between patients.

I hate to sound overly dogmatic, but unless there is volume asymmetry and more tissue must be removed from the (larger) side to improve symmetry, you CAN retain your full C cup volume--you may just need to see one or more ABPS-certified plastic surgeons and have your surgery elsewhere. C to A is simply not necessary. Take a look at several of my breast lift patients by clicking on the web reference link below--they did not go smaller unless they wanted to. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

If you are happy with the current cup size, a lift can be done by removing skin only. I prefer a vertical breast lift with a medial-superior pedicle, but the inferior pole breast tissue I use for autoaugmentation to increase projection further. If you surgeon does an anchor type skin incision, he/she needs to remove some breast tissue from the lateral and medial inferior aspect of the breast for shaping and allowing to close the skin incision. This is not necessary with a vertical lift. Good luck.