Breast lift vs reduction - What is the difference?

Hi. My video below give us an explanation of this. Bottom line is that a lift is keeping all of your own breast tissue. So if you are truly a 34G cup size, then after a lift you would still be that same cup size. By definition a breast reduction is bringing the breasts down to a smaller size and that depends on the goals of the patient as well as what can realistically be achieved surgically. A lift is built into the design of a breast reduction. I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon with good experience with breast reduction to help guide you through this process.
Good luck and take care,
Dr. Howell

Hello, this is a great question and comes up often. Breast reduction and breast lift are very similar in the way they are done. The main difference is how much breast tissue is removed. Generally, if more than 200 g of tissue is removed, it is considered a breast reduction and if less than 200 g of tissue is removed, it is considered a breast left. Often, the scar pattern will be very similar but most of this depends on the amount of skin and breast tissue that needs to be removed. With a breast reduction, you also get a breast lift and your breast size will be smaller. With a breast lift, you may still lose 1/2 to 1 cup size, but generally not much and only what is needed to remove the loose skin. Hope this helps. Good luck with your procedure! Dr. Sumer Daiza

Breast lifts are designed to lift the breasts and remove minimal tissue, if any. Breast reductions are designed to remove large amounts of breast tissue. The technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This will reduce and reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. The weight of the breast is transferred to the underlying pectoralis major muscle resulting in pain relief without excessive reduction. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear jules716,
generally speaking, breast lift is used to lift breasts without removal of tissue. In case of breast reduction, breast tissue and skin are removed and breasts are smaller and lifted. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Breast lift (mastopexy) and breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) are both surgical procedures aimed at improving the appearance of the breasts, but they address different concerns and involve different techniques:1. Breast Lift (Mastopexy):• Purpose: A breast lift is primarily performed to address sagging or ptosis of the breasts. It reshapes and elevates the breasts to create a more youthful and lifted appearance.• Procedure: During a breast lift, excess skin is removed, and the breast tissue is reshaped and repositioned to lift the breasts to a higher position on the chest. The nipples and areolas may also be repositioned to a more aesthetically pleasing location.• Incisions: The incision pattern for a breast lift depends on the degree of ptosis and the desired outcome. Common incision patterns include periareolar (around the areola), vertical (lollipop), and anchor-shaped (wise pattern).• Breast Volume: A breast lift does not significantly change the volume or size of the breasts. It primarily addresses sagging and improves breast shape and position.2. Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty):• Purpose: A breast reduction is performed to reduce the size and volume of the breasts, as well as to alleviate symptoms associated with overly large breasts, such as back pain, neck pain, and skin irritation.• Procedure: During a breast reduction, excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed to achieve a smaller breast size and a more proportionate breast-to-body ratio. The breasts are reshaped and lifted as part of the procedure.• Incisions: Similar to a breast lift, a breast reduction may involve periareolar, vertical, or anchor-shaped incisions, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed and the desired outcome.• Breast Volume: Unlike a breast lift, which primarily addresses sagging without significant changes in breast volume, a breast reduction results in a reduction in breast size and volume.In summary, while both breast lift and breast reduction surgeries involve reshaping and lifting the breasts, the primary difference lies in their objectives: a breast lift focuses on addressing sagging, while a breast reduction focuses on reducing breast size and volume in addition to lifting the breasts. The choice between these procedures depends on the individual's specific concerns, goals, and anatomical characteristics, and it is typically determined through a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue and reshapes the contour of the breasts so that they are smaller and perkier. It is possible to do a breast reduction and lift with a minimal scar technique and can also be done as an outpatient procedure under twilight sedation. It's important to be sure expectations are realistic and you have an understanding of the commitment needed for the healing process. Make sure that you understand the nature of your surgery, the recovery process, and that you feel comfortable and emotionally ready to make these changes to your body.


A breast lift raises droopy breasts from one to several inches and excess skin is removed. It is not a procedure done for reducing breast size, but for reshaping and lifting saggy breasts.




I suggest making an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon who can explain in detail to you what your options are.

In a breast lift excess skin is removed in order to reshape the breast and raise the position of the nipple. The breast tissue itself is not removed; it is simply repositioned. This should improve the way the breast appears and how it fits in a bra, but the volume is the same as before surgery.
In a breast reduction excess skin is removed just as in a breast lift and the nipple is raised, however breast tissue is also removed. This will reduce the volume/size of the breast overall as well as improve shape. I've included a video on breast reduction surgery that I hope you find helpful.

A breast lift tightens the breasts and lifts the height of your nipple/areola. It does not change your size.

A breast reduction is a combination of the lift and removing breast tissue reducing your size too.
Dr Taranow

Hi and welcome to our forum!Breast lift or mastopexy is a cosmetic procedure. It is performed in different ways depending upon the amount of lift required. Measurements of the breast are required to determine where there is skin excess, so that a cone shaped mound can be created. A donut lift (periareolar lift) can only raise the areola slightly. The more you lift, the flatter the breast becomes, eventually assuming a "pancake" shape. It is recommended only for minimal sagging. The lollipop lift will reduce the horizontal skin excess in patients with moderate sag, while the full inverted "T" pattern lift reduces both vertical and horizontal skin excess in patients with significant sag. There will be no reduction in size of the breasts as no breast tissue is removed during the procedure. However, the breasts may appear smaller due to their repositioning. Breast reduction is both cosmetic and functional, as the procedure often alleviates neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, bra strap grooving, and chronic rashes beneath the breasts due to their added weight. In moderate reductions, the nipple areola is maintained in a "stalk" (pedicle) of breast tissue to provide blood flow. If the pedicle is too long (as in gigantomastia), the nipple areola will not survive due to vascular insufficiency. In this situation, the nipple areola complexes are removed and replaced as full thickness skin grafts. Preoperative measurements are essential to make this determination. In either case, nipple sensation will most likely be lost or attenuated.The breasts can be reduced to any size, but the reduction is most often performed to regain proper body proportion.Cup size is an inaccurate measurement as there is no standardization, and one company's C cup is another's D cup. We measure the breasts in cc. of volume. Best wishes...