Is there a way to get a lift without severing the milk ducts?

I happen to use the LeJour technique for my breast lifts (there are others which are also good BTW) I have modified the operation a bit from it's original form.  It essentially does "origami" on the breast to fold and rearrange the tissues to create a rounder, less flat and less long shape.  Although there is in incision around the areola, it is only skin deep and does not cut the breast tissue, nerves, or milk ducts.

The Bellesoma Method is a central mound technique.  This means that the major ducts around the nipple are not cut, which maintains the ability to breast feed.  This technique will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.  Vertical scars are avoided and nipple sensation (in 95%) is maintained.  Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

A mastopexy is generally just removal of excess skin which should not impair future ability to breast feed.

The ability to lactate after a lift is affect by the technique used and is also affected by how far the nipple needs to be moved. I small lift with implants will preserve mist of the ducts and you should be able to breast feed but there is no guarantee.

There are several breast lift techniques. The one I use moves the nipples attached to the maximum breast tissue "central mound" which keeps the most blood vessels, nerves, and milk ducts intact. This helps with keeping healthy blood supply, sensation, and possible breast feeding post op. Discuss your wants and needs at your consultation. Good luck.

Dear Calm613259,
My preferred lift is a lollipop lift when a periareolar won't do (ie greater than 2cm lift required). The lollipop technique was created by a Canadian plastic surgeon named Elizabeth Hall-Findley and treats the breast as a three dimensional structure instead of two dimensions (anchor - lift). Most importantly it does not require the horizontal component scars that the anchor-lift requires and breasts appear much more natural, lifted, and less boxy. Lastly, the lift lasts longer because the lollipop doesn't rely on the skin to hold the breast up, its actually breast tissue thats being brought together to support the breast and hence improves longevity. 
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

Most women who get breast implants, with or without a lift, can still breastfeed. However, not all women can breastfeed even with no surgery. If breastfeeding is very important, you might want to wait until you have all the children you want and then get surgery.

Thank you for your question this is a question many women are concerned about. A breast lift or mastopexy is a skin only procedure. That means the extra skin is removed and tightened. There does not have to be manipulation of the breast tissue. So breast feeding is possible post procedure. Occasionally, I place sutures in saggy breast tissue to give it better shape or bulk it up centrally. But this does not need to be done and could be avoided if breast feeding was possibly in your future. I hope this answers your question .  A board certified plastic surgeon should be able to review this information with you on consultation. 

Breast lift surgery involves removing skin from around the nipple areolar complex within a defined pattern.  The risk to neighboring milk ducts is minimized by limiting the dissection around the perimeter of the nipple and by keeping the dissection plane shallows so as not to violate the breast gland itself.  While these are the critical considerations, I don't think you will find a surgeon to guarantee this ability post operatively.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Ali Mosharrafa

Most breast lifts do not disrupt all of the milk glands. They remain connected to help provide blood supply to the nipple. A minority of the glands are usually interrupted when performing a lift so there is a high probability that breast feeding would still be possible.