How many millimeters or centimeters can the areola be reduced in size with a donut lift?

Hello!  On average an areola can be reduced to around 4-5 cm in diameter.  In order to fully answer your question, I would recommend that you have an in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.  Thank you and best of luck!

I recommend an in person evaluation by a plastic surgeon to be measured and discuss your goals. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of former patients with similar measurements. My patients tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what procedure is right for them. 
Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author                          
RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee

The less the better.  When this lift or areola reduction is pushed to its limit, that is when you have poor healing scars and widening of the scars over time.In general reducing  the diameter to a final size of 38-42 mm is the "normal" average areola size.  If you are starting with an areola that is much larger than this then caution is take as the size gets larger.  I would recommend you see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.Hope that helps.

Some of these lifts work out well but many poorly. Trying to reduce the areolar diameter doesn’t always hold in the long term. And the scars can be pretty bad. I haven’t performed the donut lift in years. A lollipop type lift is  better option.

So a donut mastopexy is basically a bad operation, IMO.  You are sewing a big circle to a small circle.  The more of a mismatch, the worse the scar.  So if it is minor, the scar is OK, but why do all that work plus add a scar for a minor change?  When you do a real lift, you buy a vertical scar but now make the circle a 1:1 ratio, so the scar quality is better.  And the vertical scar usually does well over time.I hope this helps!  Good luck!

Dear roseypinkgirl,
it is hard to tell for sure but areola can be significantly reduced with breast lift. The amount of reduction will depend on your current size and your desired results. 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

The amount varies greatly among women. The more loose skin that is present, the more the areolae can be reduced.

Never seen one that I would be proud to claim as my own work except in cases of  tubular breast deformity. If taking off more than 2 cm geometrically it does not make sense, flattens the central breast , leaves a areola that is not round and the scars look like an accordion. If you need a lift, get a lift !

There is a range of 1-4 cms.  Normally taking up to 4cm around the circle creates flattening.  The skin excess can be addressed well with this technique.