What's the difference between an anchor lift and a lollipop lift?

The anchor lift has an additional incision line under the fold of the breast. However, it is by far the best type of lift for sagging breasts. Hope this helps, Dr. Nazarian

An anchor lift, also called a Weiss pattern lift, removes the most skin laxity of the breasts and results in scars around the areola, a vertical scar down to the crease, and a scar in the crease.  A lollipop lift removes less skin and results in a scar around the areola and vertical down to the crease, but no scar in the crease.    I hope this helps.

Different breast lifts will use different skin excisional patterns. Both of these terms describe the resultant scars after a breast lift. A lollipop lift will give you a scar around the nipple/areola with another scar that goes from the bottom of the areola down to the breast crease. An anchor lift scar includes the same scars as the lollipop lift plus a horizontal scar that runs in the breast crease. An anchor pattern scar allows for the removal of excess skin in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions whereas the lollipop pattern scar primarily addresses horizontal skin excess. If you are considering a breast lift, a board certified plastic surgeon should be able to tell you what lift would be the best choice for you. Best of luck!

There's more difference between the two approaches than just the length of the scar. The anchor or wise pattern reduction/lift is the oldest and most common technique in the past 40-50 years. There are several newer techniques which end up with  a lollipop final scar. My personal preferred technique is the lollipop technique since 2000. It does give a better breast shape. More projection and a short scar. You can wear a bikini top with the lollipop method, which is not true for the anchor technique. Often in the later, the scar does go into the lateral chest wall or cleavage. Many times the breast tissue descends below the horizontal scar with a depleted upper pole. In very large breasts, an anchor scar technique might have an advantage. See a board certified plastic surgeon for an in person consultation/evaluation. Good luck.

Hello dear, thanks for your post, here are the differences between lollipop and anchor lift.Lollipop lift:This type of breast lift is commonly used, as it allows a cosmetic surgeon to remove excess skin and reshape the entire breast with modest, easily hidden scars. A vertical lift involves 2 incisions: one around the edge of the areola, and one running vertically from the bottom of the areola to the inframammary fold, creating a “lollipop” shape.Anchor lift: If you have considerable sagging, pendulous breasts, an anchor lift, which allows a cosmetic surgeon to remove a significant amount of excess skin and sagging tissues, may yield the best results. This technique involves 3 incisions: one around the edge of the areola, one vertically from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease, and one along the inframammary fold, hidden in the breast crease. Your cosmetic surgeon may also use this technique if you are having a breast reduction with lift. While the anchor lift comes with some visible scarring, these typically will fade significantly with proper care, and are easily hidden by a bikini top.Good luck :)

The 'visible' difference is obviously that an anchor lift includes a lower horizontal scar inside the submammary crease (together with periareolar and vertical scars), while the lollipop lift only has a periareolar and vertical scar.Most surgeons would agree that an anchor lift is best suited to very saggy breasts, but you may find that the debate is still far from conclusive. Generally speaking, adding the horizontal scar would allow your surgeon to have more control on the distance between the nipple and the submammary crease, which can be shortened.A consultation with a qualified surgeon should clarify if you need that or not.

The difference between the two lifts is the incision placement. The anchor lift is the most extensive lift available. It is a Lollipop lift with an additional horizontal incision placed in the crease of the lower breast fold. 

A lollipop breast lift
leaves the patient with a scar around the areola (the dark part of the
nipple) and one going down from the bottom edge of the areola to the breast
fold at the bottom of the breast. An anchor
breast lift adds a horizontal scar in the breast fold.

There are several reasons
for surgeons to choose one of these approaches over the other. Generally speaking most surgeons are more
comfortable with the anchor lift, and this technique is used for patients with
significant degrees of looseness.

In my hands, I’m able to
use a more sophisticated process to limit the need for the horizontal portion
of the breast lift, making the anchor lift a very infrequent requirement in my
practice. In fact, I haven’t used the anchor
lift with a breast implant in nearly a year and a half. Nonetheless, this technique is not for every
surgeon or every patient.

You should find a board
certified plastic surgeon that understands your goals and is experienced enough
with these problems to be able to accurately assess your condition and provide
an appropriate recommended treatment.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck.

All breast lifts require at least an incision around the nipple and most require the addition of an incision which runs from the bottom of the nipple down to the fold beneath the breast. This is the lollipop incision. Sometimes an incision across the bottom at the fold is needed. The final decision as to which is best for any patient depends on many factors including how much loose skin there and the size of implant being used. The question as to which is best for any patient is best decided during a thorough consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon. 

Thank you for the question. One of the main differences between these two types of breast lifting procedures  involves the pattern of skin/tissue removal. The "lollipop" breast lift describes a procedure where the incision is placed around the areola and vertically on the breast mound. The "anchor" breast lift involves the circumareolar, vertical, as well as a horizontal excision and scars. You may find the attached link, dedicated to breast lifting concerns helpful to you as you learn more. Best wishes.