How to Fix Loose Skin without a Second Breast Lift? (Photos)

Your best option is a secondary breast lift using the vertical technique. Whether to include skin resection around the nipple/areolas is a judgment call. If you want the best result and the most tightening, then this is recommended. Basically, your old scars are replaced with new ones. You might consider small implants for upper pole volume. Energy based treatments are ineffective and costly. Mesh is unnecessary and not helpful. A vertical lift is best.

Overall, I think you plastic surgeon did a very good job on your breast lift. Your nipple-areola complex is centered about the new, lifted breast mound and the shape is proportionate. Unfortunately, even though a breast lift can rejuvenate the breasts significantly, the remaining skin elasticity changes will remain. We also see this with arm/leg lifts and tummy tucks where the remaining skin has stretch marks and elasticity issues which remain unaddressed. Also know that there is no non-invasive technology (radiorequency, laser etc . . .) that actually works so save your $. I hope this helps, thank you for the inquiry!

Thank you for your question and photos. It’s not uncommon to see some return of upper pole looseness or skin laxity after a breast lift, especially if the skin had limited elasticity to begin with.One effective option that avoids a full second lift is autologous fat grafting—using your own fat (typically harvested from areas like the abdomen or thighs) to restore volume in the upper pole. This can help inflate the loose skin, soften the appearance of stretch marks, and restore a more youthful contour—without the need for implants or extensive incisions. It’s a natural, well-tolerated method that works particularly well when the issue is volume loss rather than significant sagging.If there is some minor skin excess—particularly in the vertical scar line—a limited skin excision through a vertical incision may help fine-tune the shape. In some cases, a periareolar incision (around the nipple) might be needed if there’s looseness involving the areola or nipple position.Ultimately, the best approach depends on whether the issue is primarily volume loss, skin laxity, or both. A detailed assessment will help tailor the right solution—whether it’s fat grafting alone, minor skin tightening, or a combination of techniques.I’d recommend a follow-up with your surgeon, or feel free to come in for a second opinion.

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Dear Coocoochichi,

breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.
Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.
While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.
If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.


Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Dear Coocoochichi, thanks for sharing your pictures and concerns, after evaluate your case best option to fix this is a surgical approach, there are many procedures promissing to help with the skin laxity but being honest resuls are under the expectations and theydont last longer. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks. Dr. Luis Mejia

Thank you for your photos. Your photos show extensive stria in your skin, which indicates that your skin does not have as much strength and elasticity as skin without stria. It does not hold up the breast tissue underneath it as well even when the initial lift is done with relatively tight suturing. There are a number of non-invasive, energy based systems, which make claims to tighten the skin, but the results tend to be very modest. You can re-tighten your skin with a re-excision of the loose skin, but this would likely require an incision around the areola, as well as the vertical incision in order to help inset the areola properly as the remaining skin of the breast is tightened around it. One possible option would be to insert a scaffolding into your breast at the time of the revision of your lift. This scaffolding incorporates into your tissues and increases the strength of your tissues, so may help support your breast better than just your skin. Discuss this in detail with your plastic surgeon.

I encourage you to return to your surgeon for an evaluation. For the best result you will likely need a revision which sometimes includes incisions around the areola. I've included a video on this topic that I hope you find helpful.

You could try minimally invasive radiofrequency skin tightening like Renuvion and deep micro-needling like Morpheus to tighten your skin.