Having revision surgery for stretched out areolas. Which technique will help to keep them small, Lollipop or Donut? (photos)

You definitely want the lollipop. Although it has a vertical scar, that scar heals quite well. Also it dies a better job of keeping the areolae small. Donut scars are often quite widened. For a surgeon who knows what they’re doing there’s no comparison

Your doctor, you wrote, will use permanent suture, a fact which will reduce tension. This will give the least and nicest scar. Good luck. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Hi Sunelli,
You face a problem that we encounter often in revision surgery. Patients often opt for the procedure with "less scars" not realizing that over time the results may not hold. In your case, you rightly point out that the lollipop lift will give you a better outcome long-term which should really be what you want. The vertical scars actually heal quite well in this procedure since there is no tension on the breast tissue. At Cosmoplastic Surgery, we have used the "Naturabra" technique that allows for your own breast tissue to act as an internal bra that supports the lifted breast. We just reported our results of the past 18 years of over 700 breast lift cases at the 100th anniversary meeting of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons in San Diego in April 2022.

The technique I recommend is a mini lift. Using a circumareola incision, your breast tissue is reshaped, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear sunelli,
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 surgery, I would suggest you 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

Just to tighten the areolae, you do not need the vertical or doughnut scar. The permanent stitch will help prevent that area from stretching.

Hi and welcome to our forum!Even if the amount of areolar reduction is minimal, a periareolar incision only will increase stress upon the permanent suture placed during the procedure to maintain the reduced areolar diameter. Removal of a vertically oriented wedge of tissue below the areola will decrease the diameter of the outer circular defect to the diameter of the areola, allowing closure without tension. I have seen too many late disruptions of permanent periareolar sutures. A lollipop lift is the safer procedure regarding long term areolar reduction results. The trade-off is the vertical infraareolar scar which usually heals quite well. Best wishes...