What Type of Breast Lift Would I Need?

The choice of lift depends on several factors including your desire to remain the same size or larger which would require implants and place you at greater risk for sagging in the future. A lollipop (vertical) lift would allow you to reduce the excess lower fullness as well as the size of the areola whereas a minimal scar technique will not..

A breast lift or Mastopexy is designed to reposition the nipple and reshape the breast. This procedure can be combined with a breast implant which can add volume to the breast and can be utilized to shape the breast around the implant. In order to figure out exactly what you need you have to have an idea of what you want. A frontal photograph only can tell a small amount of information about your breasts, likewise measurements only give an piece of the Mastopexy puzzle. A four dimensional evaluation involves looking at breast skin quality and stretch, nipple position, existing volume and the desire for a breast implant. I would recommend that you meet with a board certified plastic surgeon, or two, and listen to what recommendations are made. There is a textbook algorithm which can provide some direction, but you already have a significant volume and good shape to your breasts, so you may be looking at a Mastopexy augmentation which would involve the placement of a conservative sized breast implant with a vertical type breast lift, or just a breast implant alone. Be careful with a periareolar lift which may lead to wide areola and scars.

I hope this helps.

Dr. Trussler

If you want a  higher nipple (and maybe smaller areola) with a shorter breast fold, I would perform a LeJour lift using a lollipop scar. You could have this with or without an implant.

What Type of Breast Lift Would I Need?

I know that it is hard to tell from a picture. However, I'd like an idea on what would be done. So I am able to do more research prior to my consultations. Based on doing some of my own measurements. I think I have pseudoptosis Thanks

It is very difficult to tell exactly where your breasts sit in relation to the crease.  This is what really will determine if you need a lift and how much a lift you will need.  I would recommend a implant to gain the upper pole fullness with a minimal lift if needed, perhaps a circumareolar or circumvertical.  You may be able to get away with a projecting implant and no lift.  I would recommend seeking a board certified plastic surgeon to go over your options.

Pseudoptosis is caused by an excess if skin relative to the volume of the breast without descent of the nipple position.  This can be addressed with a variety of mastopexy options such as a doughnut or vertical skin excision.  These techniques can alter the contours aesthetically without the extensive incisions and dissection of the full breast lift.  The imblance of "surface" to "volume" will be corrected, but speak to several surgeons about their experience and ask to see their results before investing in your own breasts.

The best way to determine if you have ptosis would be to determine how far the nipple is below the fold. This best done in a lateral view. From the view you provided an augmentation would work well. Possibily a periareolar lift. If you have pseudoptosis (breast tissue below the fold/nipple at or above the fold). Then a vertical component may be needed in addition to the periareolar lift.

Dr. ES

Hi there-

It is very important to your long term happiness that you understand a few things...


The recommendations I would make would depend a lot on your goals- for both size and shape

Breast lift techniques (I personally do 7 types of "breast lifts") are NOT interchangeable


In other words, the reason there are so many techniques for re-shaping the breast (a better term than "lift") is because women's breasts come in so many different shapes to begin with, and each technique aims to change the shape of the breast in a VERY SPECIFIC way...

The technique, therefore, needs to be chosen so as to best alter the shape the patient starts with (preoperatively) in order to achieve the shape she desires.

Unfortunately, the perception among many patients (and indeed many surgeons) is that the technique should be chosen based on the patient's preference for scar placement or budget...

Which is why we see so many women with funny looking breasts or areolas the size of manhole covers.

The very best advice I could give you is to find a surgeon that you like and feel you can trust (advice on how to do this below by following the link), then carefully communicate your goals... After a careful exam, he/she will be able to advise you on your individual best options.

Finally, I would say that, depending on your goals, it is highly likely that you could achieve a lovely outcome without any breast lift at all- there are several examples of patients like yourself in my gallery here at RealSelf.

You are correct that it is difficult to tell from a picture what version of a breast lift would be best, but more important is determining what your goals are. I think many plastic aurgeons are coming to accept that no matter what type of lift is done, it is very difficult to maintain the upper half fullness and therefore correction of pseudoptosis over the long run. Given this, it seems unlikely that the scars would be worth it. However, implants may be a good option so keep an open mind on that.

From your photos it looks like you have pseudoptosis.The simplest thing to do would;d be to put a silicone implant on top of your muscle.To do a mastopexy would entail more scars such as a donut mastopexy with a scar around the nipple.You could do a lollipop incision as well but once the scar is made you buy it.i would just consider an augmentation. 

IT is important to determine the position of the nipple in relation to the infra mammary fold underneath the breast to evaluate the amount of breast sagging or ptosis.  A full evaluation will help determine the quality of the tissues, i.e., skin elasticity and breast tissue volume. 

Equally as important is the patient`s expectations.  If repositioning of the nipple  with moderate improvement in upper breast fullness is desired, some type of breast lift or mastopexy may suffice.  If more fullness and cleavage is desired,  then a breast augmentation may be more appropriate with or without a lift to reposition the nipple.