Breast Lift Surgery: The Ultimate Guide to Mastopexy

Pros

• For women whose breast skin and areolas have stretched over time—a common side effect of pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss—breast lift surgery can return the breasts to a more youthful position. 
• It also lifts the areolae and can reduce nipple and areola size, if desired.
• A breast lift can reshape the breasts after implant removal.
• The procedure can make asymmetrical breasts look more similar.
• During recovery, most patients need only over-the-counter pain medication.
• The complication rate with mastopexy procedures is low, compared to other major surgical procedures.
• Breast lift surgery has an extremely high RealSelf Worth It Rating of 95%, with a solid majority of reviewers citing satisfaction with their breast lift results.

Cons

• Breast lift surgery alone won’t significantly change the volume or size of the breasts. You’d need to combine it with either breast reduction or augmentation to do that.
• Most patients need 1 week of downtime for their initial recovery.
• You will have scars from the incisions, though they should fade within a year or two. In rare cases, poor healing can lead to prominent scars. “While things like lasers and microneedling are advertised to improve the appearance of scars, they have little efficacy,” cautions Dr. Rahban. “Ultimately it comes down to your own genetics and your surgeon's diligence with closing the incisions.” As you’re choosing your surgeon, note the scars in their before and after photos.
• Any significant weight fluctuations (gain or loss) can change the size and shape of the breasts, as well as their perkiness, so you’ll have to maintain your weight to preserve your results. “You will continue to age, so if your tissues are genetically weak, your surgeon may suggest adding a soft tissue support to offset the possibility of your tissues failing again and sagging,” says Dr. Gordon.

RealSelf Tip: Breast tissue can change dramatically during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you’re currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to be pregnant soon, hold off on a breast lift until several months after you’ve finished breastfeeding.

• Average Cost:
• $9,194

• Range:
• $4,000 - $17,000

Breast lift costs can vary widely, depending on the experience level of your plastic surgeon, their practice location (prices can range up to $20,000, or even more, in some very high-rent areas), the type of lift you have, the type of anesthesia you get, and a few other key factors. 

Common add-on procedures, like breast reductions and augmentations, will increase the overall price.

Insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic procedures like this one, which are not deemed medically necessary, but most plastic surgeons offer payment plans or accept financing options like CareCredit.

See our complete guide to breast lift costs

As you're picking your plastic surgeon, look for breast lift photos with proportionate and symmetrical results, elevated nipples, a youthful breast shape, and short, well-hidden scars. Another sign of a surgeon who pays attention to the details: natural-looking contouring around the breasts, with no excess bra fat. 

The breast lift pictures in our gallery have been shared by the surgeon who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Ideal candidates for this cosmetic surgery are healthy nonsmokers at a stable weight with sagging, flat, or elongated breasts. Asymmetry, low nipples, and stretched skin are other qualifiers. 

“Most women who have breastfed children can benefit from a breast lift procedure,” says Dr. Sheila S. Nazarian, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. “And yes, you can get one no matter the size of your breasts. The surgery is the same,” even if you get a breast lift with little breast tissue to start.

A breast lift may benefit you if you have:

• Drooping breasts
• Stretched skin
• Nipples that sit below the natural breast crease
• Nipples that point down at the floor
• Enlarged areolas
• A pancake appearance from skin laxity and volume loss 
• Uneven or asymmetrical breasts
• Pendulous breasts

A boob lift alone can’t make breasts larger or smaller, bring them closer together, or create cleavage. 

Women who want more volume often choose to combine a breast lift with implants, but it’s not necessary.

A breast lift is considered a safe type of plastic surgery, with a relatively low complication rate of 2.37%, according to a study from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Northwestern University. The study observed one death out of 3,612 procedures, putting the mastopexy mortality rate at 0.03%.

The usual risks of surgery apply: possible bleeding, infection, anesthesia reactions, and scars. 

Tell your doctor and anesthesiologist about any medications you’re taking, as well as supplements and vitamins. They may request you stop taking blood thinners or fish oil capsules.

Risks specifically associated with breast lifts include:

• Damage or necrosis to the nipples or areolas, in the rare event that blood flow is cut off.
• Difficulty breastfeeding in the future (more on this below).
• Numbness in the nipples or breasts. Usually, sensation comes back within a few weeks, but the change can be permanent in rare cases. 
• Uneven breast shape or size can also result, as can asymmetry in nipple position. Dr. Rahban notes that while a breast lift improves breast symmetry, some asymmetry in the result is still very common. 
• In some situations, scars can be very noticeable.

To minimize these risks, find a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast lifts. Pay close attention to their patient reviews (the good and bad) and their before and after mastopexy photos before committing. Then carefully follow their aftercare instructions.

Plastic surgeons perform several different types of breast lifts, depending on the degree of sagging. Each technique involves creating a specific incision pattern, leaving a scar of similar size and shape.

The appearance of your breast, amount of excess skin, and position of the nipple relative to the breast crease will determine the type of incisions your surgeon recommends. 

At your consultation, your surgeon will examine, measure, and photograph your breasts. Then they’ll tell you which type of breast lift will best suit you and what kind of incisions and scars to expect. 

Periareolar, donut, or Benelli lift

• This full-circle incision is made around the outside edge of the areola, and can be used to correct sagging and for areola reduction. 
• “The periareolar ("donut" or Benelli) technique is suitable for the treatment of mild ptosis,” explains Dr. Jerome Edelstein, a plastic surgeon in Toronto, Canada. 
• While it is the least invasive form of a breast lift, you may not be able to achieve the results you want with this technique because it removes such little breast tissue. “While most patients come in asking for this technique, as it has the least scars, it is not a good lift for most patients, as it only elevates the breast a little,” notes Dr. Rahban.
• Also, the scars can widen over time giving a starburst appearance. “All of the tension is on the circle, and this can lead to poor scars,” says Dr. Gordon.

Lollipop or vertical lift 

• During a lollipop breast lift procedure, an incision is made around the areola, and another incision runs vertically from the bottom of the areola to the inframammary crease, below the breast. Together, they look like the shape of a lollipop. 
• “The advantages are a more limited scar and less bottoming out over time,” says Dr.Gilbert Lee, a plastic surgeon in San Diego, California.

Anchor lift 

• Anchor scar breast lift incisions are made around the areola, down to the base of the breast, and along the crease, in the shape of an anchor. 
• This method is ideal for patients with heavy sagging or after significant weight loss. “There are some patients with grade-3 ptosis (the most advanced grade of breast droop) that have so much redundant skin that an anchor incision must be added to remove it,” notes Dr. Lee.

Crescent lift

• A crescent-moon shaped incision is made around part of the areola. 
• It can be used to correct minor sagging or nipple positioning, including asymmetry.

According to Dr. Rahban, the crescent lift “is a controversial procedure, as in many cases it does not lift the breasts but rather simply stretch out the top of the areola and make it look oblong, like an egg.”

RealSelf Tip: Your provider may recommend a baseline mammogram to be taken before the procedure. This is done so the image can be compared to a post-operative mammogram, to detect any breast tissue changes.

Breast lift surgery is an outpatient procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation (so you'll be deeply relaxed and sleepy) or general anesthesia (so you’d be completely numb and asleep). 

• Your surgeon will use one of the breast lift techniques described above. 
• As they lift your breast tissue higher on the chest wall, they will layer sutures to support the deep tissue and create your new breast contour. 
• In most cases, they will also raise your nipple position and may reduce the size of your areolas. 
• They’ll remove any excess skin before closing the incisions with stitches, tissue adhesive, or surgical tape.

The surgery typically takes two to four hours. You should be able to go home the same day.

You’ll be groggy from the anesthesia, so make sure you have someone you trust there to drive you home and make sure you're comfortable.

Yes, you may notice a decrease in bra size after a lift, according to a study in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Your tissue will be elevated on the chest wall, and your breasts will seem slightly smaller because some skin is removed.

If you’re concerned about volume loss, talk with your surgeon about implants or fat transfer augmentation.

You'll likely be under anesthesia for the actual surgery, so you won't feel anything then. 

During recovery, you'll experience soreness, bruising, and swelling, but you shouldn’t feel much pain, says Dr. Larry Nichter, a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California. “There’s minimal discomfort, compared with a lot of other surgeries we do—just some minor incisional discomfort,” he says.

“The surgery has minimal pain because unlike an augmentation, where the muscle is elevated to insert an implant, a lift has no muscle work,” explains Dr. Rahban.

Your breast lift surgeon may prescribe pain medication for the first few days anyway, but don’t be surprised if you don’t need it. “I’d say 80 percent of my patients never touch a narcotic,” Dr. Nichter notes. 

After the first few days, an over-the-counter pain reliever should alleviate any soreness or discomfort.

Most breast lift patients are able to head back to an office job after 1 week of recovery.

If your work requires lifting anything over 10 pounds, you may need to take 4 to 6 weeks off while you heal. During that time, you'll also need to avoid lifting small children.

Here’s what to expect during breast lift recovery:

• When you first head home from your surgery, your breasts may be wrapped in gauze bandages and supported by a surgical bra. 
• You may or may not have small surgical drains, to prevent fluid buildup.
• Your surgeon will likely recommend wearing the surgical bra for several weeks before transitioning to a different bra. This prevents stretching the incisions, helps minimize swelling, and supports the tissue as it heals.
• Your breasts may be bruised and swollen for the first few weeks, with swelling peaking around day three. They’ll probably feel heavy and tight.  
• Your breast lift surgeon will give you aftercare instructions for changing your bandages and cleaning your incisions to prevent infection. They will also let you know when your drains and any stitches can come out at a follow-up appointment. 
• Until then, sleep on your back or side, and follow your doctor’s recommendations for when you can go back to your regular routine. “Patients tend to do too much too soon, quite frankly, because they’re feeling really good,” says Dr. Nichter.
• You should be healed enough to have sex at about 6 weeks after breast lift surgery.

“A patient will see an improvement immediately,” says Dr. Nichter. “I tell them they should expect to have 75% of their final results at three to four months, while the other 25% or so takes between six months and a whole year.” That's how long it takes for all of the swelling to go down. 

Scars will take 1 to 2 years to fade. “Surgical scarring typically heals more cleanly than accidental trauma. In many cases, once the scar is mature at twelve months, patients may have a very thin, almost imperceptible line,” says Dr. Joshua D. Zuckerman, a plastic surgeon in New York. 

Many doctors have comprehensive scar treatment regimens, so ask your surgeon what they recommend.

Related: What Exactly to Look for in Breast Lift Before and After Photos

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) says that some women do have problems with breastfeeding after a breast lift, if ducts are damaged or even severed during surgery. 

Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Hughes says it’s unlikely, because “sensation and breast ductal tissue is preserved in most techniques,” but other surgeons disagree.

“I tell patients that it is likely they will not be able to breastfeed after breast lift surgery, and if they can, that's great and it's a bonus,” says Dr. Rahban. 

If breastfeeding could be a priority for you in the future, it may be best to wait until afterward before you pursue breast lift surgery, to ensure that you won’t have a problem. Breastfeeding could also compromise your breast lift results—another good reason to wait.

You'll need to wear a support bra for several months after your surgery—and it’s not a great idea to go completely braless after that.

"I have my patients wear a bra 24/7 for the first 3 months after a breast lift and discourage them from going braless for any extended period of time," says Aiea, Hawaii plastic surgeon Dr. Jeff Healy. "Gravity never takes a vacation." 

Dr. Rahban strongly agrees. “You will need to wear a bra after a breast lift forever, if you want the results to last. Once the lift is done, your breasts look lifted and pretty, but gravity is at work immediately, and over time they will slowly sag again. A bra is the only thing that will slow down that process.”

“I usually give two answers,” says Dr. Nichter. “The first is forever,” because the surgical change is permanent. However, “you’re not stopping the hands of time,” he says. “Your breasts are still going to age.” 

Sun exposure, smoking, genetic factors, your skin type and elasticity, medical conditions, and a larger breast size can all accelerate the breast aging process. 

“In general, people don’t come in for revisions for at least 8 to 10 years after a breast lift, and it’s often a lot longer than that,” says Dr. Nichter.

Dr. Gordon frequently employs soft tissue support when performing these operations, to offset gravity and future aging. Her favorite options are GalaFLEX and Durasorb. 

In a 2022 study, GalaFLEX was shown to sustain “stability of the lower pole over time” in patients undergoing breast lifts (with and without implants). 

GalaFLEX has also been found to be useful in complex revision breast surgeries.

Breast lift surgery has a 95% Worth It Rating on RealSelf, with most breast lift reviews reporting a positive experience and satisfaction with their breast lift results.

Those who said their mastopexy was Not Worth It cited issues like infection, asymmetry, obvious scars, or being left with ptosis that required a revision surgery, at additional expense.

To help ensure that your experience will be worth it, consult with at least two (and ideally more) board-certified plastic surgeons about your concerns and goals, and get detailed cost estimates. This should help you anticipate whether this procedure will be worth it for you.

No other procedure lifts sagging breast tissue like surgery, but BodyTite, a radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis device, has been shown to shrink and lift the tissues of the breasts to some degree. In a small 2022 study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, authors found the procedure to be “a minimally invasive, effective method to improve mild to moderate breast ptosis with minimal scarring and high patient satisfaction.”

These options have not been shown to work:

• Topical creams or “breast lift tape” do not work to lift drooping breasts. “Unfortunately, there is no cream available that will lift the breasts,” says Dr. Michael Loffredo, a plastic surgeon in Hyannis, Massachusetts. 
• Breast exercises may build muscle, but you can’t get rid of sagging tissue and skin with a workout. “The only way to substantially lift the breast is with a breast lift,” says Dr. Loffredo.
• Nonsurgical dermal fillers or fat removal procedures won’t lift the breasts either, but cosmetic procedures like Kybella or CoolSculpting can target the “bra bulge” or underarm fat, if that is a concern for you.