Breast Lift / Mastopexy

A breast lift, or mastopexy, raises and reshapes breasts that are sagging due to pregnancy, nursing, genetics, weight loss or aging. Often times, the skin has stretched to accommodate weight gain or breastfeeding, but then sags after the weight is lost or the woman is no longer nursing. No amount of exercise can tighten this tissue back to its youthful appearance. Sometimes the areola (the darkened area surrounding the nipple) has increased as well, and its size can be reduced during this procedure if desired. Some clients also opt to combine this operation with the placement of breast implants to further improve the shape and contour of the breasts and increase their size.

When a mastopexy is performed, sagging skin is removed from the lower part of each breast. Then, the entire breast mound, including the nipple and its surrounding areola, are lifted to a higher position on the chest. As always, care is taken to keep scars at a minimum, especially since this procedure requires incisions around the areola and vertically from its lower edge to the crease beneath the breast.

A successful mastopexy results in a youthful breast appearance with improved firmness and contouring as well as an elevation of the nipples. Patients with minimal sagging and smaller breasts may be candidates for modified mastopexy procedures which offer less extensive incisions and less scarring.

For additional information on breast lifts, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for this procedure.