“What is the best type of breast lift?” is a question we encounter so often during consultations at Capizzi MD. It can be confusing and overwhelming to know the best option for you. As you go to different consultations, each surgeon recommends a different one with its own set of scars, pricing, and pros & cons. This blog is here to guide you and explore the different types of breast lifts, from minimally invasive options to those addressing significant sagging. By understanding your options, you can feel empowered to discuss your goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon and achieve the results you desire.
What A Breast Lift Does
A breast lift removes excess skin, recenters the areola, and resizes the areola if it is stretched. The amount of adjustment needed will determine your surgeon’s recommendation. Other factors will also play into their decision including your history (pregnancies and weight fluctuations), age, the integrity of your skin and tissue (how much laxity or “snap” does your skin have), or if you desire an implant to enhance volume.
A breast lift alone does not enhance volume and it is extremely common to see patients add an implant to their procedures as a way of adding volume to their new perky breasts. Check out our Breast Augmentation + Lift photos here.
The Full Lift
A full breast lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that addresses breasts that have undergone significant changes in their appearance over time. A full lift is the most comprehensive type of breast lift surgery and will remove large amounts of excess skin while tightening underlying breast tissue.
- Recommended for: Patients who have a lot of excess breast skin or have experienced significant volume loss. This could be caused by breast size change during pregnancy or with weight gain/loss. It is common for patients to describe their breasts as being “deflated” or mention the need to “scoop them up into a bra.”
- Nipples: Oftentimes a patient’s nipples are oriented towards the floor, or located in the very bottom part of their breast.
- Scars: Typically an anchor scar or a lollipop scar depending on the needs of the patient.
- Implants: Very common to be placed sub-muscularly during this type of procedure. This enhances the volume and cleavage of the breast while keeping the weight of the implant supported by the muscles and not the skin.
- Surgery Time: Typically 2-3 hours
The Modified Lift
A modified breast lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that is designed to address concerns of sagging and drooping in patients that do require significant changes, but who do not require the extensive nature of a full lift. Modified lifts primarily target small to moderate amounts of excess skin and recentering of the nipples for a more pleasing appearance. This type of lift may not significantly alter the breast tissue itself.
- Recommended for: Patients who have some excess breast skin or sagging but who do not have extreme drooping. This excess breast skin could be caused by breast size change during pregnancy or with weight gain/loss. It is common for patients to describe their breasts as being “saggy but not too saggy.”
- Nipples: Oftentimes a patient’s nipples are located in the lower part of the breast but may still be pointing upward or straight ahead.
- Modified Lift Scars: Typically, a periareolar with crease scar. These are chosen because they fade almost completely into the natural contours of the body.
- Breast Implants: Very common to be placed sub-muscularly during this type of procedure. This enhances the volume and cleavage of the breast while keeping the weight of the implant-supported by the muscles and not the skin.
- Modified Lift Surgery Time: Typically, 1.5-2.5 hours
The Mini Lift
A mini breast lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure for patients who require slight repositioning on the areola but who do not require actual lifting or removal of the breast tissue itself.
- Recommended for: Patients who require a little recentering of the areola but do not have excess skin or need substantial lifting. It is common for patients to describe their breasts as being asymmetrical.
- Nipples: Oftentimes a patient’s nipples are just slightly off-center.
- Mini Lift Scars: A periareolar scar only.
- Breast Implants: Almost 100% of mini lift patients also have a breast augmentation during the same procedure.
- Mini Lift Surgery Time: Typically, 1.5 hours with breast augmentation
The Breast Reduction
While not technically called a breast lift, a breast reduction does include removal of excess tissue and lifting of the breast and nipples. The breast reduction procedure provides significant changes in the breast tissue and the breast skin.
- Recommended for: Patients who require removal of excess skin and tissue.
- Nipples: Oftentimes a patient’s nipples are oriented towards the floor, or located in the very bottom part of their breast.
- Breast Reduction Scars: Typically an anchor scar to allow the surgeon to remove skin and tissue.
- Breast Implants: Not often placed during this procedure, if a patient desires a breast augmentation later on to improve upper pole volume then that can be accommodated.
- Surgery Time: Typically 2-3 hours
Can I Choose the Type Of Breast Lift I Get?
We frequently will encounter patients saying, “I do not want a full lift, I only want a mini lift.” While we understand that it can be overwhelming to consider more invasive procedures, your board-certified plastic surgeon will only recommend the amount of surgery they feel is best for your case. At Capizzi MD, your surgeon will discuss the reason they recommended the type of lift and make sure to answer any questions you have about the procedure. If you are curious about if another lift is an option for you, just ask during your consultation!
If you have additional questions about pricing or recovery, or are curious which breast lift may be the best option for you, simply fill out this form to receive a call back from a member of our Patient Care team.