It is very common for women to need a breast lift at some point in their lives. Breasts that were perky and firm in your twenties rarely ever stay that way due many factors. As you age, your skin loses elasticity and gravity takes its toll. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, large changes in weight, and even exercise can add to sagging and drooping.

A breast lift can remove a portion of stretched skin and tissue to restore a forward-pointing, youthful appearance. This procedure is popular with women with any size breasts, as the sagging is typically displayed in nipples pointing away from each other or downward (also called “ptosis”).

A Crescent Breast Lift is typically regarded as the least invasive of lifts, as it only has a small, semi-circular scar that lines up with the upper half of the areola. This means it can be a great fit for a patient who only needs a small amount of realignment in their nipples.

Different lifts and which one might best fit your needs:

Crescent Breast Lift

  • Only effective for smaller breasts with minimal sagging
  • Used to “relocate” the nipple

“Donut” or Benelli Breast Lift

  • Only 1 incision made around the nipple
  • Effective with small-medium sized breasts with moderate sagging
  • Optimal for patients with excess skin located around the nipple or with larger areolas

Modified or Vertical Breast Lift

  • Requires two incisions, making it less invasive than the Lollipop or Full Lift
  • Optimal for patients with excess skin located horizontally from the nipple
  • Effective for small-medium sized breasts with moderate-to-high sagging
  • Resizes the areola if applicable

Full or Lollipop Breast Lift

  • Requires three incisions
  • Optimal for patients who have excess skin that spans in all directions across the breast
  • Effective for medium-large breasts with moderate-to-high sagging
  • Resizes the areola if applicable
Types of Breast Lift Techniques

Common Breast Lift Myths

Myth: All breast lifts leave significant scarring.

BUSTED: Not true. There are MANY levels of lift such as the crescent lift, the Benelli lift, the modified lift, or the full lift (also called “lollipop”). The lift that best fits your needs depends on the amount of correction needed, and if an implant is going to be used during your surgery. Breast lift scars are hidden in the natural contours of your body, and should be 100% hidden by a bra or bikini top. These scars fade with time, becoming barely noticeable within 1-2 years.

Myth: Breast lifts take longer to heal from than a breast augmentation.

BUSTED: Not true. Although the incisions are generally larger breast lift patients find that their recoveries follow the exact same timeline as a breast augmentation. With most patients returning to work in 2-3 days and returning to driving in 1-2 days. There is virtually no difference in recovery period.

Myth: I can opt out of a breast lift and just get the implants if I don’t want the scars.

BUSTED: Unfortunately, this is not true. When your trusted board-certified physician recommends a lift it is with your best interest in mind. The goal is never to have more surgery than is necessary, so a lift is recommended when it is needed to get to your goals. Patients who are allowed to “opt out” of a breast lift will see their results look like a Snoopy dog’s nose. This is because the implant is placed correctly, but the rest of the breast continues to sag below. If you have questions about the level of lift recommended, please ask your physician! If you aren’t sure if that’s the right option for you, get a second opinion! Your care team wants you to feel completely comfortable with your decision to get cosmetic surgery.

Don’t worry! It’s not up to you which breast lift would be perfect for your needs. This job is best left to a board-certified physician that you trust to put your cosmetic needs first. If you are interested in a consultation to discover more about breast lifts and which one would fit you, give our office a call at 704-655-8988.