Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast lift, also known as ‘breast uplift’, and ‘mastopexy’, is a surgical procedure often considered by women after experiencing significant changes in their breasts after pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Over time, the breast’s shape and firmness can undergo significant changes, particularly an increase in droopiness. Apart from pregnancy, several other causes can affect the shape of the breasts, including changes in weight, genetics, and the natural ageing process can significantly affect the shape of breasts, thus diminishing their youthful appearance. The skin envelope overlying the breasts naturally diminishes in elasticity over the years. This gradually causes the breasts to droop and is often associated with the breasts taking on a pendular appearance. The reduction in volume will often cause the nipples to drop to a lower position with a possible increase in areola diameter. Large breasts tend to be more prone to sagging compared to smaller breasts, although any woman may experience these issues. The changes leading to breast atrophy are permanent in nature.

RELATED: Breast Lift FAQs – Q&A about Mastopexy Surgery

View our breast lift patient education video

Fortunately, there is a robust solution in the form of a breast uplift which can dramatically restore a more lifted and youthful appearance to the female chest. In most breast lift procedures, the surgeon will perform an enhanced correction to compensate for the breasts falling into their natural position once the swelling from surgery settles down. The net effect from a breast lift is a more ‘perkier’ and prominent breast mound which has a more natural appearance in harmony with the structure of the chest.

Breast lift surgery, otherwise known as a mastopexy, lifts the breast and involves the removal of excess skin with tightening of the surrounding tissue. While a breast lift does not make the breasts any bigger in size, it does make the breasts feel firm and can appear more youthful. A breast reduction is identical in the types of incisions used, but in addition to the removal of skin, the surgeon removes underlying breast tissue to reduce the size of the breasts. Breast lift surgery is also commonly combined with breast augmentation for women who have both volume loss and drooping of the breasts.

If you want your breasts to look bigger, you may wish to undertake a breast augmentation, breast augmentation, and uplift or fat transfer to the breasts.

At Centre for Surgery, we only show photos of breast lift patients that have given full written consent allowing the use of their images on our website.

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Breast ptosis, also known as sagging breasts or drooping breasts, is a common condition in which the breasts lose their shape and firmness over time. This can occur as a result of factors such as aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss or gain, and genetics.

What are the different grades of breast ptosis?

There are four grades of breast ptosis, or sagging, as defined by the Regnault Classification:

Grade 1: Mild ptosis, where the nipple is at or above the inframammary fold (the crease beneath the breast), and the breast maintains a good shape.

Grade 2: Moderate ptosis, where the nipple is below the inframammary fold but still above the lower pole of the breast. The breast may appear less full and shapely.

Grade 3: Severe ptosis, where the nipple is at or below the inframammary fold, and the breast appears flattened and elongated.

Grade 4: Very severe ptosis, where the nipple is at or below the level of the inframammary fold, and the breast appears pendulous and empty with a flattened lower pole.

In some cases, ptosis may be accompanied by a loss of breast volume or asymmetry in the size and shape of the breasts.

Breast ptosis can have a significant impact on a woman’s self-esteem and can also make it difficult to find clothing that fits well. For women who are self-conscious about the appearance of their sagging breasts, breast lift surgery, also known as Mastopexy, may be an option.

The procedure involves removing excess skin and repositioning the nipple and areola to a higher position on the breast. In some cases, the surgeon may also use breast implants to restore lost volume or reshape the breast tissue.

It’s important to have a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your individual case. They will examine your breast and give you advice on the most appropriate procedure for you, the risks and benefits and the results you can expect.

Breast enhancement procedures generally fall into two categories: breast lift and breast augmentation with implants. While a breast lift involves tightening the skin envelope with the removal of excess skin, breast augmentation is designed to increase the volume of the breasts with a silicone implant.

• Breast lift surgery focuses on correcting breast droopiness. A breast implant surgery is designed to increase the size of the breasts.
• The incisions for a full breast lift are more extensive than those for a breast augmentation.
• Breast lift surgery results in a more natural appearance of the breast
• Breast lift surgery is a great option for women who are happy with the size of their breasts
• A breast lift can be combined with breast augmentation, either in the same procedure or as a 2 stage procedure
• While a breast augmentation can slightly lift the breasts, particularly if the implants are placed on top of the muscle, only a breast lift can address all types of breast sagging from mild to severe
• Although the breast lift procedure takes longer to perform and involves more incisions, the recovery process is a lot quicker compared with breast implant surgery

Questions to ask at your breast lift consultation

As a result of degeneration of the breast tissue (medically known as breast ptosis), the breasts will appear hollow, flat, or stretched out. The effects will vary depending on the shape and size of your breast and may be more noticeable with those who have larger breasts. This occurs naturally as you age but can also occur due to factors such as breastfeeding, pregnancy, genetics, and lifestyle choices. This can often negatively impact women’s self-esteem, confidence, and body image. The solution for this is a breast lift.

Mini breast lift vs Full breast lift

There are a variety of breast lifts that you can choose from, which include minimally invasive procedures or major surgical options.

The breast lift can be performed in one of four ways:

Crescent Lift

The crescent mastopexy is performed without mobilising the areola and can address minor asymmetries and can be used to minimise scars for patients with mild to moderate ptosis.

Doughnut Lift

The doughnut mastopexy can be a great option if the nipple and areola are not wide and do not need to be raised more than 2cm. The procedure can be used to minimise scarring of the area around the areola and preserve the nipple-areola sensation. The surgery is also much shorter compared with the more major types of breast lifts. A doughnut breast lift can be combined with a breast implant in a single stage to raise the nipple and areola and simultaneously increase breast volume and projection.

Lollipop Lift

The lollipop or vertical breast lift is a more powerful technique with a greater ability to remove loose skin. There is less tension on the doughnut incision. The vertical breast lift is a good option for patients with moderate to significant ptosis of the breast.

Anchor Lift

The inverted T or anchor lift is the most invasive type of breast lift and has the greatest ability to correct severe ptosis by removing excess skin and elevation of the nipple. A breast lift is ideal for moderate to severe breast drooping. The technique is particularly useful for massive weight loss patients. A downside of the inverted T lift is the significant scar burden with periareolar, vertical, and horizontal components. There is a small risk of minor wound breakdown at the inverted T junction, which is easily treated with regular dressing changes.

The first two techniques are mini lifts, while the latter 2 are more complete breast lifts. These techniques will ensure you achieve the desired results while having minimal scarring. Your surgeon will determine the most appropriate method for you. Any prominent scarring can be addressed with several scar management techniques, including laser scar reduction, offered at the Centre for Surgery.

 When deciding on which technique you should choose, you will need to think about several things, including:

• The size and shape of your breasts
• How much lift will be required
• How much skin elasticity do you have
• Your preferences

The breast lift aims to make the breasts sit higher, increase their firmness, and look more youthful.

Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a procedure that is used to reshape and raise sagging breasts. It is typically recommended for women who have experienced changes in the shape and position of their breasts due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or ageing.

To determine whether you are a suitable candidate for breast lift surgery, your surgeon will likely consider several factors, including:

• The size and shape of your breasts: A breast lift can be performed on women with various breast sizes and shapes, but the results may be more dramatic in women with larger breasts.
• The degree of sagging: A breast lift can correct a range of sagging, from mild to severe.
• Your skin elasticity: Women with good skin elasticity tend to achieve better results from a breast lift than women with less elastic skin.
• Your overall health: You will need to be in good general health to undergo breast lift surgery.
• Your expectations and goals: You should have realistic expectations about what a breast lift can achieve and be committed to maintaining a stable weight and healthy lifestyle after the surgery to maintain the results.

It’s important to consult with a specialist plastic surgeon at Centre for Surgery to discuss your individual case. They will examine your breast and advise you on the most appropriate procedure for you, the risks and benefits and the results you can expect.

It’s also worth mentioning that a breast lift may be combined with breast augmentation or reduction surgery to achieve the desired results.

It’s important to note that breast lift surgery is not recommended for women who are planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding in the future, as pregnancy and breastfeeding can reverse the effects of the surgery.

Preparing for a breast lift, also known as mastopexy, can help ensure that you have the best possible outcome from the surgery. Here are some steps you can take to prepare for your breast lift:

1. Schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon: During your consultation, your surgeon will examine your breasts, discuss your goals and expectations, and determine whether a breast lift is a right procedure for you. They will also explain the risks and benefits of the surgery, as well as the potential recovery time.
2. Stop smoking: If you smoke, it is important to quit at least six weeks before your surgery. Smoking can interfere with healing and increase the risk of complications.
3. Avoid taking certain medications: Certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and blood thinners, can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with a list of medications to avoid before the surgery.
4. Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first day or two after surgery: After a breast lift, you will likely experience some pain and discomfort and will not be able to drive or care for yourself for a few days.
5. Prepare your home for recovery: You will need to rest and avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activities for several weeks after the surgery. So, it’s important to arrange your home to make it comfortable and easily accessible during your recovery.
6. Prepare your wardrobe: You will be wearing a surgical bra for several weeks after the surgery, and your clothing options will be limited, so it’s important to have comfortable clothing that will fit over the bandages and surgical bra.
7. Follow all pre-operative instructions provided by your surgeon: These instructions will include detailed information on preparing for your surgery and will be provided to you before your procedure.

Preparing for a breast lift can take some time, but it’s worth the effort to ensure you’re comfortable and have a smooth recovery. It’s important to remember that breast lift surgery is a serious procedure, and it’s important to follow all pre and post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon to ensure the best possible outcome.

Your breast lift surgery will be performed in our central London Baker Street facility as an outpatient, which means you will be admitted and discharged on the same day.

The benefits of outpatient cosmetic surgery

You will receive general anaesthesia, and the procedure typically takes 3 hours to perform.  If the breast lift is combined with additional procedures, the surgery may be longer. Breast enlargement with uplift takes about 4 hours to perform. A general anaesthetic means you will be comfortably asleep for the procedure. 

Breast lift step by step:

STEP 1: For a full breast uplift, the surgeon will make an incision encircling the areola, which then goes vertically downward from the nipple and then runs horizontally across the breast crease. This pattern is known as the ‘anchor type’ incision.

STEP 2:  The surgeon then removes skin and fat according to the shape to be achieved.

STEP 3: The surgeon then repositions the nipple upwards into a more natural position that is more forward-facing.

STEP 4: Incision closure. Once the surgeon is satisfied with the overall shape, the incisions will then be closed using dissolvable sutures with special sutures to minimise visible scarring.

What is an augmentation mastopexy?

After the surgery, you will be able to notice the breasts appear fuller. However, the final results will not be visible until the swelling completely goes down.

Breast lift with implants

If you wish, you can combine breast augmentation and a breast lift and undergo a procedure known as an augmentation mastopexy. This is a good option for women who want to address both the lack of shape in the breasts, as well as the level of sagging. Women with breast asymmetry who only require slight correction or who have been pregnant are considered good candidates for this procedure.

Before undergoing your consultation and procedure, make sure you understand the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery.

Breast lift surgery is associated with surprisingly little in the way of discomfort and often less than having breast augmentation which is considered a more minor procedure. You will find you will be able to shower generally after two days, with the first three days typically being the most painful recovery period. During this time, you will be advised which medication you can take to alleviate discomfort.

Bruising and swelling are often seen after a breast lift, but these clinical features will resolve naturally over the following one to two weeks.

Breast lift recovery often needs a period off work, and this is usually 7-10 days. Most patients are back at work after a week. Strenuous activities should be avoided, which include gym workouts for approximately 6-8 weeks and always check with your surgeon when it is safe to resume physical exercise. Doing too much too soon may increase the risk of prolonged swelling and possibly delayed wound healing.

How to speed up recovery after cosmetic surgery

You must wear a support bra at all times (except when showering) for the first month to ensure your breasts heal appropriately.

After the procedure, you may notice the scars appear red and sometimes lumpy. However, after the first month, this will reside, and the scars will reduce in size and look white rather than red. Most of these scars will occur around the areola.

Lifestyle changes to make after having cosmetic surgery

However, as this is a surgical procedure, there are some risks, particularly with the scars. Scars can sometimes turn into:

• Hypertrophic scars: these will appear red and will generally only occur
• Keloid scars: this occurs when scars heal too quickly and may occur in areas other than the incision site
• Capsular contracture: This is an internal lining from scar tissue that forms around a breast implant. This will make the implant tighter and may cause it to be misshapen.

You will have several follow-up appointments with your surgeon. The surgeon will assess the progress of your healing.  At the follow-up appointments, the surgeon will discuss when certain activities can be resumed and when you can wear a normal bra.

Breast lift surgery is a commonly performed procedure at Centre for Surgery in London. At your consultation, your surgeon will discuss the potential risks and complications associated with breast lift surgery in depth. You can minimise the risk of complications by choosing an experienced surgeon at Centre for Surgery.

Potential complications of breast lift:

• Anaesthetic risks
• Postoperative haemorrhage
• Hypertrophic scars / Keloid scars
• Delayed wound healing
• Seroma or haematoma
• Nerve injury or sensory disturbance
• Change to nipple sensation
• Asymmetry of the breasts
• Surgical site infection
• Fat necrosis
• Nipple/areola necrosis – risk increased with smoking
• Requirement for revision surgery

There are several factors that will determine the overall cost of your breast lift procedure, and the final quotation will be given after your face-to-face consultation with your plastic surgeon.

• Mini uplift or full uplift
• Breast lift alone or combined with breast implants (known as an augmentation-mastopexy)
• Previous breast surgery

Why not call 0207 993 4849 and speak to one of our expert patient coordinators, who may be able to give you a rough costing before your procedure?

Remember that price should never be the determining factor when choosing your provider. We feel that safety and quality of service should be your number one priority and instil in you the confidence that our team will look after you before, during, and after your procedure to the best of their ability.

Centre for Surgery is fully approved to offer breast lift finance via our specialist finance partner, Chrysalis Finance.

You no longer need to use your savings to pay for your treatment – you can apply to spread the cost of your procedure with Chrysalis Finance using their simple 1,2,3 application to pay for it.

Please don’t wait until you have enough money for your treatment. Apply today and (subject to status) pay for your procedure easily in monthly instalments, using one of their payment options.

Chrysalis Finance is the only ethical provider that focuses solely on the provision of specialist financing for medical procedures.

Patients keen to explore if a breast lift is right for them are recommended to book a consultation with one of our expert plastic surgeons. At your consultation, the surgeon will perform a thorough review of your medical history, and what medicines you are taking, followed by a comprehensive physical examination. The surgeon will want to learn about your expectations and what you expect to achieve from the procedure. The full range of treatment options will be discussed for the breast lift procedure, and you will have a full opportunity to ask any questions you may have. If you would like to have a volume increase as well as reshape your breasts, then a breast augmentation combined with the mastopexy would be appropriate. The surgeon will show you a range of implants in different sizes and shapes. For women who want a more natural appearance to their breasts, the option of shaped breast or teardrop breast implants can be used in combination with a breast lift. Fat grafting to the breast is also an option for women who are not keen on silicone implants. Your surgeon may perform computer 3D imaging to help you visualise how you could look after the breast lift procedure. Once you have decided to proceed with breast lift surgery, your surgeon will design a bespoke treatment plan. Your dedicated patient coordinator will liaise closely with you to guide you smoothly through all stages of the patient journey.

Our surgeons are known for their artistry and strive to help women to have natural and beautiful breasts. Our surgeons believe that the key to a successful outcome after a boob lift is the surgeon-patient relationship. Before committing to proceed with a clinical decision, your surgeon will spend time getting to know about personal goals and preferences in detail. This might sometimes require a second follow-up consultation. Our surgeons provide the safest and most natural-looking breast implant procedures in London, the southeast, and the UK.

All our surgeons are fully qualified and experienced plastic surgeons with the skill to perform all types of aesthetic breast surgery.

Our surgeons are full members of:

What is included in my breast lift treatment package?

• As many preoperative consultations with your surgeon as you like to make sure the mastopexy procedure is right for you
• Treatment at a specialist day surgery facility recently rated ‘Good’ by the CQC
• Enhanced same-day discharge with the added benefits of recovering in your own home
• 24/7 clinical support from your surgeon for the first 48 hours and our expert postoperative support team
• Your very own dedicated patient coordinator
• In-depth preoperative medical assessment to make sure you are fully fit for your breast uplift procedure
• Exceptionally high standards of postoperative care described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC with regular telephone and face-to-face checks.

RealSelf Top Doctors for breast lift surgery

RealSelf’s top doctor status is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf doctor community.  This status is earned by achieving consistently high patient satisfaction (from RealSelf reviews), getting excellent feedback on expert answers to patient questions, and investing significant time in Q&A and other doctor activities. RealSelf’s top doctors are rated among the best breast surgeons in the United Kingdom.

Our aftercare program was recently described as ‘outstanding’ by our regulator, the Care Quality Commission. 

Our postoperative support team calls all our patients the day after their breast lift procedure and then every other day thereafter for the first two weeks. The proactive nature of our postoperative support gives every patient the best opportunity for a smooth postoperative recovery free of complications. In many cases, if complications were to occur, their impact is markedly lessened by early detection, prompt clinical assessment, and correct treatment. When a patient expresses concern to our team over the phone, then we often call patients on the same day for assessment with one of our expert nursing team. Even if there is no significant issue, the careful explanation and calm reassurance provided by our team can help to alleviate any worries you may have experienced.