In this guide15 sections
- Key Points
- What Is a Lollipop Breast Lift (Vertical Mastopexy)?
- Where Is the Lollipop Breast Lift Scar?
- How Bad Is the Lollipop Breast Lift Scar and How Does It Heal?
- Who Is a Good Candidate for a Lollipop Breast Lift?
- How Is a Lollipop Breast Lift Performed?
- Lollipop Breast Lift Recovery: What to Expect
- Lollipop Breast Lift Risks and Side Effects
- Lollipop Breast Lift Before and After: What Results Look Like
- Lollipop Breast Lift vs Lollipop Breast Reduction
- Is a Lollipop Breast Lift Available on the NHS, and What Does It Cost?
- Lollipop Breast Lift at Centre for Surgery
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Lollipop Breast Lift in London
- References
Key Points
- What a lollipop breast lift is: a vertical mastopexy that lifts the breast and nipple through two incisions, one around the areola and one straight down to the breast crease, so there is no scar along the fold.
- Who it suits: moderate sagging, where the nipple sits at or just below the crease, and a fair amount of loose skin needs to go. Mild droop usually needs only a donut lift, and severe droop an anchor lift.
- The lollipop breast lift scar: it is permanent. It starts pink or red and firm, softens over the first few months and usually fades to a pale, flat line by about 12 months.
- Recovery: a day-case operation under TIVA lasting two to three hours. Most people return to desk work in 7 to 10 days, wear a surgical bra day and night for six weeks and resume full exercise at six weeks.
- Risks to know about: scar problems, nipple changes and asymmetry are the commonest issues, and a lift can reduce your chance of breastfeeding successfully. Breasts also keep ageing after a lift.
- It does not add volume: a lift changes position and skin tightness, not size.
A lollipop breast lift, also called a vertical breast lift or vertical mastopexy, is the technique many people with moderate sagging end up discussing, because it lifts the breast properly without the horizontal fold scar of an anchor breast lift. It does more than a periareolar (donut) lift or a crescent lift.
This guide covers where the lollipop lift scar sits, how it heals, who the operation suits, what recovery involves and the risks, using published studies where numbers exist. For the wider picture, our breast lift page explains every technique, and our comparison of the types of breast lift sets the four incision patterns side by side.
What Is a Lollipop Breast Lift (Vertical Mastopexy)?
A lollipop breast lift raises sagging breasts by removing excess skin, reshaping the breast tissue into a higher, firmer mound and moving the nipple and areola up to a better position. The name comes from the incision, a circle around the areola with a straight line running down from it to the crease under the breast, which looks like a lollipop. Surgeons call the same operation a vertical mastopexy or circumvertical mastopexy, and patients also search for it as a vertical breast lift, a lollipop lift or a lollipop boob lift, while in the UK a breast lift is also called a breast uplift. These are all one procedure.
The nipple is not removed. It stays attached to its own blood and nerve supply and is moved higher on a pedicle of breast tissue. The principles are the same as in breast reduction, where the surgeon repositions the nipple, reshapes the tissue and tailors the skin to fit the new shape[1], except that a lift does not remove breast volume. If your main concern is size or weight, our guide to breast lift vs breast reduction explains the difference.
The evidence on mastopexy as a whole is reassuring. In a 2019 systematic review of 34 studies and 1,888 patients ↗ in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, mastopexy without implants was found to be a reliable aesthetic procedure, with unsatisfactory breast shape in only 1.3% of patients and an overall complication rate of 10.4%[2].
Where Is the Lollipop Breast Lift Scar?
The lollipop lift scar has two parts. One runs in a circle around the edge of the areola, where the darker skin meets the breast skin, and the other runs vertically from the bottom of the areola down to the breast crease. There is no horizontal scar along the crease itself, which is the main reason people choose this technique over an anchor lift.
The vertical part of the scar usually ends at or just above the crease. In some patients with a lot of loose skin, a short horizontal extension is needed at the bottom to keep the skin flat, and your surgeon will tell you at consultation if this is likely. As the scars sit on the underside of the breast, most are hidden by a bra or bikini top, although the scar around the areola is the most visible when you are undressed. Our guide to breast lift scars compares what each technique leaves.
How Bad Is the Lollipop Breast Lift Scar and How Does It Heal?
Every breast lift leaves permanent scars, and the lollipop scar is longer than a donut scar and shorter than an anchor scar. How it ends up looking depends on your skin, how much skin is removed and the tension on the closure, and no surgeon can promise a particular result.
The usual pattern is that the scar starts pink and tender, turns red and firm over the first six weeks, softens from about three months and then fades and flattens. By around 12 months most people have a pale, thin line. The scar never disappears, but it commonly becomes much less noticeable.
Why does the vertical scar pucker?
The vertical scar is closed by gathering a long length of skin into a shorter line, so the skin along it can look bunched or puckered in the first weeks, particularly towards the bottom. This usually relaxes over the first three to six months as the skin stretches and settles. Surgeons have long recognised that a too-long lower breast or a small dog-ear at the end of the vertical scar can be a problem with this technique[3], and persistent bunching can sometimes be tidied with a small revision once the scar has matured.
Can you reduce lollipop breast lift scars?
Some things help and some do not. Keeping the wounds clean and dry, wearing your surgical bra continuously so the incisions are not pulled, avoiding smoking and protecting the scars from the sun for three months all make a difference. Once the wounds have fully healed, your surgeon may suggest silicone gel or sheeting. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials in the journal Burns found silicone gels were associated with both preventive and treatment effects on hypertrophic scars, although many of the trials were at high risk of bias[4]. Some people form thick, raised scars whatever is done, and these can be treated if they appear. Be wary of any promise of a scarless breast lift.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Lollipop Breast Lift?
A lollipop lift suits moderate sagging, where the nipple sits at or just below the breast crease and there is a meaningful amount of loose skin. In practice it suits you if:
- your nipple has dropped to or below the crease (breast ptosis grade 2, moderate sagging);
- you want a clearly higher, firmer breast and accept a vertical scar to get it;
- you want to avoid the horizontal fold scar of an anchor lift;
- you are a non-smoker, at a stable weight, and fit for surgery under TIVA.
It is less suitable where the breast is very large or very low, because a vertical scar alone may not be enough to take out the skin, and an anchor lift or a reduction with a lift may serve you better.
Lollipop lift vs donut lift vs anchor lift: which do you need?
The choice is made mainly by where your nipple sits relative to the crease and how much skin there is. A donut lift suits mild droop and leaves a scar only around the areola. An anchor lift suits severe droop and adds a scar along the crease. The lollipop sits in between. A mini breast lift may be enough if you are at the milder end, and your surgeon will confirm the right pattern at assessment, often after marking you standing up.
Can you have a lollipop breast lift with implants?
Yes. Where the breast has lost volume as well as position, a lollipop lift can be combined with implants in one operation, which is called an augmentation mastopexy. Our guides to breast lift vs breast augmentation and breast lift without implants explain when each is enough, and separating the lift and implants into two stages is sometimes safer. If you want more upper-breast fullness without an implant, a breast lift with auto-augmentation reuses lower breast tissue that would otherwise be discarded.
Lollipop breast lift after pregnancy or weight loss
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight loss stretch the skin and leave the breast emptier and lower, and it is usually advised to wait until your family is complete and your weight is stable. Read more in our guides to how soon after pregnancy you can consider a breast lift and sagging breasts after weight loss. If your tummy is also a concern, the mummy makeover combines breast and abdominal surgery.
How Is a Lollipop Breast Lift Performed?
At Centre for Surgery the operation is a day case under TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia), so you are asleep throughout, and it takes around two to three hours. The steps are:
- Marking. Your surgeon marks the new nipple position and the incision lines while you stand, because the breast shape changes when you lie down.
- Incisions and skin removal. The incisions are made around the areola and down to the crease, and a calculated section of loose skin is removed.
- Reshaping. The breast tissue is lifted and reshaped into a firmer mound, and the nipple and areola are moved up on their blood supply. The areola is usually reduced in size as well.
- Closure. The wounds are closed in layers with dissolvable stitches, and a surgical bra is fitted before you go home.
A responsible adult must collect you and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
Lollipop Breast Lift Recovery: What to Expect
Recovery is hardest in the first week and gets steadily easier. In outline:
- Days 1 to 5: tightness, swelling and bruising are most noticeable, and you take prescribed pain relief. Keep your arms below shoulder height and avoid heavy lifting.
- Days 7 to 10: a wound check. Most people return to desk work and can drive once an emergency stop is comfortable.
- Week 3: light lower-body exercise such as walking can begin.
- Week 6: surgeon review. Most people see around 80 to 90% of the final result and can return to full exercise.
- 3 to 6 months: the breasts soften and settle into their final shape, and scars continue to fade for up to 12 months.
You wear a surgical bra day and night for six weeks. Our guide to the compression bra after breast surgery explains the fit, and the full breast lift recovery guide goes through each week.
How long does a lollipop breast lift take to heal and look normal?
The breasts look natural by about six weeks, although they sit high and feel firm at first. The shape settles over three to six months, and the scars take up to a year to fade. Showering is fine from 48 hours, but avoid baths, saunas and swimming for six to eight weeks, and sleep on your back with your head slightly raised for the first four weeks.
Lollipop Breast Lift Risks and Side Effects
A lollipop lift is a significant operation with real risks, which your surgeon will go through at consultation. Our overview of breast lift risks and complications gives more detail. The commonest are:
- Scar problems, including widening, thickening or bunching, which affected about 3% of patients in the 2019 review[2].
- Nipple and areola problems such as asymmetry, distortion or reduced sensation (2.9% in the same review)[2].
- Bleeding, infection and wound healing problems. In a US study of 73,608 aesthetic breast operations, major complications within 30 days were uncommon at 1.46%, with haematoma and infection the commonest[5].
- Asymmetry and recurrence of sagging, covered below.
Smoking raises the risk of poor healing and of problems with the nipple’s blood supply, so you should stay nicotine-free around surgery and do not smoke for four weeks afterwards.
On satisfaction, a 2013 prospective study of 106 women ↗ who had a vertical mammaplasty, with or without implants, or a reduction found 94.3% satisfaction, a reported complication rate of 15.1% and persistent nipple numbness in 10.6%[6]. Higher result ratings were linked to having no complications.
Can you breastfeed after a lollipop breast lift?
Many women can, but it cannot be guaranteed. In a 2024 retrospective study from a French hospital ↗, breastfeeding succeeded in 82% of women who had a baby before breast reduction or mastopexy and in 41% of those who had a baby afterwards, most often because of insufficient milk, and the authors urged caution because the cause is multifactorial[7]. If breastfeeding matters to you, tell your surgeon and consider waiting until your family is complete.
Will I lose sensation in my nipples?
Nipple sensation often changes after a lift. It may feel numb, over-sensitive or tingly at first, and in most people it improves over months, but in some it stays reduced. Persistent numbness was reported in about one in ten patients in the 2013 study[6].
Can breasts sag again after a lollipop lift?
Yes, gradually. A lift resets the breast to a higher position but does not stop ageing, gravity, pregnancy or weight change, and the 2019 review flagged potential recurrence of sagging as something patients should be told about[2]. Most people keep a clearly improved position for many years. Our guide to how long a breast lift lasts explains what affects it.
Lollipop Breast Lift Before and After: What Results Look Like
A good lollipop lift result is a breast that sits higher, with the nipple pointing forward rather than down and a smaller, more centred areola. Most before-and-after photographs are taken from the front, which partly hides the vertical scar, so ask to see scar photographs from the side and from below at six months and two years. You can browse genuine patient results in our breast lift before and after photo gallery, which shows how results look once the breast has settled. Individual results vary.
Lollipop Breast Lift vs Lollipop Breast Reduction
The incision pattern is the same, but the aim is different. A lollipop breast lift keeps your volume and repositions the breast, while a lollipop breast reduction also removes breast tissue to make the breasts smaller and lighter. In a 2021 meta-analysis of vertical-scar against inverted-T breast reduction (two randomised trials and nine observational studies), the vertical-scar technique had fewer overall complications and less wound dehiscence[8], although that study concerned reduction rather than lift. If heavy breasts cause back or neck pain, a breast reduction is the operation to discuss.
Is a Lollipop Breast Lift Available on the NHS, and What Does It Cost?
A lollipop breast lift done for cosmetic reasons is not routinely funded by the NHS, and private medical insurance rarely covers it. Costs depend on the technique and any added procedures, and are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Our breast lift cost guide explains what affects the price, and finance options are available, subject to status.
Lollipop Breast Lift at Centre for Surgery
Breast lift surgery at Centre for Surgery is carried out by GMC-registered plastic surgeons at our CQC-regulated hospital on Baker Street. The surgeon who assesses you at consultation is the surgeon who operates, and they will examine you standing, mark the likely scars and tell you honestly which technique they recommend, even if that is a donut or anchor lift rather than a lollipop. A two-week cooling-off period applies before you commit. Read what patients say on our patient reviews page.
If you are not sure that surgery is what you want, our guide to non-surgical breast lift options explains what does and does not work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a lollipop lift and a vertical lift?
Nothing. Lollipop breast lift, vertical breast lift and vertical mastopexy are different names for the same operation, with a scar around the areola and straight down to the breast crease.
Which leaves less scarring, a lollipop lift or an anchor lift?
A lollipop lift leaves less scarring than an anchor lift because it has no horizontal scar along the breast crease. It leaves more than a donut lift, which has a scar only around the areola. The right choice depends on how much skin needs to be removed.
Will lollipop breast lift scars go away?
No, they are permanent, but they usually fade a great deal. The scars start pink or red and firm, soften from about three months and typically become pale and flat by around 12 months. Protecting them from the sun for three months helps.
What are the downsides of a lollipop lift?
The main downsides are permanent scars, several weeks of restricted activity, possible changes in nipple sensation and a lower chance of breastfeeding successfully. Asymmetry, wound healing problems and recurrence of sagging over time can also occur. A lift does not add volume, so it will not give you more upper-breast fullness unless an implant or fat is added.
How many cup sizes do you lose with a lollipop breast lift?
Usually none in terms of breast tissue, because a lift is not a reduction. You may go down slightly in bra cup size, because the skin is tightened around the same tissue and the breast sits higher and rounder, so it fills the cup differently. If you want a fuller result, implants or fat transfer can be added.
Does a breast lift remove your nipples?
No. In a lollipop lift the nipple and areola stay attached to the breast and are moved higher on their own blood supply, and the areola is often made smaller.
How long does it take for a lollipop breast lift to look normal?
The breasts usually look natural by about six weeks, when most people see 80 to 90% of the final result. They then soften and settle over three to six months. The scars keep fading for up to 12 months.
Can breasts sag again after a lift?
Yes, gradually. A breast lift is long-lasting, but your breasts keep ageing from their new position. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and significant weight change can make them drop sooner, and heavier breasts are affected more by gravity.
Lollipop Breast Lift in London
If you are considering a lollipop breast lift, a consultation with a plastic surgeon will establish how far your breasts have dropped, which technique fits and what the scars would look like on you. Find out more about breast lift surgery at Centre for Surgery.
Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Address: 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN
Contact us to schedule a consultation
References
- Hall-Findlay EJ, Shestak KC. Breast reduction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2015;136(4):531e–544e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001622 ↗
- di Summa PG, Oranges CM, Watfa W, Sapino G, Keller N, Tay SK, et al. Systematic review of outcomes and complications in nonimplant-based mastopexy surgery. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 2019;72(2):243–272. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2018.10.018 ↗
- Poëll JG. Vertical reduction mammaplasty. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2004;28(2):59–69. doi:10.1007/s00266-003-2094-2 ↗
- De Decker I, Hoeksema H, Verbelen J, Vanlerberghe E, De Coninck P, Speeckaert MM, et al. The use of fluid silicone gels in the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Burns 2022;48(3):491–509. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2022.03.004 ↗
- Gupta V, Yeslev M, Winocour J, Bamba R, Rodriguez-Feo C, Grotting JC, et al. Aesthetic breast surgery and concomitant procedures: incidence and risk factors for major complications in 73,608 cases. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2017;37(5):515–527. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw238 ↗
- Swanson E. Prospective outcome study of 106 cases of vertical mastopexy, augmentation/mastopexy, and breast reduction. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 2013;66(7):937–949. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2013.03.021 ↗
- Faure C, Sidahmed-Mezi M, Ferrero L, Aboud C, Roccaro G, Hermeziu O, et al. Successful breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery or mastopexy: a retrospective comparative study. Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique 2024;69(4):307–314. doi:10.1016/j.anplas.2024.05.004 ↗
- Li Z, Qian B, Wang Z, Liu J, Wang B, Guo K, et al. Vertical scar versus inverted-T scar reduction mammaplasty: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2021;45(4):1385–1396. doi:10.1007/s00266-021-02167-w ↗
