If you have sagging breasts from multiple pregnancies, dramatic weight loss, or other factors, your breast tissue, nipple, and areola can be lifted back into a more youthful position through a breast lift procedure.
At eSSe Plastic Surgery, we perform breast lift surgery at our suites. Our surgeons Dr. Tracey Stokes and Dr. Laura Sudarsky perform many of these procedures every year, utilizing the best techniques available. If you are interested in breast lift surgery, contact us for a free consultation.
What Is a Breast Lift?
It happens over time. A woman’s breasts change throughout her adult life. Pregnancies, weight gain or loss, aging, and gravity can cause your breasts to lose their youthful shape, lift, and firmness.
Breast lift surgery defies mother nature’s gravitational pull – literally lifting the breasts to give them a more youthful, perky appearance. Excess skin is removed, the nipple and areola are repositioned higher on the breast, and the breast is reshaped to give it a more pleasing shape.
What Can a Breast Lift Address?
Sagging and Drooping Breasts
As women get older, the ligaments in the breast can begin to become stretched out which can cause breast tissue to begin to sag and droop. Other factors can contribute to sagging breasts such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, heavy breast tissue, improper support, and more. While these ligaments cannot be repaired once they have been stretched, drooping breasts can be restored through surgery. If large breasts are contributing to your sagging, we can also perform a breast reduction and lift.
Nipple Position
As the skin on the breasts loses elasticity, it is common for the nipple to begin pointing downwards. During a breast lift surgery, the nipple and areola can be repositioned higher on the breast so that they are in a more youthful location.
Excess Skin
When the skin on the breasts becomes stretched out during pregnancy or weight gain, it can leave the breasts looking deflated because of the excess skin. A breast lift is a good option for removing excess skin from the breasts so that they can sit higher on the chest.
More Benefits of Breast Lift Surgery
Improved Symmetry
With a breast lift, we focus on creating better balance and alignment between the breasts, addressing any natural asymmetry. Many patients notice that one breast may sit higher, or one nipple may face a slightly different direction. During your surgery, we carefully adjust both breasts to help improve this symmetry, aligning the breast shape and nipple position so they match more closely.
Reduced Skin Irritation
For patients with sagging breasts, the skin underneath can often become irritated or uncomfortable due to chafing or rubbing. This is especially true in warmer climates, where excess skin can lead to persistent irritation or rashes. Breast lift surgery removes some of this excess skin and elevates the breast tissue to relieve pressure on the lower breast area, reducing irritation, and improving comfort.
Better Fit in Clothing
Many patients find that after a breast lift, their clothing fits more comfortably. Sagging breasts can sometimes make it difficult to find bras or swimming suits that fit. By lifting and reshaping the breasts, this procedure can make it easier to find the right fit and to feel more comfortable in your clothing.
Natural Look and Feel
A major goal of breast lift surgery is to achieve results that look and feel as natural as possible. During the procedure, we work with your existing breast tissue, reshaping and lifting to position the tissues naturally on the chest wall. Our approach maintains a soft, natural breast feel and appearance that aligns with your body’s natural proportions.
Long-Lasting Results
The effects of a breast lift are long-lasting, often providing years of improvement in breast shape and position. While aging and gravity affects all body areas over time, many patients enjoy their breast lift results for many years with proper care. Maintaining a healthy weight and following good skincare practices can extend these benefits.
Breast Lift Before and After
What to Expect From Your Breast Lift Consultation
Your breast surgery consultation will be centered on you and your unique situation. This is an opportunity for us to understand your desired breast shape, symmetry, and level of lift. We’ll go over your medical history, including any previous surgeries or current health conditions, to make sure you are a good candidate for surgery.
In this consultation, we’ll also perform an examination of your breast tissue, skin quality, and nipple position. This assessment allows us to determine the best surgical approach to achieve a natural, balanced look. We’ll discuss incision options, the amount of skin that might need to be removed, and the expected results based on your anatomy.
What Happens During Breast Lift Surgery?
Our breast lift surgery is an outpatient procedure performed in our state-of-the-art surgical suites under general anesthesia. For a simple no-implant breast lift, the procedure usually takes three hours. Surgery time may increase if you choose to include a breast reduction or augmentation.
After placing you under anesthesia, your plastic surgeon will make the necessary incisions on the breasts. If a breast reduction and lift are being performed, we will remove breast tissue and any excess skin. Then we will form a surgical support system using your own tissue and the breast will be placed into a more lifted position. Once the breast has been reshaped and repositioned, the incisions can be closed. With most breast lift surgeries you can go home on the same day and begin your recovery process.
What to Expect After Surgery
After the procedure you may experience minor discomfort, bruising, and swelling. Scars can take up to a year to fully mature and fade. You should be able to return to work within a week, depending on the physical nature of your job. You’ll resume normal activities, including mild exercise within a few weeks. Sexual activity should be avoided for one to two weeks, and extreme care should be taken several weeks after the procedure as breasts may be tender and sore.
Preparing for Your Breast Lift Recovery
To prepare for a smoother recovery after your breast surgery, start by arranging a comfortable space at home where you can rest with all essentials nearby, like pillows, medications, and water. Organize any needed help in advance. Having a friend or family member around for the first 24–48 hours can make a big difference, especially for tasks like meal prep and errands.
Stock up on loose, front-closure tops that won’t require lifting your arms. You’ll also want to fill any prescriptions ahead of time, so your pain management is ready from the moment you return home. Planning light, nutritious meals in advance will help you nourish your body without needing to cook during recovery. On the first day, you may want things like popsicles, crackers, and mashed potatoes, especially if you are feeling nauseous from the anesthesia.
Make sure you avoid alcohol, smoking, and certain medications as advised to reduce risks and promote healing. Following these preparation steps can help you feel more comfortable and relaxed after your surgery and allow you to focus entirely on recovery.
Will You Have Scars After Breast Lift Surgery?
While scars are an inevitable part of breast lift surgery, we minimize visibility by using the best techniques and by matching each patient with the right type of incision. Your scars will fade and become less noticeable in the months after your surgery. By following post-care guidelines, you can further minimize the scars that you have from your surgery. We may use one of the following incision types with your breast lift surgery:
- Crescent Incision: This type of incision is indicated for patients with very mild sagging. Made on the upper half of the areola, this scar will be mostly hidden by the edge of the areola and will remove the least amount of tissue.
- Donut Incision: Donut incisions involve the removal of excess skin around the areola in the shape of a donut and are used in women with minimal sagging. This scar will also be hidden by the areola.
- Lollipop Incision: A lollipop incision is similar to a donut incision but also involves a visible scar from the areola to the base of the breast. This type of surgery allows for more tissue to be removed and the scar fades with time.
- Anchor Incision: For patients with more severe sagging, we will use an anchor incision. This is like a lollipop incision with an additional incision along the crease of the bottom of the breast. We can remove a large amount of excess skin using this incision and much of the scar will be hidden under the breasts.
FAQs About Our Breast Lifts
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
A breast lift is generally best for patients who are at a stable weight since major fluctuations can affect the results. Non-smokers heal better and are at lower risk for complications, so we encourage patients who smoke to quit well before surgery. We’ll also assess your overall health to make sure your body is ready to heal smoothly after surgery.
Can a Breast Lift Be Combined With an Augmentation?
A breast lift with implants is a common procedure to both augment and lift the breasts. These two surgeries can be performed at the same time for patients who want to have larger breasts that are also better positioned on the chest. Combining a lift with a breast augmentation lets us enhance both the shape and fullness of your breasts at the same time. Whether you’re aiming for a subtle boost or a more defined change in volume and lift, we’ll personalize the approach to fit your vision. Together, we’ll choose the best implant type, size, and placement to create a balanced look that feels natural to you.
What Are the Other Options for Breast Surgery?
We offer many other types of breast surgery in addition to breast lifts. We have options for breast implant removal and replacement for adjustments in size or type, breast reduction to relieve discomfort or balance proportions, and breast reconstruction for restoring shape after mastectomy or trauma. We also provide breast revision to refine the results of previous surgeries, enhancing appearance, symmetry, or implant position.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?
The cost of a breast lift can vary depending on the specifics of your treatment plan, including factors like the extent of the lift, anesthesia, and any additional procedures that may be combined with the lift, such as breast augmentation. During your consultation, we’ll provide a detailed cost breakdown so you know exactly what to expect.
About Us
At eSSe Plastic Surgery, choosing a breast lift means having the expertise and guidance of Dr. Tracey H. Stokes and her caring team by your side. From your first consultation to your post-surgery care, we’re dedicated to making sure you feel heard, comfortable, and informed at every step. We combine advanced techniques with a keen eye for natural aesthetics, always focusing on results that align with your vision. With us, you’ll find a supportive environment where your goals and safety are the priority.
Restore Your Breasts With a Breast Lift
Sagging and drooping in the breasts are common as women age. If you have noticed sagging in your breasts, have changed after pregnancy, or want a lift, we can help with our breast lift surgeries at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Ft. Lauderdale. Call us today or fill out an online form to schedule a complimentary consultation.
