Breast Lift Techniques

Individual factors and personal preferences will determine the specific breast lift technique. A common method of lifting the breasts is done by the “limited scar” technique:

An incision is made around the areola. Another runs vertically from the bottom edge of the areola to the crease underneath the breast. The third incision is horizontal beneath the breast and follows the natural curve of the breast crease.

After the plastic surgeon has removed excess breast skin, the nipple and areola are shifted to a higher position. The areola, which in a sagging breast may have been stretched, can be reduced in size. Skin that was formerly located above the areola is brought down and together beneath it to reshape the breast. The nipples and areolas remain attached to underlying mounds of tissue, and this usually allows for the preservation of sensation and the ability to breast-feed. In some instances, it may be possible to avoid the horizontal incision beneath the breast, as well as the vertical incision that runs from the bottom edge of the areola to the breast crease.

Some patients are good candidates for this limited scar technique. The goal of aesthetic plastic surgery always is to achieve the best result with the least visible scarring. This has led to the search for newer techniques to lift the breasts.