Breast Uplift Surgery (Mastopexy)

If you have sagging breasts and are looking to lift and reshape them to give a firmer, more youthful-looking bust line, then breast uplift surgery, also known as a mastopexy may be for you.

Aurora is now part of The Private Clinic, please click here to find out more about Breast Uplift procedures and The Private Clinic. World-renowned plastic surgeon Mr Adrian Richards is part of The Private Clinic expert team.

Considering Breast Uplift surgery?

Breast uplift surgery, also known as breast lift or mastopexy, lifts and reshapes sagging breasts – giving you a more pert and youthful appearance. A breast uplift reshapes your existing breast tissue rather than adding an implant or removing breast tissue.

The two main causes for sagging breasts, also known as breast ptosis are:

  • Weight loss
  • Childbirth and/or breastfeeding

In both cases, your breasts lose a significant amount of volume, particularly in the upper part of the breast and the nipples lie at a lower position. This can cause back problems and difficulty in buying certain types of clothing.

It is important to note that breast lift surgery cannot make small breasts larger or reduce the size of large breasts. The procedure is designed to reshape the tissue you already have. See our breast enlargement surgery or breast reduction surgery pages if you would like to increase or decrease the size of your bust. Alternatively, visit our breast uplift with implants page to learn more about combining a breast uplift with an enlargement.

How will it impact on your life?

Our previous patients have reported the following as the biggest benefits from undergoing breast uplift surgery:

  • Better posture as there is less weight pulling down from the front
  • Easier to find clothes that fit both your top and bottom half
  • The ability to wear a wider range of clothes such as low cut dresses
  • A significant increase in confidence

Is Breast Uplift surgery right for you?

During a mastopexy, your surgeon will remove some of the loose skin in the lower part of your breasts, tightening the skin in this area. Your nipple will be moved into a higher position to create a firmer shape and more ‘pert’ profile. The operation will take between 1 and 2 hours to complete and you will require a general anaesthetic may need an overnight stay in hospital.

There are several different types of breast uplift (mastopexy). The best one for you depends on the position of your nipple and how much excess skin you have. This is a guide to the different types of breast uplift that can be performed:

Crescent mastopexy
  • In this procedure a moon shaped crescent of skin is removed from above the areolas of your nipples
  • This results in an elevation of your nipple position of between 2-4 cm
Advantages Disadvantages
Scarring is limited to the junction of your normal skin and the upper half of your areola Crescent mastopexy only produces a limited amount of nipple elevation and reduction of skin excess
Peri-areolar mastopexy
  • In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed
  • This results in tightening of the skin and a limited elevation of your nipple
Advantages Disadvantages
Scarring limited to the junction of your normal skin and all the way around the outside of your areola Peri-areolar mastopexy, like crescent mastopexy only produces a limited amount of nipple elevation and reduction of skin excess
Vertical scar mastopexy (lollipop scar)
  • In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed together with a strip of skin below your nipple
  • This results in tightening of the skin in the lower part of your breast and a limited elevation of your nipple
Advantages Disadvantages
A greater amount of nipple elevation is possible and the skin in the lower part of your breast can be tightened more than in the previous techniques This technique leaves a scar coming downwards from your nipple towards the fold under your breast
Short transverse scar mastopexy
  • In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed together with a strip of skin below your nipple and a short area of skin across your natural breast fold
  • This results in tightening of the skin in the lower part of your breast and a greater degree of elevation of your nipple
Advantages Disadvantages
A greater amount of nipple elevation is possible and the skin in the lower part of your breast can be tightened more so than in the previous techniques As well as the lollipop scar this breast lift technique will leave a scar stretching cross ways in the fold under your breast. This scar is shorter than in a full transverse scar mastopexy and is not usually too visible as it is hidden under your natural breast tissue
Full transverse scar mastopexy
  • In this procedure a circle of skin around your areola is removed together with a strip of skin below your nipple and a segment of skin above your natural breast fold
  • This results in greater tightening of the skin in the lower part of your breast and a greater amount of elevation of your nipple
  • This technique is normally only used if you have a significant amount of loose breast tissue
  • This normally occurs only after you have lost a considerable amount of weight or if your breasts became very large when you were pregnant or breast-feeding
Advantages Disadvantages
A greater amount of nipple elevation is possible and the skin in the lower part of your breast can be tightened more than in the previous techniques This technique leaves a scar coming downwards from your nipple towards the fold under your breast and also stretching across the natural breast fold under your breast. This scar can be visible in low cut clothing towards the middle and on the outer aspect of your chest

After your surgery and beyond…

Following breast lift surgery you will need to wear a good support bra in the weeks following your operation and to aid your recovery. Most people do not find the procedure too painful and simple painkilling tablets such as paracetamol are usually enough to control any pain. It is important that you avoid any strenuous activity for the first four weeks and you should allow yourself up to eight weeks to recover fully. The stitches are absorbable but their ends will need to be trimmed at about one week following surgery.

Breast uplift surgery is generally regarded as a permanent solution to loose breast tissue. However, it is important not to gain or lose too much weight after surgery as this will affect the appearance of your breasts. It is not ideal to get pregnant after a breast lift procedure as this may alter the appearance of your breasts.

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The next step

We always encourage people to do as much research as they can when considering cosmetic surgery, so for more information on breast uplift surgery:

To find out more about breast uplift procedures or to book a consultation call 0333 920 2471 or book your breast lift consultation online.