Breast Lift
Mastopexy
Breast Lift with Cho Plastic Surgery Quick Facts:
- Typical recovery time: 1-2 weeks
- Price range: Starting at $9k
- Dr. Cho specializes in all types of scar pattern breast lifts
- Procedures performed at Spring Ridge SurgiCenter, Reading Surgery Center, and Surgical Institute of Reading
Overview
Over time, factors such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, aging, and gravity can cause breasts to lose their natural firmness, volume distribution, and youthful elevation. A breast lift, medically known as a mastopexy, is a transformative surgical procedure designed to raise, reshape, and firm sagging breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue.
During a breast lift, Dr. Cho repositions the underlying breast tissue to restore a higher, perkier contour. At the same time, the areola and nipple are lifted to a more youthful position on the breast mound and can be resized if they have stretched over time.
Breast Lift Options
Because every patient’s body and aesthetic goals are unique, Dr. Cho offers several customized surgical approaches to mastopexy. Choosing the right option depends on your current breast volume, skin elasticity, degree of sagging (ptosis), and whether you desire a change in overall cup size.
Breast Lift Alone (Mastopexy)
A traditional breast lift reshapes and elevates your existing breast tissue without changing your natural volume.
- Best For: Women who are satisfied with their current breast size but want to correct sagging, lift downward-pointing nipples, and achieve a firmer, perkier shape.
- How It Works: Dr. Cho removes excess, stretched skin, tightens the underlying breast tissue matrix, and repositions the nipple-areolar complex higher on the breast mound
- Result: A rejuvenated, naturally lifted contour using your body’s own tissue
Breast Lift with Implants (Augmentation-Mastopexy)
For patients who have lost internal volume (often following pregnancy, nursing, or significant weight loss), a lift alone may not provide the desired fullness in the upper portion of the breast (upper-pole cleavage).
- Best For: Women who want to simultaneously lift sagging breasts and restore or increase overall cup size and projection
- How It Works: Dr. Cho combines a mastopexy with the placement of silicone or saline breast implants in a single surgical session. The implant restores lost internal volume while the lift tightens the skin sleeve around it
- Result: Enhanced cleavage, restored upper-pole fullness, and a elevated, shapely silhouette
Breast Lift with Reduction (Reduction-Mastopexy)
When sagging is accompanied by overly heavy or disproportionate breasts, combining a lift with a reduction offers both cosmetic and physical relief.
- Best For: Women experiencing physical discomfort (neck, back, or shoulder pain, bra strap grooving) alongside drooping tissue
- How It Works: Excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin are removed to achieve a lighter, manageable breast size, followed by reshaping and lifting the remaining tissue into a youthful position
- Result: A lighter, firmer, and beautifully proportioned bustline that aligns with your frame
Surgical Incision Techniques
The incision pattern selected for your breast lift depends directly on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed, the degree of sagging (ptosis), and your desire to resize or reposition the areola. Dr. Cho utilizes precise, surgical-grade techniques to ensure incisions are placed discreetly within natural anatomical contours to allow for optimal fading over time.
Periareolar Lift (Donut Lift)
- Incision Pattern: A circular incision made around the perimeter of the areola
- Degree of Correction: Mild sagging (Grade 1 Ptosis)
- Ideal Candidate: Women who require minimal lifting, have minor skin excess, or primarily wish to reduce the size of enlarged areolas
- Scar Placement: The resulting scar is completely concealed along the natural boundary where the dark tissue of the areola meets the lighter skin of the breast
Vertical Lift (Lollipop Lift)
- Incision Pattern: Two incisions: one circling the areola and one running vertically down from the bottom of the areola to the natural inframammary crease (resembling the outline of a lollipop)
- Degree of Correction: Moderate sagging (Grade 2 Ptosis)
- Ideal Candidate: Women who require moderate skin removal and reshaping but do not have extensive skin excess along the lower horizontal fold
- Scar Placement: The scars circle the areola and extend down the center of the lower pole, fading into faint lines over time
Anchor Lift (Inverted-T Lift)
- Incision Pattern: Three distinct incision components: around the areola, vertically down to the crease, and horizontally along the inframammary fold (resembling an anchor or inverted-T)
- Degree of Correction: Severe sagging (Grade 3 Ptosis) or significant skin laxity following massive weight loss
- Ideal Candidate: Women requiring maximum tissue contraction, dramatic repositioning of the breast mound, or those combining a lift with a substantial breast reduction
- Scar Placement: Although this pattern involves more extensive scarring, Dr. Cho carefully aligns the horizontal incision within the natural fold beneath the breast, keeping it hidden under bras and swimwear the remaining tissue into a youthful position
Breast Lift After Pregnancy or Weight Loss
Pregnancy, nursing, and significant weight loss are incredible milestones, but they often leave behind noticeable changes in breast shape and volume. As tissue expands and contracts, the internal connective matrix breaks down, stretching the skin envelope and causing breasts to deflate or sag.
A specialized mastopexy procedure addresses these unique anatomical changes, restoring structure, proportion, and volume distribution.
Restoring Breasts After Pregnancy and Nursing
During pregnancy and lactation, hormonal changes cause breast tissue to enlarge significantly. Once nursing ends, the glandular tissue shrinks back down, but the stretched skin envelope remains.
- Correcting the "Empty" Upper Pole: Dr. Cho reshapes internal glandular tissue (or adds an implant) to restore upper-pole fullness
- Repositioning Stretched Areolas: Enlarged or elongated areolas caused by breast enlargement during lactation are reduced and elevated back to a youthful placement
- Mommy Makeover Integration: A post-pregnancy breast lift is frequently combined with abdominal sculpting (such as a tummy tuck or liposuction) as part of a comprehensive Mommy Makeover
Rebuilding Shape After Significant Weight Loss
Losing a substantial amount of weight is a major health victory, but massive weight reduction often results in severe skin laxity across the entire chest wall.
- Tackling Severe Laxity: Weight loss often leads to Grade 3 ptosis or pseudoptosis, where excess skin hangs with minimal glandular mass remaining
- Structural Tissue Tightening: Dr. Cho utilizes specialized anchor (Inverted-T pattern) techniques to excise generous amounts of redundant skin and secure the underlying breast mound firmly to the chest wall
- Combining with Auto-Augmentation or Implants: For patients with significant tissue loss, Dr. Cho can use auto-augmentation techniques (re-architecting remaining local tissue) or place structural implants to recreate a full, defined contour
Timing Your Surgery for Optimal Results
To ensure safety and long-lasting aesthetic results, Dr. Cho recommends adhering to the following timing guidelines.
- Post-Pregnancy/Nursing: Wait at least 3 to 6 months after you have completely finished breastfeeding to allow hormone levels, milk duct activity, and breast volume to stabilize
- Post-Weight Loss: Maintain a stable target weight for at least 3 to 6 months prior to surgery to ensure skin laxity has fully settled
Benefits
- A perkier, refreshed silhouette
- Restores roundness and corrects natural asymmetry
- Elevates downward-pointing nipples to a forward-facing position and reduces enlarged or stretched areolas to proportional dimensions
- Enhanced clothing and swimwear fit
- Restores body confidence
- Can be combined with breast augmentation to create more upper pole fullness and increase in cup size
All surgery involves some level of risk, and a breast lift is no exception. During your consultation, Dr. Cho will review potential risks, answer your questions and explain the steps taken to help reduce complications based on your anatomy, health history and surgical plan.
Risks
- Normal post-operative swelling, localized bruising, minor discomfort, or temporary fluid accumulation
- Scarring
- Changes in nipple sensation
- Asymmetry
- Delayed wound healing or skin necrosis at incision meeting points, particularly in patients who smoke or have underlying medical conditions
- Natural aging, gravity, and future weight fluctuations or pregnancies can continue to impact tissue elasticity over time
Ideal Candidate
- You are a nonsmoker, physically healthy with a stable weight, and you aren't pregnant or breastfeeding
- You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts have lost their natural shape, firmness, or youthful elevation
- You have nipples that point downward or sit below the lower breast crease
- You have stretched, enlarged areolas or noticeable asymmetry between your breasts
- You have realistic expectations about surgical outcomes and permanent scar placement
Understanding the Grades of Breast Ptosis
In plastic surgery, breast sagging is medically classified by ptosis grades, which are measured by the position of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold (the natural crease beneath your breast).
- Grade 1 (Mild Ptosis): The nipple sits at the level of the inframammary fold, while the majority of the lower breast tissue hangs slightly below it
- Typically corrected with a Crescent or Periareolar (Donut) lift
- Grade 2 (Moderate Ptosis): The nipple drops below the inframammary fold but remains above the lowest part of the hanging breast tissue
- Typically corrected with a Vertical (Lollipop) lift
- Grade 3 (Severe Ptosis): The nipple sits significantly below the inframammary fold and points directly downward at the lowest contour of the breast mound
- Typically corrected with an Anchor (Inverted-T) lift
- Pseudoptosis: The nipple remains at or above the inframammary crease, but the lower portion of the breast sags and lacks firmness
Note: If you plan to become pregnant or lose a significant amount of weight in the near future, Dr. Cho generally recommends delaying your breast lift surgery until your body weight has stabilized and your family is complete to protect your long-term results.
Breast Lift Consultation
- During your breast lift consultation, Dr. Cho will assess your current medical history, including medications, vitamins and herbal supplements you take, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; she will also ask about family history of breast cancer, previous mammograms, and if you’ve had any breast biopsies
- Examine and measure your breasts, including detailed measurements of their size and shape, skin quality and placement of your nipples and areolas; she will also examine your breasts for any masses or lesions
- Take photographs
- Discuss with you what type of breast lift would be the best option for you; some patients are better candidates for fewer scars while others may achieve a better breast contour with the full anchor-type scars
- Discuss risks or potential complications
Procedure Preparation
- Do not take any blood thinning medications for 1 week before surgery, including aspirin, NSAIDs, ibuprofen/Motrin, naproxen (also, avoid any herbal supplements or vitamins which can prolong bleeding)
- Do not smoke, vape, or take nicotine-containing products before or after your surgery as they can impair the healing process
What to Expect During Surgery
- Upon arriving at our surgical center, our nursing team will guide you to a private pre-operative room, record your vital signs, confirm your procedure details, and assist you into your surgical gown
- Dr. Cho will meet with you to answer any final questions and place precise anatomical markings on your chest (these markings guide incision boundaries, tissue reshaping vectors, and the exact new placement for your nipple-areolar complex)
- You will be escorted to the surgical suite, where our anesthesia team will administer general anesthesia to ensure you remain completely asleep, relaxed, and pain-free throughout the entire operation
- Depending on the incision technique (Periareolar, Vertical, or Anchor), Dr. Cho carefully excises excess skin, reshapes internal glandular tissue, lifts the nipple and areola, and places implants (if undergoing an augmentation-mastopexy)
- Incisions are closed with meticulous structural sutures designed to minimize tension and reduce scarring
- Surgical tape, sterile dressings, and a supportive, front-closing surgical bra are applied immediately to stabilize tissue positions
Recovery
- 1-2 weeks
- During your recovery, you will have a support bra that will minimize swelling and support the breasts as they heal
- You will be given instructions on how to care for the surgical sites after surgery, and how to take the prescribed medications to reduce pain and risks of infection
- It's important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion during the time of healing
- To help avoid postoperative complications and facilitate healing, you will not be able to lift more than 15 lbs or do any strenuous activities particularly if it involves pushing or pulling for a few weeks
- Do not smoke, vape, or take nicotine-containing products before or after your surgery as they can impair the healing process
- You will typically be allowed to sponge bathe, but do not shower until cleared by Dr. Cho
- Wear your surgical bra at all times if possible
- Take medications as directed
- Avoid heavy lifting as directed by your surgeon
- Come to all postoperative visits as scheduled
FAQs
A breast lift corrects sagging (ptosis) by excising loose skin, tightening underlying tissue, and elevating the nipple-areolar complex to a higher position. A breast augmentation addresses volume loss or size by inserting silicone or saline implants beneath the breast tissue or muscle. While a lift changes position and shape, an augmentation changes size and fullness.
Yes. A breast lift alone is an excellent option for women who have sufficient natural breast tissue but suffer from skin laxity and tissue sagging. During a lift without implants, Dr. Cho reshapes and repositions your existing glandular tissue to create a naturally firm, elevated contour without adding synthetic implants.
A traditional breast lift (mastopexy) alone removes excess skin and lifts sagging tissue, but it does not significantly increase or decrease your actual breast volume. While your breasts will appear perkier, rounder, and more compact, your overall breast mass remains similar. If you desire a fuller cup size or cleavage, Dr. Cho can combine your lift with breast implants (augmentation-mastopexy). If you want smaller breasts, a lift can be combined with a breast reduction.
Many women are able to breastfeed after a breast lift, but it depends on the incision technique used and individual anatomical factors. Techniques that preserve the connection between the underlying milk ducts, nerves, and blood supply to the nipple (such as vertical or anchor lifts) offer the best chance of retaining lactation capability. If future pregnancy and nursing are important to you, discuss them with Dr. Cho during your consultation.
Temporary changes in nipple sensation (ranging from numbness to heightened sensitivity) are common immediately following surgery as local nerves heal. In the vast majority of cases, normal sensation gradually returns over several months. Permanent loss of feeling is rare when surgery is performed by a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon.
Yes, all surgical breast lifts involve permanent incision lines. However, Dr. Cho uses precise technique and places incisions strategically along natural anatomical boundaries, such as around the edge of the areola and within the fold beneath the breast. Over the course of 12 to 18 months, scars fade significantly from red or pink to thin, soft, white lines that are easily concealed beneath bras and swimwear.
Most patients require about 5 to 7 days of rest before returning to non-strenuous desk jobs and light daily activities. Heavy lifting (over 10–15 lbs), vigorous cardio, and upper-body exercise must be avoided for at least 4 to 6 weeks to allow internal tissues and incisions to heal safely.
A breast lift provides long-lasting improvements to your silhouette. However, surgery cannot freeze the aging process. Factors such as gravity, natural skin aging, future weight fluctuations, and pregnancy can eventually cause tissue to soften over time. Maintaining a stable body weight, wearing supportive bras during physical activity, and protecting your skin from sun damage will help preserve your results for years to come.
Patient Review
I highly recommend Dr. Cho. She did an excellent job, and I am extremely happy with my results. I had my breast implants removed along with a breast lift, and the outcome exceeded my expectations. Dr. Cho listened carefully to all of my concerns and was attentive and supportive throughout the entire process. Her professionalism, expertise, and compassionate care made me feel comfortable every step of the way. Her staff is amazing. See full review
Minna L / Breast Lift Patient
Surgery is a Big Decision
We are here to answer any questions you have and help you determine the right choice for you. If you are considering surgery, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Cho today. She would be honored to discuss your goals and help you achieve the look you desire.
Financing Available
We believe your aesthetic goals should always be within reach. To make your journey more accessible, we offer payment options through Care Credit and Cherry by Alle, with financing available for same-day treatment. We will be happy to assist you in the application process at the time of your consultation. For more information, contact our office.
References
This page written/reviewed on 9/6/26 by: Dr. Cho, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon