What is a Breast Lift?
A Breast Lift, also known as a Mastopexy, is for patients with sagging, droopy, deflated breasts or nipples too low and pointing down. The advantage of the lift is a more youthful, fuller, and often more comfortable breast. Most women are happy after a breast lift and most have the option of a natural-looking breast with a lift without adding an implant.
What Does a Breast Lift Do?
A Breast Lift elevates your breast tissue placing the volume in a smaller space by removing excess skin and tightening the tissue around the breast to reshape and support the new breast contour. This procedure also reduces the areolar size and repositions the nipple, typically maintaining nipple nerve sensitivity and potential for breastfeeding.
Bras, bathing suits, workout outfits, and clothing often fit significantly better after a breast lift. A bra particularly doesn’t have to do as much “work” to lift the breast after a mastopexy.
A breast lift is not magic and cannot restore stretchy skin to normal, but can dramatically improve satisfaction with breast appearance in and out of clothing, and comfort with daily activity.
Most patients undergoing breast lift alone can return to desk work, driving, and light activity along with some child care in 3-4 days. They can return to their full exercise routines and travel in 3-4 weeks, and swim and go to the beach in about 1 month.
Why Do Breasts Droop?
Breast droop can be caused by gravity, genetics, hormonal changes, aging, weight changes, and other health conditions. Proper nutrition, proper support particularly with larger breast, and weight maintenance may help reduce breast changes over time. Some women may develop sagging or droopy breast at an early age due to genetics with small or large breast.
The breast droop is the result of a mismatch between the breast tissue (nipple and areola and breast gland) and the skin and soft tissue that act as your natural “bra” support. This results in a low, sometimes deflated, long-looking breast often with the nipple appearing too low or pointing down. Many patients often experience a real challenge to find a good bra or bathing suit that fits comfortably and fits without a gap or empty looking space at the top of the breast.
Breast lifts are an excellent treatment option for women who develop droopy, older-looking, asymmetric breasts over time, and for those with congenital droopy or asymmetric misshapen breasts that occurred during puberty, such as a tubular breast variants, even if these changes happened years or decades earlier.
Some women develop breast droop right away during puberty or gradually when hormone changes occur. In addition, when there is some asymmetry with the droop, it can make your breasts look uneven and off balance.
In addition, women often develop droopier breasts over time if large, and with weight changes, and after pregnancy. This shape change can make breasts appear much older than you are or feel. The more sagging you have, the wider your breasts can look in a bra, and simply wearing a bra and getting it to fit comfortably and look good can become a challenge. Most of these women know that bras just don’t give the support, look, and control you desire.
Breast sagging causes challenges such as finding a bras with a comfortable fit, looking good in your clothing, being able to participate in sports, or to workout in a gym without concern or embarrassment, and wearing bathing suits with comfort at the pool without constant “repositioning” of your breasts and clothing.
A drooping breast can also cause discomfort on your shoulders with or without a bra. Many patients will notice an improvement in how their chest and shoulders feel even right after the surgery is completed. Even breathing seems to be easier for many.
A breast lift can dramatically change the anatomy to a pleasing appearance that will then age much more naturally, look more normal, and fit in normal clothing, bras, and swimwear.
Before and After Photos
A gallery of images to assist in finding the sample results you might be looking for in surgical, injectables, and med spa.
Can Women with Implants Get a Breast Lift?
Many women with implants are good candidates for implant removal and breast lift, which can result in a more natural breast appearance, more comfort, and elimination of concern for the eventual later need for implant removal with aging. It is also very common to develop droop over time especially if you have implants and your breast size has increased with age, pregnancy, and life style. This can result in a long looking breast with a less than natural appearance.
Will a Breast Lift Really Make a Difference in my Daily Life?
Quality of life evaluation of both women undergoing breast lift, and those undergoing implant removal with lift, indicate improvement in mental and physical well-being, breast appearance, and sexual well-being. About 97% of breast droop patients would recommend the procedure and 88-90% of those undergoing implant removal and lift have reported satisfaction with the procedure.
Deciding on Surgery
Where to start when considering surgery for sagging breasts? The best way is to explore options during a consultation where you will find that challenges you may be experiencing are almost always shared by others. Options can include treatments that depend on the amount of breast tissue you have, your skin characteristics, and your desired outcome.
Many patients think they must have implants to have a well-proportioned breast and find that techniques for breast reshaping and lifts often result in a natural appearance without the need for implants. Many who feel that they are too small often find that by repositioning breast tissue into a more symmetric and better space, they appear to have more projection and a more aesthetically pleasing breast that fits more comfortably with bras and clothing off the rack. Sometimes breast implants are considered as an option for volume enhancement as well.
Breast Lift surgeries are one of the most common procedures we do today. No surgery is magic, and yet achieving improved symmetry with your breast can result in comfort and confidence in and out of clothing. Breast Lift surgery lifts and repositions the breast to a higher, more youthful position. It reshapes a sagging breast and can dramatically affect the way your bra functions, how your clothing fits, and how comfortable you are during daily activities and exercise.
Regardless of the causes, breast changes are often unpredictable, unavoidable, bothersome, challenging, uncomfortable, embarrassing, and problematic.
Dr. Rudderman specializes in many surgeries of the breast and can perform artistically, demanding, and rewarding surgeries that correct these problems. Dr. Rudderman is one of Atlanta’s surgeons of choice. He is specialized in many complicated problems of the breast and he employs delicate, advanced techniques to achieve the most natural-looking results possible.
Risks of Breast Lift Surgery
Risks of surgery include bleeding, delayed healing, tissue loss, anesthesia risks, and infections, all of which require attention to reduce risk and are usually uncommon with healthy patients.
Benefits of Breast Lift Surgery
Dr. Rudderman feels that Breast Lift operations are one of the most artistically demanding operations her performs. He customizes every procedure to match your anatomic characteristics and desires.
Dr. Rudderman’s Breast Lift surgery can achieve the following:
- Breast Lift surgery rejuvenates breast shape and contour
- Breast tissue is elevated to a more youthful position
- Uneven, asymmetrical breasts improve with Breast Lift surgery
- Nipple/areolar are resized, shaped, positioned and balanced
- Breast Lift surgery restores a more youthful, pleasing shape
- Breast Implants may be used to enhance your Breast Lift Surgery
- Special techniques using your own natural tissue may be used
- Result in a breast appearance that matches your age and desires, even if you feel your breast never developed or looked “normal” to you.
For years, Dr. Rudderman has been using the optimal combination of procedures, proper timing, expertise, artistic skills, and a safe personalized plan to help guide women through procedures and to transform their body so they look better and feel healthier. Dr. Rudderman customizes every single Breast Lift surgery.
How Breast Lift Surgery is Performed
Most Breast Lift procedures are accomplished with surgical incision placement that includes an incision around the areola, a vertical incision from the areola to the crease below your breast, and some length of incision along the crease. Women are always (and rightly) concerned about how these incisions and scars will heal. Our technique used the most delicate approach with the care of tissue that promotes the greatest probability of excellent healing. It is rare to have resulting scars that are problematic and that require revisional surgery. The nipple is NOT separated from the breast and remains attached to underlying ducts and nerves during the surgery.
In the procedures, the superficial skin and soft tissue are elevated allowing for the breast tissue to be reshaped to a more normal anatomic appearance including often repositioning on the chest wall. This is accomplished by understanding and achieving the best possible balance between breast volume, skin and soft tissue, chest wall shape, nipple, and areolar size and position, all after taking into consideration your height, shape, weight, age, lifestyle, and desires.
Surgery usually takes 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, is outpatient, and may involve a drain placement for usually 1 day. Women with a desk-type job almost always return to work on Monday after a Thursday operation. Healing issues are rare if you are healthy and a non-smoker. Those that use tobacco products can reduce healing difficulty risk by reducing use before, and stopping tobacco consumption before and after surgery. Women with children often can return to full childcare within reason in 3-4 days, including carpool and driving.
The operation and artistry are specific to each woman. During your visit, you will receive extensive education regarding your condition, your concerns, your options, your risks and benefits, and your probable predictable outcome. The goal is safe surgery, excellent appearance, normal anatomic redistribution, and an outcome that last for years and ages appropriately. Surgery is never permanent, and aging and other factors will impact appearance. The goal is for a revised breast to age naturally.
The Breast Lift Consultation
Dr. Rudderman believes the consultation is critical for you and him.
Careful exam before breast lift surgery is essential in helping predict the expected upper breast fullness with a lift with droopy breast patients, and the expected volume with those undergoing implant removal and lift.
The consultation includes the following:
- A thorough education of your options
- An overview of techniques used to modify breast form
- Discussion on incisions
- Your desires regarding breast volume
- Desired appearance and body balance
- Careful, comprehensive examination to evaluate breast volume, tissue, skin characteristics and position, evaluation of your body frame, chest anatomy, and if implants are considered, a discussion of today’s breast implant options and safety considerations
During your consultation he will assess your anatomy, tissue and skin characteristics, breast volume, breast history, your desires for now and long-range, and he will create a personalized treatment plan with options available that can be performed in a safe and predictable way.
Occasionally, you may require treatment for one breast that may differ from the other. Additional visits can be provided until you feel confident that you are making the best decision for yourself in health, safety, and outcome. These treatments are not an emergency, and plenty of time will be allowed to have a full conversation to consider options.
Dr. Rudderman has been practicing for over 25 years and has performed more than 5,000 breast surgeries. This experience gives him the ability to accurately predict your potential outcomes. From the consultation evolves…trust, respect, mutual understanding, and a personalized treatment plan.
After your first consultation with Dr. Rudderman, you will realize that there truly is a difference in how surgeons approach their profession. For Dr. Rudderman…that difference means understanding your goals and providing a level of service that places safety & comfort alongside predictable and pleasing outcomes.
Contact us at 678.566.7200 to meet with Dr. Rudderman in our Alpharetta or Midtown Atlanta offices.
Written and reviewed by:
Dr. Randy Rudderman, who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1994). He practices medicine at his offices in Alpharetta and Atlanta. The content written reflects current accurate information and is consistent with ethical positioning of the ASPS. (American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Last modified: June 18, 2024
Learn more about Dr. Rudderman, his medical training, and credentials.
Post-Surgery Expectations
- You will wake up with a small dressing over the treated area and a surgical bra.
- Mild swelling and some discomfort is normal and to be expected – this resolves on its own and often requires some pain medication for 24 hours then only acetaminophen.
- You will be seen in the office 24 hours post-surgery and given a more comfortable bra.
- Swelling generally is mild and resolves in 2-3 weeks.
- Sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed.
- You will have a type of brown paper tape on the incisions to protect the area and help with minimal scar formation.
- You may have a drain tube placed that needs to be checked several times a day. This drain is commonly removed in 24 hours.
- Most patients who have surgery on Thursday can return to desk work Monday.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 3 weeks. Dr. Rudderman will tell you when you can start to exercise again.
- Measurable results are typically visible immediately but be patient. Healing and stabilizing takes time. It can take months for the “new you” to be clearly seen.
Long-Term Results
The results of this procedure are long-lasting. Improved contour changes occur quite rapidly in the early phases of healing. Your breast will often look and feel slightly swollen in the first several days and improve daily for several weeks. The breast can and will naturally age over time. Additional surgery to further improve the appearance is unlikely. It is not feasible to predict long term if additional treatment may be desired however depending on aging, genetics, and lifestyle. All breasts need good long-term follow-up for evaluation of breast disease by your practitioner of choice.
Breast Lift Frequently Asked Questions
Search our list of FAQs for the answers you are looking for.
