BREAST LIFT FAQ

You may be a good candidate if your breasts have lost shape or firmness, your nipples point downward, or one breast sits lower than the other. A breast lift can help raise and reshape the breasts for a more youthful look. Ideal candidates are in good health, at a stable weight, and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

A breast lift reshapes and raises your existing breast tissue, while augmentation adds volume using implants or fat transfer. If your main concern is sagging or drooping, a lift alone may be best. If you've lost both volume and shape, your surgeon might recommend a lift with implants (augmentation-mastopexy) to restore fullness.

Scars depend on the type of lift performed. The most common incision patterns are:

• Around the areola (for mild sagging)
• Around the areola and vertically down to the crease (the "lollipop" incision)
• Around the areola, down the breast, and along the crease (the "anchor" incision)

Our surgeons use advanced closure techniques to help scars fade over time, and most are easily hidden beneath bras or swimsuits.

Breast lift results are long-lasting, but natural aging, gravity, and weight changes can affect your shape over time. Most patients enjoy their new look for 10 years or longer before noticing any sagging again. Maintaining a stable weight and good skin health helps preserve your results.

Will my breasts look smaller after a breast lift? A lift does not remove much breast tissue, but it can make the breasts appear slightly smaller because they're firmer and more elevated. If you'd like to maintain or increase volume, your surgeon may suggest adding implants or fat transfer during your lift.

A lift does not remove much breast tissue, but it can make the breasts appear slightly smaller because they're firmer and more elevated. If you'd like to maintain or increase volume, your surgeon may suggest adding implants or fat transfer during your lift.

Many women are still able to breastfeed after a breast lift, though this depends on the surgical technique and how much repositioning is needed. If you plan to have children in the future, let your surgeon know so the safest approach can be used to protect the milk ducts and glands.

As with any surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, poor scarring, or changes in nipple sensation. Serious complications are rare, especially when surgery is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon in an AAAHC-accredited facility like ours. Our surgeons follow strict safety protocols and have performed thousands of successful breast lifts with excellent outcomes.

As with any surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, poor scarring, or changes in nipple sensation. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon in an AAAHC-accredited facility greatly reduces these risks. Our surgeons have performed thousands of safe, successful breast reductions with consistently excellent outcomes.

Some women can still breastfeed after breast reduction, but it depends on the surgical technique and how much tissue is removed. If you plan to have children in the future, let your surgeon know so the best approach can be used.

Yes. Many women choose to combine a lift with implants for added fullness or with a reduction to decrease size and lift at the same time. Combining procedures allows for a more balanced, natural result while reducing the need for multiple surgeries.

Our surgeons take precise measurements to make your breasts as even as possible. Slight natural differences are normal, but symmetry is always a top priority.

Breast lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesiologist for your comfort and safety. The surgeon removes excess skin, reshapes the breast tissue, and repositions the nipple and areola to create a perkier, natural contour. Most procedures take 2-3 hours, depending on the technique.

Before your breast lift, you'll have a full pre-operative visit. You'll need to stop smoking, avoid blood-thinning medications, and arrange for a ride home after surgery. Afterward, follow your surgeon's recovery plan, wear your surgical bra as directed, and avoid lifting or strenuous activity until cleared.

 If you've lost upper breast fullness or want more volume, adding breast implants or fat grafting can help create a fuller, rounder look. Your surgeon will explain which option best suits your goals.

Most swelling resolves by 4-6 weeks, and you can resume most normal activities at that point. You'll wear a support bra during recovery and should avoid high-impact exercise or underwire bras until cleared by your surgeon.

Look for a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. At Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics, each of our surgeons is board-certified, highly rated, and specializes in breast and body procedures. You'll be matched with the surgeon who best fits your goals to ensure safe, natural-looking results.