As a woman matures, factors like gravity, pregnancy, and breastfeeding may take their toll on her breast appearance. A loss of firmness and shape can result from the breast’s skin losing its support and elasticity. A mastopexy or breast lift is a procedure designed to reshape and elevate sagging breasts. The procedure can also reduce the size of the areola (dark area around the nipple) and balance asymmetries between the breasts.
If you have breasts that have lost volume over the years, breast implants can be included to increase both size and firmness.
For more information about a breast lift, call 615-467-6777 or schedule a consultation today!
What is a Breast Lift?
Mastopexy usually takes an hour-and-a-half to three hours to perform and is typically done under general anesthesia.
When considering a breast lift, you should be aware of the multiple incision techniques available. The amount of loose skin marked for removal will determine the type of incision and scar location left on the breast after surgery.
For patients who require a minimal amount of tightening, our board-certified plastic surgeon may confine your incision to a circle around the areola. In a moderate surgery, she may combine this incision with a vertical incision to maximize reshaping.
If we combine breast augmentation with a breast lift, we will place the implant under the breast tissue or the muscle of the chest wall. For patients who require substantial skin tightening, an anchor-shaped incision is made, following the breast’s natural contour.
The incisions will determine the new nipple location and outline the areas from where we will remove any excess skin and tissue. After this removal, we reposition the nipple and areola while lifting and reshaping the breast. To close, we will place sutures around the areola, down from the nipple to the underside of the breast, and along the crease below the breast.
After Breast Lift Surgery
After your breast lift is complete, your surgeon will place an elastic bandage over surgical gauze. Your breasts will be swollen and bruised for a day or two. Any discomfort you experience can be relieved with oral medications. One to two days after your surgery, the bandages will be removed. You will then wear a soft support bra 24 hours a day for three to four weeks. We will remove the sutures after a week or two. Initial swelling will tend to flatten the breasts, but your true shape will become evident as the swelling resolves. Most of the sutures are placed under the skin and will dissolve over time.
You can apply moisturizer if your breasts are dry after treatment. If you do use moisturizer, do not tug at your skin during application and keep the moisturizer away from suture areas.
Post-surgical swelling will cause some numbness to your breast skin and nipples, but this loss of sensation will fade during the next six weeks. Some patients report the loss of sensation persisting for a year or more, and in rare cases this condition is permanent. If you experience any complications following your visit to our cosmetic surgery practice in Nashville, Tennessee, contact our breast lift surgeon immediately.
Recovery
Following treatment, you may be up and moving in a couple of days. Most patients do not return to work for a week or more following the surgery. You will need to avoid overhead lifting and strenuous activities for three to four weeks following your procedure. Because your milk ducts and nipples will be left intact, treatment should not affect your ability to breastfeed. As with all surgery, we recommend no activity that causes an increase in heart rate or blood pressure for two to three weeks after surgery.
Breast Lift Candidates
Candidates for a mastopexy procedure are women in good health who are realistic about what a breast lift can achieve. Optimal results are found with women who have sagging breasts that have lost firmness.
Many of our patients desire a breast lift because the effects of childbearing and breastfeeding have stretched their breast skin, causing their breasts to droop and lose firmness. Although breastfeeding is still possible after a breast lift, we recommend only considering the procedure after you finish having children.
Meet the Doctors
Learn about our Board-Certified plastic surgeons and why you should choose two RealSelf 500 award winners for your next procedure!
Meet the Doctors
Learn about our Board-Certified plastic surgeons and why you should choose two RealSelf 500 award winners for your next procedure!
Potential Risks
As with any other surgery, a breast lift presents some possible complications or reactions to the anesthesia. Bleeding and infection are not common. Poor healing and wide scars are more common with smokers. It may be necessary for smokers to have a separate lift and implant surgeries, rather than performing them at the same time.
Finding a Surgeon
Although any doctor with a valid medical license can legally perform a breast lift, few are trained and qualified to perform this procedure. When considering a mastopexy, you should only interview board-certified plastic surgeons who have an emphasis in their practice toward breast surgery and body contouring. Also, plastic surgeons have rigid training focusing on cosmetic surgery. This training includes several years of medical school and residency focusing on surgical skill and techniques. Board-certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery ensures the surgeon is current with all advanced practices and procedures.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to book your procedure with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons? Contact us today to schedule your consultation and begin your aesthetic journey!
Why Choose Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville?
Drs. Melinda Haws and Mary Gingrass are board-certified plastic surgeons who have dedicated their careers to helping other women find beauty and body self-esteem. Both surgeons have emphasized breast surgeries as a focus of their practice.
They have surrounded themselves with a dedicated and compassionate team of medical professionals committed to enhancing your beauty and body contour.
For more information on how we can improve your breast appearance and self-confidence, call 615-467-6777, schedule an in-person consultation here, or a virtual consultation here.
Breast Lift FAQs
If you need added volume, a breast lift will not increase the size of your breast, but breast augmentation with implants will. Breast lift will add firmness and enhance breast position, but it won’t increase breast size. You can combine both procedures for optimal breast enhancement.
If you combine your breast lift with implants or have us perform breast augmentation as a standalone surgery, you can usually expect symmetry issues to be resolved. This is an issue that will be discussed in detail during your breast surgery consultation.
An incision around the areola will offer the most concealed scarring but minimal tightening. This is sufficient for many women who seek a breast lift. But if substantial skin tightening is required a vertical or anchor technique may be required.
If the nipple is left attached to the underlying breast tissue, then yes. But if there is significant excess skin to remove, we may have to remove the nipple for repositioning, but this is a very rare occurrence.
That depends, and it’s a good question to ask during your breast lift consultation. Just understand that pregnancy can have a severely negative impact on your mastopexy benefits.
Our surgeons recommend planning ahead to make your breast lift mastopexy recovery as smooth as possible. Arrange for help at home during the first few days and keep essential items like medications, snacks, and loose clothing within easy reach. Prepare your space with extra pillows to elevate your upper body while sleeping, which helps reduce swelling. Avoid heavy lifting, including children or pets, for at least two weeks. Your surgeon will provide detailed aftercare instructions and schedule follow-ups to monitor your mastopexy results. Staying hydrated, eating nutritious meals, and refraining from nicotine products are key to proper healing and long-lasting outcomes.
While the natural aging process continues, mastopexy results can last many years when supported by a healthy lifestyle and stable weight. The longevity of your breast lift mastopexy depends on factors like skin quality, genetics, and postoperative care. Our surgeons use advanced surgical techniques to ensure that your breasts maintain a youthful contour for as long as possible. Wearing supportive bras, maintaining consistent body weight, and avoiding smoking help preserve results. Many patients continue to enjoy their lifted shape for a decade or longer, with only gradual changes over time due to skin elasticity and gravity.
The best time to undergo a breast lift mastopexy is after your breasts have fully developed and you’re done having children or breastfeeding. Pregnancy and weight changes can alter breast shape, so timing the procedure after these milestones helps maintain your mastopexy results. Dr. Gingrass and Dr. Haws recommend that patients be in good general health and at a stable weight for several months before surgery. Emotional readiness is also key, and you should feel confident and informed about your goals. By carefully planning your timing, you can enjoy longer-lasting, natural-looking lift results tailored to your lifestyle.
While breast implants primarily enhance size and projection, a breast lift mastopexy addresses sagging, reshapes stretched skin, and repositions the nipple to a more youthful height. Dr. Gingrass and Dr. Haws often recommend mastopexy for women who love their current volume but want a firmer, elevated look. For those seeking both lift and fullness, a combined approach can deliver transformative results. The key benefit of a breast lift alone is natural rejuvenation – achieving perkier, symmetrical breasts without necessarily increasing size. Many patients find their confidence and clothing fit improve dramatically, showcasing elegant and lasting mastopexy results.
Dr. Gingrass and Dr. Haws explain that a breast lift mastopexy, reshapes and elevates tissue, but it doesn’t add volume like implants. Many patients wear a similar cup size after swelling subsides, though the breasts sit higher with a rounder, more youthful contour. Some feel they fit bras differently because the lower pole no longer fills the extra space created by sagging. If you want more fullness, especially in the upper breast, you can combine augmentation with a lift. During consultation, the surgeons discuss sizing goals and demonstrate how each option affects the final mastopexy results, ensuring your outcome aligns with your aesthetic preferences.
Incision design depends on skin quality, degree of sagging, and nipple-areola position. Dr. Gingrass and Dr. Haws use a periareolar (“donut”), vertical (“lollipop”), or anchor pattern to remove excess skin and reshape the breast mound safely. The goal is the smallest incision set that achieves durable lift and symmetry. They place scars along natural borders to help them fade with time and guide scar care to optimize healing. Technique selection balances contour, support, and scar minimization so your breast lift mastopexy produces refined, natural mastopexy results with incisions tailored to your anatomy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
After a breast lift mastopexy, most patients resume light walking right away, avoiding elevated heart rate and arm strain for two weeks. Dr. Gingrass and Dr. Haws typically clear low-impact lower-body exercise at 2 to 3 weeks, progressing to full workouts and upper-body training around 4 to 6 weeks, depending on healing. You’ll sleep on your back with your torso slightly elevated initially to reduce swelling and protect incisions. A supportive surgical or soft sports bra helps maintain shape. Your exact timeline is personalized during follow-ups to protect mastopexy results while helping you safely return to your routine.