Women with breasts of a satisfactory size, but with a lot of breast sagging, laxity or with areola/nipples that point downwards can expect good results from the procedure.

Even very large breasts with large overhangs can be lifted. However, the result tends not to be as lasting as with a breast lift for normal-sized or smaller breasts. Patients with very large breasts are therefore often recommended to undergo a breast reduction .

• A breast lift can be performed at any age, although not in the teens as the breasts are not fully developed.
• It is most common for a breast lift to be performed after pregnancy and breastfeeding, as this can have an extensive effect on the size, shape and firmness of the breasts.
• Generally, there are no obstacles to undergoing a breast lift before pregnancy.
• The milk ducts and the function of the nipples are usually not affected, which makes it entirely possible for the patient to breastfeed after a breast lift. However, the patient must consult his surgeon about this before the operation.

There are different surgical methods for breast lift. In principle, these differ from each other in terms of how extensive changes will be achieved in relation to the patient’s starting position.

Which method is used in each individual case is determined by a combination of the following factors:

• How extensive the chest suspension is.
• The areola and nipple location and design.
• Breast size.
• The amount of excess skin.
• The shape of the breasts .
• The patient’s wishes.

In the first instance , the various breast lift methods differ in terms of how much breast sagging can be removed. Generally speaking, one can say that the more hanging the surgeon has to remove, the larger the incision has to be used. Below is a description of the most common options.

Breast lift with implant

In patients with a small breast sag, a smaller breast implant with a large face can be used to fill in the skin of the breast.

• Breast implants can only be used in cases where the areola is of a satisfactory size and position.
• Insertion of a breast implant can eliminate the need for a surgical breast lift and in this way the scars that would otherwise occur can be avoided.
• For more information about this procedure, we refer to the breast augmentation information page .

Areola lift

In some cases where there is only minor breast sagging, an areola lift, so-called periareolar mastopexy, may be sufficient.

• With an areola lift , only incisions are made around the areola.
• Through the incision, the surgeon gains access to the underlying breast tissue, which is moved up and attached higher up on the chest.
• The method only causes scars around the areola, but on the other hand has no possibility of shaping the breasts particularly much or removing large amounts of excess skin.
• These limitations mean that the method tends to give a somewhat flatter breast than when a more extensive procedure is used, but is still suitable in certain cases.

Anchor lift

To treat more extensive breast sagging, remove more significant amounts of excess skin and move the breasts up more, the skin below the areola is required to be stretched.

• For larger breast lifts, the surgeon must use more and larger incisions.
• This means that there will also be at least one further vertical incision/scar between the areola and the breast fold.
• Often the skin needs to be stretched further. To achieve this, you also need to make an incision under the breast, which will then also cause scars in the breast fold.
• The name “anker lift” comes from the shape of the incision used and the scar that occurs around the nipple, vertically over the breast and in an arch over the breast shaped like an anchor.
• The nipples usually remain attached to their original nerves and blood vessels throughout the operation.
• If the breasts have a large overhang, in certain cases it is necessary to move the areola with the nipple further than the connection to the nerves and blood vessels allows, which then entails a risk of reduced sensitivity.

A breast lift is considered relatively risk-free as long as it is performed by a qualified surgeon. With a breast lift, just like with all other plastic surgery, there is a certain risk of side effects and complications.

In addition to the general risks of plastic surgery that are described in general risks of plastic surgery , there are specific risks associated with a breast lift. These are described in more detail below.

The breast lift leaves noticeable permanent scars where the incision has been made.

• Scars after a breast lift vary from patient to patient. They will never disappear completely, but with time they will fade.
• All scars heal differently, but remember that healing takes time. Expect 12-18 months before you can see the final result.
• To reduce scarring, you should lose the breasts for the first six months or as long as they are red. The tape helps to smooth out and hold the scars together.
• The scars should not be exposed to the sun or solarium radiation for the first six months.

The operation may result in minor differences in the appearance of the breasts and the position of the areola.

Some patients experience partial or complete loss of sensitivity in the nipples or in the entire breasts.

• In exceptional cases , the blood supply to the areola and nipple disappears, causing the tissue to die (so-called necrosis).
• The nipple and areola can normally be rebuilt, but this requires a transplant of skin from other areas of the body.

With large breast lifts, the possibilities for future breastfeeding may disappear.

• When the possibility of breastfeeding is affected, it is because the milk ducts are cut through.
• You should discuss this carefully with your surgeon if you are not done with pregnancies.

Some patients are affected by soreness around the nipple.

• Soreness around the nipples is treated with traditional wound care.
• The risk of soreness decreases if you follow the instructions your plastic surgeon has given you carefully.