2301 Plastic Surgery: Michael A. Bogdan, MD, FACS
2301 Westgate Plaza
Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: (817) 442-1236
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Breast Lift
As we age, gravity takes its toll on our bodies in various ways. Unfortunately for women, the delicate breast tissue does not hold up as well to the effects of aging and gravity as they might like. In addition, the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can accelerate the breakdown of breast tissue, leaving the breasts sagging and droopy. Dr. Michael Bogdan and Dr. Roger Cason perform mastopexy operations (also known as breast lift surgery) for women from Fort Worth, Frisco, and Plano, TX, and other communities near Grapevine, who want to restore their breasts to a more youthful position.
If you are interested in learning more about breast lift surgery, request a consultation with Dr. Bogdan or Dr. Cason at their cosmetic surgery practice serving the DFW area.
What Is Breast Lift Surgery?
Mastopexy involves removing the excess, stretched skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. During your consultation, our surgeons will discuss various surgical options with you. They understands it’s natural to want limited incisions, which is why they will carefully explain the reasoning behind their chosen techniques and incision patterns.
There are 3 primary options when considering a breast lift. Which one is right for you depends on how much your breasts sag, the degree of asymmetry (if it exists), and the distance from the breast’s nipple to the inframammary fold where the breast connects to the chest wall. Generally, the more the breast has descended, the more extensive the surgery will be.
Concentric Breast Lift
Also known as a “doughnut” mastopexy, the concentric breast lift removes a small circle of skin from around the areola (the more darkly pigmented skin surrounding the nipple). The nipple is moved to a higher position on the chest while remaining attached to nerves and blood vessels. The remaining skin is reattached around the areola, resulting in a lifted, tightened breast. The resulting scar usually fades and blends in with the darker skin of the areola. This is the least invasive technique, appropriate for women with a small degree of sagging who require only a subtle lift.
Vertical Breast Lift
You may be a good candidate for a vertical (or “lollipop”) breast lift if your breasts don’t droop too much and the nipple is at or just slightly below the level of the inframammary fold. A vertical breast lift corrects moderate sagging and:
- Elevates the nipple position.
- Allows for reduction of areolar size.
- Tightens the breast by reducing the skin in a horizontal direction.
- Results in less visible scarring than an anchor lift.
Performing a Vertical Lift
During the surgery, a circular incision is made around the current areola. Based on the circle size, the decision is made whether to make the areola smaller and more proportionate to the breast. Next, an open circle incision is made on the upper portion of the breast showing the nipple’s new location. Finally, a vertical incision is made from the edges of this open circle towards the inframammary fold, ideally avoiding the pigmented areolar skin. The incisions join at the level of the inframammary fold, creating a triangle.
After removing a small amount of skin between the circular incisions, the skin is then undermined on either side of the areola, and it is moved to the elevated location. Finally, the skin below the areola is sutured together at the midline.
Anchor Incision Breast Lift
The anchor-shaped mastopexy corrects the greatest degree of ptosis and is the most commonly used technique. It utilizes the same incision as the vertical mastopexy but adds a curved incision along the underside of the breast, resulting in the anchor shape. Through the more extensive incisions, more skin and breast tissue are removed, resulting in the greater degree of lifting and shaping that many breast lift patients require.
The anchor incision lift:
- Elevates the nipple position
- Can reduce the size of the areola
- Tightens the breast by reducing the skin in both horizontal and vertical directions.
- Corrects breast position on the chest, if needed
Performing an Anchor Lift
The inframammary fold location is first marked. If the breast position is symmetric on the chest, the existing inframammary folds can be used. If one breast is higher on the chest, however, the fold is lowered on that side to improve overall symmetry. Next, the desired location of the nipple is drawn, and a keyhole pattern showing the vertical incision is designed. The keyhole marks the desired position of the nipple-areolar complex, and the vertical incisions allow for skin removal in a horizontal direction. A horizontal incision is then made so skin can be removed in the vertical direction as well.
A circle is designed around the nipple, allowing for a reduction in the size of the areola to make it more proportional to the breast. A small amount of skin is removed between the circular incisions, the skin is undermined on either side of the areola, and the areola is moved to its more elevated location. Suturing the incisions on the lower portion of the breast at the midline completes the procedure.Please see this animated anchor incision breast lift video for more information.
A breast reduction procedure requires the same skin incisions as an anchor incision breast lift, the only difference being the removal of excess breast tissue.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Before & After Photos
Case #245
• Breast Lift (Anchor Incision)
• Abdominoplasty (500 gm skin removed, muscles tightened 5 cm)
• Flank Liposuction (850 cc fat removed)
Case #747
NP8628
Case #259
Case #757
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation
Keep in mind that a breast lift will not increase overall breast volume. It is primarily about reshaping the breasts. If you want to increase breast size, breast augmentation will be necessary, and our surgeons will recommend a breast implant that is custom-sized to your cosmetic goals.
The choice between breast augmentation and breast lift surgery is not always clear-cut. In the video below, Dr. Bogdan shows before-and-after pictures of breast enhancement patients and explains what made them good candidates for a breast lift or breast augmentation or a combination of both. If you need both a breast lift and augmentation, please read Dr. Bogdan’s philosophy on the breast lift with augmentation procedure.
Breast Lift FAQs
Q: Do I need to have a mammogram before surgery?
The recommended age to start screening mammograms varies and depends on the patient’s family history. For women who have no family history of breast cancer, screening mammograms start at age 40 (ACR / SBI guidelines) or 50 (USPSTF guideline). For women with a strong family history of breast cancer, it is recommended women start screening at age 30.
Breast lift operations require re-arrangement of the breast tissue itself and could potentially spread cancer if it is encountered during the operation. For this reason, our surgeons recommend a screening mammogram within the last year for all women over 40 or over 30 if there is a strong family history.
Q: How soon will I be able to drive after surgery?
Most patients need prescription pain medicine for 3 to 7 days after surgery. While you are taking these medications, you are impaired and should not be driving. Take the medications while you need them, and once you have stopped using them for 24 hours, you should be OK to drive.
Q: Will the scars be visible?
Yes. Anywhere you place an incision, there will be a permanent scar. No one can guarantee that you will have a perfect scar, but there are things you can do to achieve the best scar possible. Please visit our Scar Care page for more info.
Meet the Doctors
Our fellowship trained plastic surgeons are both passionate about their craft, and work closely with patients to get excellent results.
Meet the Doctors
Our fellowship trained plastic surgeons are both passionate about their craft, and work closely with patients to get excellent results.
Your Next Step
A breast lift can take years off your appearance and help you feel much more confident about the look of your breasts. Imagine enjoying the look and feel of your breasts again—it’s possible with this cosmetic breast surgery procedure! Our surgeons want you to have the best-appearing scar possible and has specific recommendations for scar care after your procedure. As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, it is critical that you choose a plastic surgeon with high levels of training, experience, and patient satisfaction, such as Dr. Bogdan or Dr. Cason.
App for iPhone® & iPad®
If you have an iPhone or iPad, Dr. Bogdan encourages you to download his enhanced photo gallery application. This FREE app is available for download from the App Store℠.
Download from the App Store