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.
Which Breast Lift Is Right for Me?
Women considering breast lift surgery, who visit from Fort Worth, Frisco, Plano, and Grapevine, Texas, each have unique concerns. Our surgeons use their experience and training to determine the most suitable approach for each individual woman to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing results for her body and her needs. We understand it’s natural to want limited incisions, which is why we always carefully explain the reasoning behind the final chosen techniques and incision patterns.
Request a consultation using the online form to meet personally with Dr. Bogdan or Dr. Cason, or call our office at (817) 442-1236 to schedule an appointment.
Your Breast Lift Surgical Options
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. The 3 choices correspond to the incisions used during the operation. They include:
- Concentric (doughnut) mastopexy
- Vertical (lollipop) mastopexy
- Anchor-incision mastopexy
Dr. Bogdan explains each of the options in this video:
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 (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. There should also be only a minimal amount of excess skin. The lollipop lift works well if the distance from the nipple to the inframammary fold is short. A lollipop incision lift:
- Elevates the nipple position.
- Allows for reduction of areolar size.
- Tightens the breast by reducing the skin in a horizontal direction.
Mommy Makeover
Before & After Photos
Case #136
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
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.
- 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
The resulting scar is the same as for the lollipop breast lift, but also includes an incision that runs horizontally along the inframammary fold.
Mommy Makeover
Before & After Photos
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Performing an Anchor Incision 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.
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