Department of Surgery

Breast Lift Surgery: What To Expect

Breast lift surgery is usually an outpatient procedure, though it may require a short hospital stay. The procedure normally takes about two to four hours, though more complicated cases can take longer. You will probably be given general anesthesia, so you’ll be asleep during the surgery.

How the Procedure is Performed

There are several techniques for breast lift. The most common breast lift procedure begins with the surgeon making a three-part, anchor-shaped incision. The first incision circles the areola; the second moves vertically down from the areola to the crease beneath the breast; the third moves horizontally beneath the breast, following the natural curve of the crease. View a diagram of the incisions used for a breast lift

Once the incisions are made, the surgeon removes the unwanted skin, moves the nipple and areola up to a higher position, and brings the skin that was above the areola (in its old position) down and together, to reshape the breast.

At the end of the operation, the surgeon may temporarily put a small, thin drainage tube under the skin of each breast to drain blood and fluids that collect there. Finally, the surgeon closes the incisions with small stitches and puts a bandage on the area to protect it from infection. View results of a breast before and after a breast lift procedure

Risks

All surgery involves some risk and uncertainty. Serious complications or side effects of this surgery are rare, but they include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Bad reactions to the anesthesia

Even more rare are the possibilities of:

• Slightly mismatched breasts
• Unevenly positioned nipples
• Loss of feeling in the nipples or breast

Learn More About Breast Lift Surgery

• What is breast lift surgery?
• Before breast lift surgery
• Recovery