Often when women seek to enhance their breasts, they don’t want to augment them, they want to lift and shape them. They don’t want their breasts to look bigger; they want them to look younger. These women are seeking a breast lift – technically known as mastopexy (mastoplexy is an alternative pronunciation, but probably not medically accepted) – to help them look and feel better.

As people age, their skin loses elasticity. This loss of elasticity is the cause wrinkles, and for women, sagging breasts. Mastoplexy is a surgical procedure that lifts sagging breasts. Women can also reshape and contour their breasts with a breast lift. Sometimes, this is done in conjunction with breast augmentation.

There are three main types of breast lift procedures: concentric mastoplexy; vertical mastoplexy; and anchor mastoplexy. Concentric mastoplexy is the oldest procedure and anchor mastoplexy is the most common.

With the concentric mastoplexy procedure, two circular incisions are made around the areola and nipple. The skin between the two incisions is removed and the nipple is replaced at its new, higher, location on the breast. This type of breast lift, also known as a donut breast lift, is ideal for women who want flatter, rounder breasts. It is not the best option for women with large breasts or severely sagging breasts.

Vertical mastoplexy, also known as short scar breast lift, is ideal for mildly sagging breasts. This probably works well for a young woman with naturally large breasts. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a vertical incision from the nipple down the face of the breast to the breast fold. Skin is removed from the bottom of the breast, tightening and therefore lifting the entire breast. The short scar breast lift, obviously, leaves less visible scarring and leaves the nipple intact. It is a cheaper, easier surgery to perform.

With anchor mastoplexy, the surgeon cuts a circle around the top of the nipple and the areola; two incisions down the face of the breast; and an incision at the breast fold. This creates a keyhole-shaped outline, and inside the outline, the surgeon removes all the skin. Each side of the keyhole outline is then sutured together, providing the lift. This procedure provides the most lift and is ideal for women with large, heavily sagging breasts. However, it is also the most invasive breast lift procedure and leaves the most visible scarring.

A breast lift carries many of the same risks as a breast augmentation or reduction, including infection, visible scarring and other defects, and loss of nipple sensation. Despite this, almost all women who get a breast lift are happy with the results.

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