More than one and a half million women worldwide choose to undergo breast surgery every year.
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. For many patients, these procedures can significantly change how they view their bodies, often improving comfort, confidence, and overall quality of life.
While breast augmentation, which focuses on increasing volume, is the procedure most people are familiar with, many women could benefit just as much from a breast lift. This type of surgery addresses position and shape rather than size, which is the primary concern for many women.
Dr. Mark Bosbous works closely with patients who are considering a breast lift to make sure they not only understand their options, but also feel comfortable talking openly about what they want to change and why.
In this article, we’ll walk through what a breast lift involves, how it can impact daily life, and who tends to be a good candidate for the procedure.
What Happens During a Breast Lift?
A breast lift is typically done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day.
Depending on what makes the most sense for you, the surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia, which is something you’ll talk through during your consultation, so expectations are clear from the start.
There are a few different incision patterns a surgeon may use, and the choice depends on how much lifting and reshaping is needed. In some cases, the incision is made only around the areola, which helps keep scarring well hidden along the natural border of the skin. When more adjustment is required, the incision may extend vertically down toward the breast crease.
For more significant reshaping, an additional incision along the crease of the breast can give the surgeon even better access to the tissue.
Additionally, your surgeon may be able employ techniques like Short-Scar Periareolar Inferior Pedicle Reduction (SPAIR) in certain situations to help minimize scarring.
A breast lift procedure itself usually takes about three to four hours. After surgery, patients spend a short period recovering on site before heading home to continue healing.
Ideally, you and your surgeon will plan incision placement and technique ahead of time so the surgery matches both your anatomy and your goals as closely as possible.
Who Is Considered a Good Candidate?
For a lot of people, the decision to look into a breast lift starts after some kind of drastic change to their bodies. That might be weight gain or weight loss, pregnancy, nursing, or simply aging over time.
Gradually, the breasts settle lower than they used to, and the shape no longer feels like it matches how the body feels overall.
If you’re hoping for a more youthful breast position, a breast lift can help with that. It’s also a common option for people who want to reduce the size of the areola, which can stretch and change shape as the breasts age.
In many cases, the position of the nipple and areola can shift as well, and a lift allows that area to be repositioned so everything sits higher and looks more balanced again.
On top of that, a breast lift addresses excess or lax skin that can develop over time. For some patients, the goal isn’t necessarily a dramatic change in size, but rather a reshaping that makes the breasts feel firmer, more proportional, and closer to how they looked before major life changes.
Of course, there are also the basic health factors that come into play with any surgery. Good candidates are generally in good physical health, maintain a stable weight, and don’t smoke.
Results and Recovery
A successful breast lift may improve your life in many small ways that matter. You can look at yourself in the mirror without discomfort, wear swimsuits and feel totally normal, and slowly settle into feeling better about yourself overall.
As for recovery, the process is fairly straightforward, but it does require patience. During the first couple of days, some discomfort, swelling, and tightness are normal, and you can usually manage them with prescribed medication. Support garments are recommended to help control swelling, and in some cases, small drainage tubes may be placed temporarily.
Around the four- to six-week mark, recovery is largely complete. Most patients can gradually return to more vigorous activity once cleared, with full movement following shortly after.
Closing Thoughts
A breast lift can address real concerns that affect comfort, confidence, and how your body feels day to day.
If sagging, skin laxity, or changes from pregnancy, weight loss, or aging have been on your mind for a while, it may be time to talk through your options.
At Milwaukee Plastic Surgery, Dr. Mark Bosbous works directly with patients to assess their anatomy, explain what a breast lift can realistically achieve, and build a surgical plan that fits their goals.
If you’re ready to take the next step, scheduling a consultation is the best way to get clear, personalized answers and decide what makes sense for you.