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Breast lift surgery is successful at making the breasts firmer and more shapely. Many women find that they no longer need to wear a bra to feel comfortable and look better in their clothes.
A breast lift may be performed in conjunction with a breast augmentation. Implants may also help lift the breast by increasing the volume of the contents of the breast.
Breast Lift: The Operation
Several different techniques can be used to correct droopy breasts, depending on the degree of sagging. Surgery consists of removing excess skin from around the areola, and possibly also from the bottom of the breast. This shifting of the skin will tighten the breast and the position of the nipple and areola can be elevated to a more youthful position. An implant can also be inserted at the same time to give added projection.
The specific breast lift techniques may vary, but they generally fall into two categories: the concentric (or doughnut) mastopexy for women with smaller and less droopy breasts and the more common anchor shaped mastopexy. In general, the more tissue that is cut, the more shaping is possible. This means that women with extensive sagging, the skin has stretched so much that a smaller incision will not remove enough tissue to lift the breast. In these cases the larger incision is necessary.
The Concentric Mastopexy
For women with smaller and less severely drooping breasts the concentric breast lift, which requires fewer incisions, may be possible. Concentric circles around the areola are drawn and cut. The doughnut-shaped skin around the areola is removed and the nipple and areola moved upwards. Then the outer skin is stitched around the areola.
Anchor-shaped Mastopexy
For women with larger or more severely drooping breasts this procedure is more effective. A key-hole shape is drawn above the nipple and areola. At the bottom of the key-hole an anchor shape is drawn from the right to the left side of the breast.
The skin in the area of the 'anchor' will be removed along with the excess breast tissue. The nipple and areola are moved up to the 'key-hole' then the skin is stitched around the areola, vertically down to the chest and side to side along the newly created bottom fold of the breast.
Recovery Period for a Breast Lift
The gauze dressing will be removed after a couple of days, and you will wear a surgical bra for many weeks. Your breasts will be bruised, and you may experience temporary numbness around the nipples, although this can sometimes be permanent and is a risk of breast lift surgery.
For the first week at least you will need to limit your activities and movement in order to prevent tearing the stitches and stretching the scars. Most women can return to work within a couple of weeks of having a breast lift, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for 6 weeks. | 
