Weight loss, pregnancy, and aging can all cause breasts to droop and lose their shape. At Center for Plastic Surgery, our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons perform breast lift surgery to help women from Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas lift and reshape their breasts. It can be performed alone for a focused result on lifting and rejuvenation, or it can be paired with breast augmentation for attention to both lift and fullness.
A breast lift procedure raises the nipples, removes excess skin, reshapes breast tissue, and tightens the remaining skin. During a consultation, you and your surgeon will talk about the amount of lift desired and make a surgical plan based on your goals. Based on your degree of breast sagging, one of several possible techniques will be suggested. Breast lift surgery may be combined with breast augmentation to restore or improve breast shape.
American Board of Plastic Surgery · Fellow, American College of Surgeons
A breast lift is the ideal procedure when breast sagging detracts from your appearance and self-confidence. This procedure is highly focused on rejuvenation and can provide the following benefits:
At CPS, our breast lifts are performed with customization and safety in mind. Whether you choose to combine your breast lift with breast implants or fat grafting, or you choose this procedure alone, we will create a result that best reflects your goals and vision.
When changes due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, or weight fluctuations leave your breasts looking deflated, it might be time to rejuvenate with a breast lift. The best candidates for a breast lift have mild to severe sagging breasts but are pleased with their breast size and fullness. Additionally, breast lift candidates:
At CPS, we will tailor your breast lift surgery to your degree of excess skin, volume loss, and nipple ptosis. The type and location of the needed incisions will be determined during your consultation and largely depend on the amount of excess skin you have. Depending on your goals and the amount of volume loss, your surgeon might recommend specific incision placements and implants.
The incisions made by your surgeon depend on the amount of breast sagging (ptosis). There are four options:
This is the most common incision pattern. This technique includes a horizontal incision along the breast crease connecting to the incisions used for a lollipop lift, creating an anchor or inverted T shape. It is ideal for patients with moderate to severe skin excess, deflation, and nipple ptosis. This incision allows us to completely reshape the breast. Most patients are happy to trade the additional scar for a much better breast shape. An implant can be easily placed through this approach.
This is for patients with mild to moderate skin excess and nipple ptosis. The surgeon makes incisions around the areola and then vertically down from the areola to the breast crease (resembling the shape of a lollipop). It is more common than a donut lift but less common than an anchor lift.
This technique is less common and is only for patients with very minimal excess skin, as the nipple can only be moved one to two centimeters. This is not an option for women with pronounced sagging. For a donut lift, the surgeon makes an incision around the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple). Occasionally, a small implant can be placed through the incision.
Combining breast lift surgery with fat transferred from another area of the patient’s body can add volume to the breasts without implants. Fat grafting is a surgical technique that features two main steps: removing unwanted donor fat from an area of the patient’s body using liposuction and reinjecting the fat into the treatment area for “natural” augmentation.
This approach is steadily gaining popularity as patients are looking for a more natural and permanent form of adding volume to their breasts. Fat grafting with a breast lift can help create a more full or rounded shape to the breasts for a natural-looking lift and plumpness. However, this option can only add moderate volume. For large changes in upper pole fullness or cleavage, an implant is the best option.
GalaflexTM is a resorbable (meaning that it goes away with time) mesh/scaffold that our surgeons can use to help support the breast during breast lift surgery. The GalaflexTM
essentially acts like an internal bra to support the breast mound and enhance and maintain the breast lift. It allows our surgeons to achieve results not previously possible and to prevent the recurrence of sagging that can occur without such support. This is particularly important for patients with poor skin quality, thin skin, severe excess skin, or those who are undergoing revisionary surgery. We will determine if this is a good option for you in your consultation.
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As a breast lift alone does not increase the fullness of the breasts, many women opt to combine their procedures with breast augmentation. This is a very popular option for women who have had children or have breastfed, as these factors often deplete volume and cause the breast skin to stretch. A breast augmentation with lift provides the best of both worlds, with unparalleled lift and perkiness, along with a more plump, rounded shape.
We’ll compare the two below:
Breast Lift: Have mild to severe breast sagging and downturned nipples that are primarily caused by loose or excess skin. Candidates want to lift their breasts higher on the chest for a more youthful result but are pleased with the volume of their breasts in a bra.
Breast Lift with Augmentation: Have sagging breasts and want increased volume. Candidates may have lost volume and breast shape due to pregnancy or weight fluctuations and now desire a fuller, more rounded, and lifted shape.
Breast Lift: Breast lift recovery requires about one week of downtime, with continued limited activity for four weeks.
Breast Lift with Augmentation: This procedure will have a similar recovery period, although the first few weeks may be more challenging with the addition of implants.
If you’re considering combining your breast lift with breast implants, you’ll have to decide which implant type is best for you. In addition to implant size, you have the choice between saline or silicone implants, round or ergonomic shape, and implant pocket—but don’t worry, you won’t have to make all these choices alone. Our experienced surgeons are here to guide you through the process and ensure you achieve the look you want.
Consultations are crucial at CPS, as we strive to give each patient the most custom experience possible. During your breast lift consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know your surgeon, ask any questions you may have, discuss the risks and benefits of a breast lift, and get a good idea of what you can reasonably expect from the results.
By the end of your consultation, your surgeon will give you a recommendation for incision placement, whether or not implants are recommended, and the pros and cons of further customization, such as fat grafting or the use of absorbable mesh. Our job is to understand your desires in order to provide you with the safest and most effective surgical plan to achieve your goals.
Each breast lift is highly personalized to the patient, so surgical plans will vary. A general breast lift procedure may look like this:
Breast lift surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
On the day of surgery, your plastic surgeon will stop by to check in with you, go over any last-minute questions or concerns you have, and mark the incision locations where you have previously agreed. Your surgeon will begin the surgery by making careful incisions, where noted, before repositioning the nipples and reducing the size of the areola. They will also remove excess skin and tissue as necessary while lifting the breasts to a higher, more perky position. If you have combined your procedure with augmentation via fat grafting or implants, this will be performed at the same time as the mesh lift. Once satisfied with the results, your surgeon will carefully close your incisions, and you will be placed in a comfortable dressing and surgical bra and monitored as you awake from anesthesia.
After surgery, a dressing and surgical bra will be placed around the chest. On rare occasions, surgical drains may be necessary, but this is unusual and does not occur very often. Very specific instructions will be provided to you on when to remove or change the dressings, when to shower, activity levels, medication management, etc. These instructions will be reviewed with you during your preoperative visit and on the day of surgery with your recovery room nurse. We are also readily available after surgery to answer questions as they arise.
You will wear a soft post-operative bra for a few weeks, day and night, except when you bathe. This is crucial to your recovery as this bra supports your healing breasts and reduces pain and swelling. Be sure to follow your instructions for recovery, prioritize rest, and begin light movement as soon as you feel up to it, as this will reduce the risk of blood clots and induce healing.
You will be asked to avoid strenuous activity and exercise for four weeks. We will advise you on how to gradually increase your activity during this time period. You will experience swelling and bruising around your surgical site, which peaks about three to four days after surgery. You should not wear underwire bras or participate in impact exercises or athletics during this time. You may need assistance around the house for the first few days, but we expect that you can return to your usual routine around the house within one to two days. You can usually return to your daily routine approximately one week after surgery.
Each patient will have a different recovery process, allowing for differences in healing, surgical plan, and combination procedures. A general breast lift recovery timeline includes:
“Once the procedure is done they just don’t get rid of you — they treat you as if you’re still family. They continue the care that you’re supposed to have.”
I had a breast augmentation and a lift with [Dr. Kanuri]. I came to the Center for Plastic Surgery because I was in need of a makeover after having my two beautiful sons.
[Dr. Kanuri] has always put my mind at ease. He’s just a very caring person. I could have texted him at 2:00 in the morning and he would have texted me back immediately, or called to make sure I was doing okay.
Lindsay describes her breast augmentation with lift with Dr. Arjun P. Kanuri at Center for Plastic Surgery, in her own words. Read her full story
The cost of a breast lift in Washington, D.C., depends on the specifics of the surgical plan, including the techniques used and the amount of revision needed.
Center for Plastic Surgery breast lifts typically range from $7,000 to $12,000, depending on the specifics of the procedure and whether things like fat grafting or GalaflexTM are involved. In the Washington, D.C., area, a breast lift with implants costs approximately $10,000 to $14,000, depending on the type of breast lift and type of implant being used. You will be provided with a specific price quote after your consultation with one of our providers.
There is no such thing as surgery without scarring. We will make sure the location of your scars is clear to you prior to surgery. Your surgeon will do everything in their power in the operating room to produce the best scar possible in terms of reducing tensions on the incisions and using multiple layers of fine sutures. Scarring is genetic, and some patients are prone to thicker scars. If these develop over time, CPS can help you treat them with options like steroid injections, microneedling, and laser resurfacing.
Your surgeon will go over the best incision options for you in detail during your complimentary consultation so you will know what to expect ahead of time. Your personalized patient information will also include instructions to aid healing and reduce scarring.
We always try to accommodate combination procedures, as this is a great way to achieve aesthetic harmony and reduce recovery time. In addition to combining your breast lift with augmentation, many women incorporate this procedure as a part of a Mommy Makeover, often combining a breast lift or breast augmentation with lift with abdominoplasty or liposuction.
No cosmetic procedure can stop the natural aging process, so your breasts will continue to age at a normal rate even after your procedure. However, a breast lift can take years off your breast’s appearance, with many patients going the rest of their lives enjoying their results.
Subsequent weight fluctuations, hormone changes, or pregnancy can all affect the results of your breast lift. Consider these factors when timing your breast lift procedure.
Patients who can breastfeed before a breast lift can usually breastfeed after surgery. However, if you do not know your breastfeeding status prior to surgery, we will not be able to predict if you can breastfeed after surgery. Patients who undergo breast lift or breast reduction can breastfeed at the same rate as the standard population: 1/3 can breastfeed without issue, 1/3 will need to supplement, and 1/3 are unable to breastfeed. If you are planning to have children, it is best practice to wait until you are done with childbearing before undergoing a breast procedure. If you are unsure if you will be having children but are considering it in the future, you can still pursue a breast lift.
All surgery carries some risk, including excess bleeding, change in sensation, and difficulties healing. However, complications from breast lifts are unusual. Occasionally, there may be a change in nipple sensation, but this is usually temporary. Milk production may decrease because of nipple repositioning, but it doesn’t necessarily prevent you from breastfeeding.
A breast lift removes loose, excess skin and reshapes breast tissue, making breasts appear more youthful and perky. These issues are often caused by significant weight loss, breastfeeding, or age. The surgery is performed by tightening lax tissue and repositioning the breast higher along the chest wall. It can also have the added benefit of correcting neck or back pain caused by sagging.
From our article: Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, or Both?
Breast lifts can perk up droopy breasts, but the surgery cannot add volume or make the breasts appear bigger. In fact, many women report that a lift can make their breasts appear slightly smaller afterward.
From our article: Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, or Both?
Although breast augmentation can increase size and fullness, it cannot “fill up” sagging skin or create a perkier appearance. Most surgeons don’t recommend placing an implant into a sagging breast for this reason.
From our article: Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, or Both?
Breast lift patients usually require about a week of downtime devoted to rest and healing. You will need to wear a special surgical bra for added support for about 3 weeks post-op. While most women can return to regular activities after 10 days, rigorous activity should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks. Breast lift surgery results appear gradually as swelling subsides, with final results evident between 6 and 12 months.
From our article: Do I Need a Breast Lift?
Most patients report discomfort that is:
Strongest in the first 72 hours, then noticeably improves
More like muscle soreness/pressure than sharp pain
Worse with movement (standing up, reaching, rolling in bed) and better at rest
Accompanied by swelling-related tightness, which can make the chest feel “full” or firm
It can also be emotionally challenging at first – not because pain is overwhelming, but because sleep position changes, limited arm use, and the “newness” of the body can feel temporarily frustrating. Setting expectations ahead of time helps.
From our article: How Painful is Breast Lift Recovery?
If you want to learn more about your breast lift options at Center for Plastic Surgery, schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons by calling (301) 652-7700 or (703) 560-2850 or filling out our online contact form. In addition, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information and preliminary pricing before booking.