Plastic surgeon Dr. James Namnoum says breast lifts, with or without having a breast augmentation or breast reduction, are a popular procedure with women who have had children.

“These patients are thinking to themselves that they want to recover their breast tissue, they want to have a rejuvenated breast, they want a filled breast mound, they want a more feminine look,” he says. “In addition, they want to overcome the changes they have experienced in their breast and in their body since they’ve carried their children and perhaps breast fed them.”

Often, women have lost volume in the “upper pole” area of the breast – the area between the collarbone and the nipple. Making an aesthetically pleasing adjustment can involve what is called a mastopexy, or breast lift. In this procedure, a surgeon remodels the breast by shaping the glandular tissue, moving the nipple upwards and re-draping the skin.

Namnoum adds that in other cases, most often in America, women want their breasts lifted and made larger at the same time.

“This can be done, but has to be done with an emphasis on safety,” he says, pointing out that keeping blood circulation to the nipple during such procedures is difficult but crucial.

Beyond the operation, women are curious about what kind of scarring to expect. It varies, but Namnoum performs breast procedures that often create scarring around the areola and sometimes underneath the breast mound.  The scars do go away, but not immediately. Over a long period of time, they change color and texture and can appear to get better, then worse. In some cases, steroid injections are necessary when scar tissue gets itchy or irritated.

“I think patients should be thinking in terms of 12 months to two years,” he says about scar fading. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”

Two common breast lift techniques are currently practiced:

•    Full Breast Lift

in a full breast lift, the surgeon makes three incisions in the breast area that form an inverted letter “T”:
•    around the areola
•    vertically between the base of the breast and the areola
•    horizontally along the crease found beneath the breast

The breast is elevated, excess skin is taken away, and the areola is reduced in size.All scars resulting from the three incisions usually fade substantially. The scar beneath the breast fold is naturally hidden under the fold and from plain view. The other two scars will be naturally obscured or camouflaged.

•    Modified Breast Lift

Fewer incisions (and therefore, scarring) are made through this technique. A modified breast lift can be done in several variations, including:

o    Donut breast lift (also called Benelli breast lift or concentric mastopexy)– From the surrounding area of the areola, skin is removed; only this area leaves a scar.

o    Crescent mastopexy, a modified donut breast lift –Tissue is taken away around the areola, but more is removed from above the areola than from the rest of the area; the result is a raised areola and nipple on the chest wall.

o    Lollipop lift, also a modified donut breast lift –Incision is first made around the areola, then vertically to the fold under the breast, before excess skin is removed from under the breast.

Significant complications from a breast lift are infrequent, although as with any surgery, bleeding and a poor reaction to anesthesia are potential risks. Following a breast lift, the breasts may not be exactly symmetrical, but most patients experience no major problems. However, anyone considering breast lift surgery should consider the benefits and the risks.