BREAST LIFT

SEATTLE

Maybe it happened after breastfeeding, after the weight changed, or simply after enough years and enough gravity. However it happened, you've noticed your breasts don't sit where they used to — and wondering whether you're allowed to want that different is completely normal. As a female plastic surgeon and a mother, I built this procedure around that reality, not a brochure version of confidence.

WHAT IS A BREAST LIFT?

The medical term for a Breast Lift is a mastopexy. In plain language, that means repositioning the breast tissue higher on the chest wall, lifting the nipple, reducing areolar size if needed, and removing the excess, stretched skin that comes with it — without necessarily adding volume. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, and time all cause the skin envelope of the breast to lose elasticity. The technical term for the sagging that results is ptosis.

That distinction matters: a lift addresses skin, position, and shape. It does not, on its own, add fullness. Many women who've lost volume — through weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding — combine a lift with a breast augmentation or fat grafting. We'll talk through which category you're actually in during your consultation, not before.

A CLOSER LOOK

During your consultation, a lot of what I'm evaluating comes down to one question: are you happy with your current volume, or are you looking to restore fullness you've lost? If it's the former, a lift alone is often enough. If it's the latter, we'll talk about combining it with a small implant or fat grafting to the upper pole, since that's the area that tends to lose volume first with weight loss, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, and a lift alone doesn't generally restore it. A Breast Lift is also commonly combined with a Mommy Makeover for patients addressing multiple areas of post-pregnancy change at once. I'll walk you through what combination, if any, actually fits your anatomy and your goals before we plan anything.

THE PROCEDURE

A Breast Lift is performed as an outpatient procedure in our AAAASF-accredited Ambulatory Surgery Center at the Nordstrom Medical Tower in downtown Seattle, typically under general anesthesia or IV sedation with our anesthesia team. The surgery takes approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on complexity. You go home the same day.

Immediately before surgery, I mark your chest as a kind of road map for the procedure. Once we begin, I use a method called tailor tacking — temporarily rearranging and lifting the breast tissue to find the most accurate shape, size, and symmetry before making any permanent changes. I do this with you both lying down and sitting up, since breast shape reads differently in each position, and I want the result to look right in both.

Once the excess skin is removed, the nipple lifted, and the breast tissue reshaped, I close the incisions with two layers of sutures placed beneath the skin. Final positioning of the nipple and areola is confirmed with you sitting up. Last, I use a fine liposuction cannula to refine the shape of the outer breast and remove any excess fat in the armpit area — fat that often becomes more noticeable once the breast itself is lifted, so it's addressed in the same surgery rather than left for later. Your incisions are taped, and you're placed in a soft, non-underwire bra before you go home.

GRADING YOUR DEGREE OF PTOSIS

Before we talk about incision patterns, it helps to understand how I actually classify sagging, because your degree of ptosis is what determines everything that comes next — the type of lift you need and the incision pattern that gets you there.

Ptosis is graded by where your nipple sits relative to your inframammary fold, the crease underneath your breast. In Grade I, or mild ptosis, the nipple sits at or just above that crease. In Grade II, or moderate ptosis, the nipple has dropped below the crease, though most of your breast tissue is still above it. In Grade III, or severe ptosis, both the nipple and a significant amount of breast tissue sit below the crease, often pointing downward. There's also a pattern called pseudoptosis, where the nipple itself hasn't dropped, but the breast tissue underneath it has — this shows up often after significant weight loss, pregnancy, or breast implant removal, and it's treated differently than true ptosis.

I'll determine your exact grade during your physical exam — not from a photo you send in advance, since fold position and tissue quality are easier to assess in person. That grade, not personal preference, is what tells us whether you need a shorter lollipop incision or the more extensive anchor pattern below.

TYPES OF BREAST LIFT INCISIONS

The incision pattern isn't a style choice — it's determined by how much lifting your anatomy actually needs, and I'll always aim for the fewest incisions that get you an honest result.

For less significant sagging, a Vertical Mastopexy — sometimes called a "lollipop" incision — uses a scar around the areola and a short vertical line down the breast. For more significant sagging, a Wise Pattern Mastopexy, also called an "anchor" or "inverted-T" incision, adds a horizontal incision in the breast crease. The trade-off is straightforward: less correction means a smaller scar, more correction means a longer one. I'll tell you directly which one your anatomy needs — I won't undersell the incision to make the procedure sound smaller than it is.

graphic illustration of vertical or lollipop breast lift incision

VERTICAL BREAST LIFT

ANCHOR BREAST LIFT

AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE?

The ideal candidate for a Breast Lift is in good overall health, at a stable weight, and bothered by nipples that point downward or sit at or below the breast crease, with loose or stretched skin that's lost its elasticity. If you're happy with your current breast volume and your main concern is position and sagging, a lift alone is usually the right fit.

Beyond the basics, your candidacy comes down to a few specifics I evaluate in person during your consultation:

Whether your personal or family history of breast cancer, or your age relative to standard screening guidelines, means you'll need a mammogram before we schedule surgery
How far the nipple and areola have descended, and how much skin elasticity remains — this is what determines whether you need a shorter lollipop incision or a longer anchor incision
Whether you're looking to maintain your current volume or restore fullness you've lost, which determines whether an implant or fat grafting to the upper pole should be added at the same time
The quality of your breast tissue and skin — if elasticity is significantly compromised, I may recommend adding a surgical mesh product (such as Galaflex or Durasorb) for extra support, since poor tissue quality on its own can shorten how long your results hold up
Whether you're finished having children, or comfortable with the real possibility that a future pregnancy could affect your results and require a revision.

Not everyone is a candidate, and I'll tell you directly if that's the case. Smoking in particular is a meaningful risk factor for this procedure — it affects blood flow to the nipple and skin during healing, which raises the risk of complications. If you smoke, we'll talk honestly about what that means for your candidacy and timing.

Dr. Megan far exceeded my expectations. She is extremely caring, talented, educated, and attentive. I am so thankful for her, she truly changed my life in the best way possible! I feel great knowing I 100% chose the right surgeon for my procedure.

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BREAST LIFT RECOVERY

How long is recovery, really? It's one of the first questions almost every patient asks me, and it should be — recovery isn't something you fit around your life, it's something you plan for. The patients who heal best are the ones who plan ahead: meals prepped in the freezer, an extra set of hands lined up for the kids, a work calendar cleared further out than they think they need. Skipping that step is one of the most common reasons recovery drags on longer than it should, or results end up compromised.

Right after surgery, getting up and moving matters more than it sounds like it should — regular movement is what keeps blood clots from forming in your legs, and it's not optional. In the first few days, you will notice that swelling increases and you will feel discomfort and pressure in your chest. You will likely keep your arms in 't-rex' position to avoid pulling on your incisions. You may have drainage for the first few days from your incisions, which typically will dry up around 48 to 72 hours You need to change out any gauze pads over the areas to keep it nice and dry as needed. Typically, showering begins 48 hours after surgery if you feel comfortable to do so. It's okay to postpone this for a few days if needed. Pain medication is prescribed so it's available if you need it, though not everyone does. Feel free to taper off of the stronger pain medication when it feels right for you.

Your first postoperative visit, we will change out your tape, and typically there is no further drainage. Drains are not used with this type of procedure.

The first four weeks after surgery, we require:

No heavy lifting
No getting your heart rate and blood pressure elevated to decrease your risk of bleeding
No arms above the head to avoid extra strain and tension on your incisions, which may cause healing issues three-week visit.

We will discuss at your three-week visit what life looks like at four weeks when there are no further restrictions. Getting back to movement will be slow but steady, and we want to minimize the risk of issues or damage to your surgical site. Delicate balance that will require attention and care. . Typically, patients feel back to normal by about 8 weeks after surgery.

As far as time off work, typically patients take anywhere from one to two weeks, depending on the nature of the work. If you have small children at home that require lifting, this will be a minimum of four weeks, so planning ahead is mandatory.

SEATTLE BREAST LIFT

FAQ

When Can I Work Out After My Breast Lift Surgery?

While we want patients walking immediately after a breast lift surgery, getting back to regular exercise will not occur until about 4-6 weeks post plastic surgery, depending on healing & the type of activity.

How Will My Breast Lift Scars Fade?

Over the course of an entire year, your breast lift scars will soften, flatten, and eventually fade with time.

How Long Does A Breast Lift Last?

As a general rule, plastic surgery procedures turn back the clock, but don't stop the clock from ticking. Your tissues will continue to age just as before and revisions may be necessary years after your seattle breast lift.

When Can I Get My Incisions Wet After My Breast Lift Surgery?

After the first 2-3 days, patients are allowed to shower after their Seattle Breast Lift. Swimming, however, will be restricted until 3-4 weeks depending on healing.