Breast Lift Surgery: Procedure, Preparation, Recovery, Cost & More
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Breast Lift

Breast Lift

Pregnancy, nursing, gravity and time can all take their toll on your breasts. If you feel like your breasts are sagging and you want them to go back to where they used to be, you might be an ideal candidate for a breast lift – also called a mastopexy.


Breast Lift Quick Look

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"Worth It" Rating

95% say it's "worth it"
Procedure Duration

Surgery Length

90 Minutes

Invasiveness

6/10

Discomfort Factor

5/10
We do 400 Breast Lifts per year!

Recovery

4 weeks until resuming physical exercise.

2 weeks off from work/household duties.

Anesthesia

General Anesthesia

Alternative Names

Mastopexy, Boob Lift, Breast Uplift.


What is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift is a surgical procedure that raises and reshapes sagging or deflated-looking breasts. When it comes to mastopexy surgery, there are a number of different approaches that Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin can employ in order to achieve a customized result for each individual patient. Traditionally, breast lift surgery required an anchor-shaped incision that left a longer scar in the crease of the breast, where the underwire of a bra typically sits. However, our surgeons have helped to revolutionize this operation by eliminating the bra crease incision. Instead they use what’s known as the “lollipop” technique, where only two incisions are needed: one around the areola and another extending vertically between the bottom of the nipple to the bottom of the breast.

Many women who come to The Plastic Surgery Clinic for a free consultation discover that a breast lift alone will address their concerns. Over time, skin tends to lose elasticity. In the breasts in particular, this can cause an elongated, “droopy” shape that no longer resembles the breast in its youthful state. A standard breast augmentation will not be sufficient in improving these areas of concern. With a breast lift, the position of the nipple is raised and redundant skin is removed from the breast tissue. The result is a firmer, perkier breast that sits higher on the chest and looks completely natural as well as more youthful.

There are also patients who require additional volume and upper pole fullness to achieve the result they desire. The upper pole is the upper area of the breast located above the nipple. Some women who have had children and have breastfed experience volume loss in this area in particular, and as a result, they require additional volume to achieve the fuller, more curvaceous silhouette they desire. For these patients, a breast lift can be augmented with a breast implant. A breast lift with implant creates the same improvement in terms of the raised nipple position, while also improving projection, filling out loose tissue, and enhancing cleavage.

The following images are presented for educational purposes only and should be interpreted subjectively. They do not represent the opinion or view of any patient regarding their result, and they are not intended to suggest the result that may be achieved by any other patient. The images are presented as factual guidelines and merely represent results that have been achieved by others. No two patients are alike and no two results are necessarily alike. Only a personal consultation with your surgeon can provide you with a reasonable expectation of the results you may achieve from any specific procedure.

Auto-Augmentation with Your Own Breast Tissue

For women who want to achieve more upper pole fullness without adding to the overall volume of their breasts, a breast lift with auto-augmentation is often an ideal solution. This state-of-the-art technique uses the patient’s own breast tissue to improve the shape of the breast. After the incisions required for the breast lift have been made, an additional incision known as the “V flap” incision is made in the redundant breast tissue. In its initial state, this tissue is lower and droopier than desired. The V flap breast tissue is then carefully repositioned upwards against the breast wall, creating more fullness in the upper pole. The V flap is sutured to the breast wall to ensure that the new shape stays in its proper place, and the breast tissue and skin edges are closed using the same lollipop technique as with a more basic breast lift.

The result of a breast lift with auto-augmentation is a fuller, higher, and firmer breast that recaptures that youthful look. It’s a completely natural version of breast augmentation—instead of an implant, it’s your own breast tissue simply repositioned to create the look you want. Because of Dr. Lista’s expertise in this area in particular, he is frequently invited to give presentations on this procedure and to speak extensively about it at large national and international meetings.

Experience and Innovation to Improve Patient Outcomes

At The Plastic Surgery Clinic we perform approximately 100 to 150 breast lift procedures per year. This makes Dr. Lista one of the most experienced breast lift surgeons in Ontario and in Canada.

Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin worked together to pioneer their revolutionary method for greatly reducing the scarring associated with this procedure. Together they have one main goal: to ensure all their breast lift patients have the most real, soft and natural look possible.

Learn More with a Free Consultation

If you are a breast lift patient considering this life-changing surgery, please explore the links on the left to learn more. If you have more questions about whether breast augmentation lift surgery in is for you, please contact us at [email protected] to set up a complimentary consultation with plastic surgeon Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin.

Your Breast Lift Procedure

Breast Lift ProcedureBreast lift operations are performed at The Plastic Surgery Clinic. All surgeries at The Plastic Surgery Clinic are performed by Dr. Lista, a certified specialist in plastic surgery. This means that patients benefit from the knowledge and experience of a highly trained plastic surgeon. There is always a surgeon on call for patients to contact if they are worried that they might be experiencing any difficulty.

At the Plastic Surgery Clinic anesthetics are administered by specialist physicians who are board certified in the specialty of anesthesia. These doctors give the anesthetic, stay with the patient during the entire operation and are with the patient while they are waking up. The operation takes one to two hours. A friend or relative will need to come and pick you up and stay with you for 24 hours and bring you back in for your nest day post op appointment.

How a Breast Lift is Performed

A breast lift usually takes about 2 hours. The most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision that goes around the edge of the areola, straight down into the bra crease and then along the bra crease. Cosmetic surgeons Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin have pioneered a revolutionary operation that eliminates the long scar in the bra crease. This leaves the patient with much less scarring. This operation is often called the “stop sign” or “lollipop” procedure because the only scars are around the edge of the areola and straight down to the bra crease.

During the operation, excess skin is removed above the nipple. The nipple is then moved up without removing it. If you’re having an implant inserted along with your breast lift, it will be placed in a pocket directly under the breast tissue, or deeper, under the muscle of the chest wall.

The Best Candidates for a Breast Lift

The Best Candidates for a Breast LiftThe best breast lift candidates are healthy, emotionally stable women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish. The best results are usually achieved in women with small, sagging breasts. Breasts of any size can be lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.

Many women want a breast lift because pregnancy and nursing have left them with stretched skin and less volume in their breasts. While there are no special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example, a breast lift usually doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding), pregnancy is likely to stretch your breasts again and negate the results of the procedure.

Preparing For Breast Lift Surgery

The first thing we do is listen: we listen to your needs; we ask you to describe your ideal look; we have you bring in photos of women whose shape you admire. Breast lift surgeons Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin will spend as much time as you need to make sure both you and your surgeon know exactly what you want. It may not always be possible to meet all your expectations with surgery, so it crucial that you understand what is a realistic outcome.

Your breast lift can be performed right on site in the state-of-the-art facilities of The Plastic Surgery Clinic.

There is always a surgeon on call to respond to your concerns. In addition, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer your anaesthetic, stay with you during the entire operation, and will be there as you wake up.

Recovery After Breast Lift Surgery

After your breast lift surgery, a friend or relative will need to pick you up and stay with you for 24 hours and bring you back in for your nest day post op appointment.

You will need to wear a surgical bra over gauze dressings. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a day or two, but the pain shouldn’t be severe. Any discomfort you feel can be relieved with medications prescribed by your surgeon

You’ll need to wear this bra around the clock for four weeks, over a layer of gauze. The stitches will be removed after 5-7 days.

You should plan to take a week off after your surgery, limiting your activities to staying home, watching TV or reading books. This important time of rest will allow your body to devote its energy to the healing process. It can be of great benefit to make arrangements in advance with a friend or family member for help with activities such as driving you to your post op appointment for the first week. If you are currently looking after small children, plan for an alternative childcare arrangement during this week to help limit the time you will need to spend on your feet. We understand it can be hard to stop completely, but staying quiet in the first week actually speeds healing and helps achieve the best results from the surgery.

About one month after your cosmetic surgery procedure you can start to exercise.

Pain pills are prescribed to help reduce post-operative pain. You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin caused by the swelling after surgery. This numbness usually decreases as the swelling subsides over the next six weeks or so. In some patients, however, it may last a year or more, and occasionally it may be permanent.

Breast Lift Risks & Complications

A breast lift is not a simple operation, but it’s normally safe when performed by a qualified breast lift surgeon, such as Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin. Nevertheless, as with any surgery, there is always a possibility of complications or a reaction to the anesthesia. Please keep in mind that at The Plastic Surgery Clinic, we will fix any problem or treat any complication for free. If you have an unsatisfactory result and we think additional surgery will help solve the issue, we will perform the surgery for free.

Bleeding and infection following a breast lift are uncommon, but they can cause scars to widen. You can reduce your risks by closely following your physician’s advice both before and after surgery.

Breast lift surgery does leave noticeable, permanent scars, although they’ll be covered by your bra or bathing suit. The procedure may also occasionally leave patients with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in their nipples or breasts.

Did You Know?

Dr. Lista and Dr. Ahmad are two highly respected and recognized Toronto, Ontario breast lift surgeons. Dr. Lista has been invited to speak on breast lift surgery at prestigious national plastic surgery meetings, such as The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Pan Arabic Plastic Surgery Society, The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Lista and Dr. Ahmad have also co-authored two articles describing their unique breast lift techniques and reviewing their results. These papers were published in the prestigious peer-reviewed Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Breast Lift Photo Gallery

Cost of Breast Lift

Because breast lifts are considered cosmetic surgery, they are not generally covered by company or provincial health insurance plans, such as OHIP. At the same time, many women who undergo breast lift procedures are happy to learn that they are in fact quite affordable. Several of our patients find that the financing and payment plan options we are able to offer make the expense easily manageable. Furthermore, since a breast lift allows so many of our patients to feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin, they often tell us they consider it to be a real investment in their own happiness.

If you would like to know more about the detailed cost associated with a breast lift, please contact us by phone or e-mail. You can also get in contact with us by filling out the Request for Information form on this page. Prices tend to vary depending on the specific needs of each patient and your surgeon will be able to give you a more exact estimate during your free consultation.

Plastic Surgery Video Gallery

Breast Lift Procedure Videos

Browse our collection of videos for an insider's look at this procedure and others we perform.

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Plastic Surgery Before & After Photo Gallery

Breast Lift Procedures Gallery

Explore our photo collections to see actual results we have achieved at The Plastic Surgery Clinic.

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What to Expect

The PSC Method

Step 1: The PSC Consult

Step 1: The PSC Consult


Consultations are always free. This is our opportunity to get to know you and your vision. And then share with you our expertise and recommendations based on 30+ years of experience, and thousands of satisfied patients.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 2: The PSC Procedure

Step 2: The PSC Procedure


You’ll arrive on the day of surgery fully prepared and confident in your outcome, because your surgeon is internationally recognized as a leader in their field. You will wake up slightly groggy and a bit uncomfortable, and head home soon after.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up


We see every patient the day after surgery. Most find their discomfort extremely manageable, thanks to the pain relief pump. Our post-op nurse will walk you through every step of your recovery and answer all your questions.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 1: The PSC Consult


Consultations are always free. This is our opportunity to get to know you and your vision. And then share with you our expertise and recommendations based on 30+ years of experience, and thousands of satisfied patients.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 1: The PSC Consult
1 The PSC Consult

You and your surgeon will customize a plan to meet your needs and desired outcome.

Step 2: The PSC Procedure


You’ll arrive on the day of surgery fully prepared and confident in your outcome, because your surgeon is internationally recognized as a leader in their field. You will wake up slightly groggy and a bit uncomfortable, and head home soon after.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 2: The PSC Procedure
2 The PSC Procedure

All surgeries are day surgeries, done under general anesthetic at our private hospital.

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up


We see every patient the day after surgery. Most find their discomfort extremely manageable, thanks to the pain relief pump. Our post-op nurse will walk you through every step of your recovery and answer all your questions.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up
3 The PSC Follow Up

We see you the very next day, ensuring optimal recovery and happiness with your result.

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Before You Go…

Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.

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