Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of breasts that are sagging due to age, weight fluctuation, or genetic ptosis. During the breast lift surgery, the tissue around the breasts is tightened and excess skin is removed to reshape and recontour the bust.1 Dr. Tal Roudner’s surgical goal in a breast lift is to revive a youthful breast appearance by restoring the shape and projection of the breast while minimizing visible scars, whether you’re in Miami or anywhere else in the world. A breast lift may be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation or as part of a mommy makeover.

Why Choose Dr. Tal T. Roudner for Your Breast Lift?

Tal T. Roudner, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida, who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. When considering breast lift surgery, it is important to choose an experienced and attentive plastic surgeon to ensure that you attain your desired results. Dr. Tal Roudner is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, has co-authored textbookstext books on cosmetic surgery, and has won numerous industry awards.

In addition to his high skill level and years of experience, he is also known for his compassionate bedside manner and approachability. Dr. Tal Roudner is committed to safety, artistry, and superior patient care.

Reasons For Breast Lift Surgery

Breast Lift Surgery
The decision to have a breast lift is personal and unique for each patient. A woman may choose breast lift surgery for any of the following reasons:

  • Revitalize breasts that have stretched after pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Restore breasts that have lost volume as a result of weight loss
  • Alleviate the physical discomfort of pendulous breasts
  • Reverse the effects of gravity and aging, which can cause breasts to sag
  • Achieve perky, symmetrical breasts even if sagging or asymmetry is genetic

Who Gets Breast Lift Surgery?

Plastic surgery patients are a diverse group, and there is no one particular type of woman who decides to have breast lift surgery. Breast lift patients span all ages, although women generally wait until they are finished with childbearing to undergo breast lift surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 113,000 women had breast lift surgery in 2019.2

Am I A Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?

You may be a candidate for breast lift surgery if you are unhappy with the shape of your breasts due to sagging, low nipple placement, or asymmetry. In general, breast lift candidates should:

    • Be in good health and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
    • Be non-smokers or stop smoking at least 4 weeks prior to surgery
    • Have realistic expectations.

A breast lift alone cannot add size, so if you are unhappy with the size of your breasts you may consider breast augmentation with breast lift surgery. Learn more about deciding if a breast lift, breast implants, or both are right for you

The best way to determine if you are a candidate is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tal Roudner.

Your Breast Lift Consultation

When you come to our Miami office for your breast lift consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your surgical goals and expectations with Dr. Tal Roudner, who will also review the details of the surgery with you. Your health and medical history will be evaluated to determine your candidacy.

Your breast lift consultation will also include a discussion and review of your health history, allergies and any medications you are taking. Dr. Roudner will perform a breast examination to assess details like the size, shape, placement and soft tissue characteristics of your breasts, as well as the size and position of the nipple areolar complex. All of these factors are important in determining the right approach to take for your breast lift surgery.

After the examination and discussion, Dr. Tal Roudner will help you determine if breast lift surgery is right for you. If the choice is made to proceed, the office staff will schedule your surgery to take place either at our state-of-the-art surgical suite in Miami, one of Miami’s excellent local hospitals or ambulatory centers depending on your specific needs.

Benefits of Breast Lift Surgery

Breast lift surgery can enhance the shape, symmetry, and placement of your breasts on the chest wall. In addition, breast lift surgery can:

  • Create perkier, more youthful-looking breasts
  • Reduce the size of the areola
  • Improve the position of the nipple and areola
  • Correct breast asymmetry
  • Improve the appearance of sagging or flat breasts

Your Breast Lift Consultation

When you come to our Miami office for your breast lift consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your surgical goals and expectations with Dr. Tal Roudner, who will also review the details of the surgery with you. Your health and medical history will be evaluated to determine your candidacy.

Your breast lift consultation will also include a discussion and review of your health history, allergies, and any medications you are taking. Dr. Roudner will perform a breast examination to assess details like the size, shape, placement, and soft tissue characteristics of your breasts, as well as the size and position of the nipple-areola complex. All of these factors are important in determining the right approach to take for your breast lift surgery.

After the examination and discussion, Dr. Tal Roudner will help you determine if breast lift surgery is right for you. If the choice is made to proceed, the office staff will schedule your surgery to take place either at our state-of-the-art surgical suite in Miami, one of Miami’s excellent local hospitals, or ambulatory centers depending on your specific needs.

Types of Breast Lift Surgery

Full Breast Lift

A full breast lift involves an incision along the inframammary fold (the crease where the breast meets the chest wall) incisions around the NAC (Nipple Areolar Complex) and a vertical incision between the areola and the inframammary fold at the base of the breast. This type of incision is commonly referred to as the “anchor incision” or the “inverted-T incision”. This procedure removes excess skin, elevates the breast, and often reduces the size of the areola, allowing for maximal reshaping of the breast. The full breast lift is the most widely used surgical procedure for women with significant breast ptosis (sagging) because it consistently produces the desired breast shape and position upon the chest wall.

Modified Breast Lift

The modified breast lift aims to achieve a similar transformation as a full breast lift, with fewer scars; it is restricted when compared to the full breast lift, because the procedure affects fewer changes to the shape and position of the breast. The modified breast lift is more commonly used in women with less ptosis (sagging) of the breast. There are several, variations of the modified breast lift techniques:

1. The “crescent lift” removes a crescent shape of tissue from around the superior pole of the areola, thereby raising the NAC (nipple-areolar complex) on the chest wall. This is reserved for a very limited breast lift on a patient with very slight sagging of the breast or for asymmetry between the two areolae.

2. The circumareolar/periareolar breast lift also known as the “Benelli breast lift” or “donut lift”, involves removing a circumferential ring of skin from around the areola limiting the scarring to around the areola area. This lift is designed to lift the breast of women with mild to moderate sagging.

3. The vertical breast lift, also known as the “lollipop lift”, entails an incision around the nipple and areola, with a vertical scar extending to the inframammary fold at the base of the breast.

Surgical Techniques for Breast Lift Surgery

There are three incision patterns that are most commonly used in breast lift procedures. The incision technique indicated will be determined by Dr. Roudner based on the patient’s unique anatomy and cosmetic goals.

Circumareolar Technique

The circumareolar, also known as donut lift (donut mastopexy), is a technique that involves a circular incision made around the areola. This technique is best used for smaller breasts and minimal sagging (ptosis) and achieves a small degree of lift.

Vertical Technique

The vertical technique is an extension of the circumareolar incision and involves a v-shaped incision that is an extension from the inferior portion of the circumareolar incision and continues down to the inferior mid-line of the breast. This breast lift procedure, although more invasive, achieves a greater degree of lift. This technique is best used for larger breasts and moderate to severe breast ptosis.

Anchor Technique

The anchor technique involves an extension of the vertical technique and has an anchor-shaped incision. It includes the circumareolar incision, the vertical incision down to the inferior mid-line of the breast, and then laterally across the lower portion of the breast. This technique is the most invasive type of breast lift and achieves the greatest breast lift. This technique is best used for larger breasts and severe breast ptosis.

Before Your Breast Lift Surgery

After your surgery is scheduled, you will receive pre-surgery instructions from Dr. Tal Roudner. It is very important that you understand and follow all instructions. Please review each detail provided and contact us immediately with any questions. It is also critical to attend all pre-surgical appointments, which will be scheduled in the weeks before surgery.
You will be provided with detailed instructions, but some general guidelines include:

  • Do not ingest any food, drinks, or water after midnight the day before surgery
  • Shower the night before surgery and do not use any lotions, fragrances, or deodorant after your shower or on the day of your surgery
  • Do not perform any strenuous activity the day before surgery
  • On the day of surgery wear loose-fitting clothing that opens in front and comfortable shoes
    Make a plan for a family member or friend to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you during the first 24 hours of recovery

The Breast Lift Procedure

Once you are under anesthesia, Dr. Roudner will make your first incisions. The placement of these incisions will vary depending on the size, shape, and position of your breasts. Regardless of where the incisions are placed, Dr. Roudner will be careful to place them in such a way that they blend in as much as possible with the natural contours and lines of your body.

If your surgery combines augmentation with your breast lift, the breast implants will be placed first. During the breast lift procedure, any excess skin and breast tissue may be removed and the nipple-areolar complex repositioned appropriately on your breasts. At the end of the procedure, Dr. Roudner will use internal sutures to support the repositioned breast tissues as well as superficial sutures for incision closure.

Breast Lift Combined With Other Procedures

Dr. Tal Roudner is dedicated to helping women achieve results that enhance their natural beauty. Depending on your aesthetic goals, you may decide to combine breast lift surgery with another cosmetic procedure. Breast lift surgery is most commonly paired with breast augmentation in order to achieve a fuller bust. A breast lift may also be combined with liposuction to eliminate fat in the armpit area and along the sides of the chest.

Breast Lift Recovery and Results – What to Expect

After your breast lift surgery, you can expect to have some discomfort, swelling, and bruising. Dr. Tal Roudner will prescribe pain medications, and you can expect the pain to decrease significantly by about the third day. At this time, you will also be asked to return to our Miami office so Dr. Tal Roudner can check on your progress and results.

While it will take time to see your full results, your swelling should be significantly diminished by the sixth week.4 Over-the-counter supplements may be recommended to reduce swelling and bruising. You will need to attend your follow-up visits at our Miami office as requested to ensure that you are recovering as expected and to avoid possible complications. Contact us right away if you have any concerns during recovery.

Click Here to View Our Breast Lift Before & After Photo Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift

Will my breasts look fuller after a breast lift?

Breast lift surgery reduces droopiness and restores a more perky, youthful appearance to the breasts, but doesn’t necessarily make the breasts fuller. For breasts that are larger after mastopexy, consider adding a breast augmentation procedure to your aesthetic treatment plan.

Will I have scars after my breast lift?

Scarring after breast lift surgery is dependent on the type of incision used. When you discuss your aesthetic goals with Dr. Roudner, he will help you decide which approach is best for you and will inform you of the location of any scars. No matter which approach is used during a breast lift, Dr. Roudner is always careful to make sure scars are as subtle and well-hidden as possible. In many cases, mastopexy scars are hidden around the areola and under the crease of the breast.

How long do breast lift results last?

The results of mastopexy last many years and there are steps you can take to extend your breast lift results, including:

  • Not smoking
  • Maintaining a stable body weight
  • Wearing a well-fitting bra
  • Taking care of your skin1

What are the risks of breast lift surgery?

All surgical procedures carry some risk of complications, but mastopexy is generally considered to be a safe procedure and working with an experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Tal Roudner is the best way to achieve optimal results. Breast lift risks depend on the patient’s physical condition, skin elasticity, medical history, and other factors and may include:

  • Infection
  • Changes in skin sensation
  • Bleeding
  • Healing complications

Schedule Your Consultation for Breast Lift Surgery (Mastopexy)

To learn more about breast lift surgery (mastopexy), call our office today at 305-767-7719 to schedule your consultation with Miami plastic surgeon, Dr. Tal Roudner.


1 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What is breast lift surgery? Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift. Accessed April 19, 2021.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2019 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2019/plastic-surgery-statistics-full-report-2019.pdf. Accessed April 19, 2021.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What are the steps of a breast lift procedure? Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/procedure. Accessed April 19, 2021.
4 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What results should I expect after breast lift surgery? Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/results. Accessed April 19, 2021.
5 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What are the risks of breast lift surgery? Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/safety. Accessed April 19, 2021.

Request a Consultation

Call 305-767-7719 or Use the Form Below to Schedule Online!

Request A Consultation (Footer)
Sign up for News and Specials
*Communications through our website or via email are not encrypted and are not necessarily secure. Use of the Internet or email is for your convenience only, and by using them, you assume the risk of unauthorized use.

Dr. Tal Roudner has either authored or reviewed and approved the content on this website.

Page Updated:

Tal Roudner Plastic Surgery