Serving Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Seal Beach, Long Beach, Cypress, Cerritos, Lakewood, Huntington Beach, Irvine & Costa Mesa

1) What Is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes sagging breasts by tightening the skin envelope, elevating the nipple-areola complex, and re-contouring the breast mound. It’s ideal when position and firmness—not just size—need attention. At Ocean Plastic Surgery Center, we design lifts that look fresh, perky, and natural, not “over-tight.”

2) Benefits of a Breast Lift

A lift restores a youthful position, improves projection and symmetry, and can make bras, swimsuits, and tops fit more comfortably. Many patients feel more confident in both social and professional settings. If you want more fullness too, we can combine a lift with implants or with fat transfer for subtle volume.

3) Am I a Candidate?

You may be a good candidate if your nipples point downward or sit below the breast fold, you notice stretched skin or a “deflated” look, or you struggle to find supportive bras. Ideal candidates are healthy, non-smoking, and at a stable weight. We’ll review your goals and discuss whether a lift alone or lift + augmentation will best meet them.

4) Types of Breast Lift Techniques

• Crescent Lift: A small half-moon incision at the top of the areola to correct very mild sag.
• Periareolar / “Donut” Lift: Incision around the areola; helpful for modest lifting and areola reduction.
• Vertical / “Lollipop” Lift: Around the areola and straight down to the fold; our workhorse for moderate sag with reshaping.
• Anchor / “Inverted-T” Lift: Adds a crease incision for significant sagging or major skin redundancy.
• Auto-Augmentation Lift: Uses your own tissue to add upper-pole fullness without an implant.

5) Incisions & Scars

Incisions follow the chosen technique and are placed to hide in natural borders: around the areola, vertically to the fold, and sometimes along the crease. We use fine layered closure, meticulous hemostasis, and a scar-care plan (silicone therapy, sun protection; lasers or microneedling if appropriate) to help scars fade over time.

6) Lift + Implants or Lift + Fat Transfer

If you want perkiness and volume, a combined augmentation-mastopexy can be performed in one stage or staged for safety in certain anatomies. If you prefer no implants, fat transfer can enhance the upper pole and soften transitions, though the volume change is typically modest.

7) Your Consultation & Planning

We take measurements, assess nipple position and skin quality, review before/after photos of similar cases, and discuss scar patterns honestly. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what each technique can achieve, expected recovery, and how we’ll personalize your plan.

8) The Procedure – Step by Step

Under anesthesia, we mark the lift design, make the planned incisions, reshape the breast tissue, elevate the nipple-areola complex, remove excess skin, and close with fine, layered sutures. Most lifts take ~2–3 hours and are outpatient. A supportive bra is placed immediately.

9) Recovery & Aftercare

Expect soreness and swelling for several days; medication and a support bra keep you comfortable. Many return to desk work in ~1 week. Gentle walking is encouraged early; avoid lifting and vigorous workouts for ~4–6 weeks. Over 3–6 months, breasts soften and settle into their refined shape while scars fade.

10) Risks & Safety

All surgery carries risks, including bleeding, infection, delayed healing, changes in nipple sensation, asymmetry, and scarring. Rarely, compromised blood supply can affect nipple/areola tissue in high-risk situations. We minimize risks with careful technique, patient selection, and attentive follow-up.

11) Cost & Financing

Pricing reflects technique (donut vs lollipop vs anchor), anesthesia and OR time, and whether augmentation or fat transfer is added. You’ll receive a transparent written estimate at consultation, plus options for financing.

12) FAQs (Full-Paragraph Answers)

Will a lift make my breasts smaller?
A lift focuses on shape and position rather than volume removal, but breasts may look slightly smaller because the tissue is re-shaped and elevated. If you want noticeably more fullness, we can add an implant or fat transfer during the same operation or in a staged plan depending on your anatomy and goals.

How long do breast lift results last?
Results are long-lasting, especially when you maintain a stable weight and support your breasts properly. Aging and gravity continue for everyone, but many patients enjoy a perkier contour for a decade or more. If significant weight change or pregnancy occurs later, a minor touch-up can be considered.

Do I need implants with my lift?
Not necessarily. If you are happy with your current volume but want perkiness and nipple elevation, a lift alone can be ideal. If you also want more upper-pole fullness or a larger cup, implants or fat transfer can be added to achieve a fuller, rounder look.

Can I breastfeed after a lift?
Some women can, but breastfeeding capability can be reduced depending on the technique and the amount of tissue movement needed. If future breastfeeding is a high-priority goal, let us know so we can discuss technique choices and the pros/cons of timing surgery.

How visible are the scars?
Scars depend on the lift type. Periareolar scars disguise well in the color transition, vertical scars fade into the natural shadow below the areola, and the crease scar hides in the fold. With silicone therapy and sun protection, most patients are pleasantly surprised at how subtle scars look after several months.

When can I exercise again?
Light walking is encouraged right away. Most desk work resumes in ~1 week; gentle cardio at 2–3 weeks; and more vigorous workouts usually restart around 6 weeks when cleared. We’ll tailor your timeline based on how your incisions and swelling are progressing.

Will sensation change in my nipples?
Temporary numbness or hypersensitivity is common early on and improves as nerves settle. A small percentage of patients experience lasting changes, which we discuss during consent. Our surgical planning aims to protect nerve pathways whenever possible.

Is a breast lift safe?
Yes—when performed in an accredited facility with an experienced surgeon, appropriate patient selection, and attentive post-op care. We’ll review your medical history, medications, and risk factors to make sure you’re a good candidate.

What if I have asymmetry?
No one is perfectly symmetric. We can customize each side—different lift amounts, areola adjustments, or even different implant volumes if augmentation is added—to get you as close to your aesthetic goal as possible.

Can a lift be combined with reduction?
Absolutely. Many patients seeking smaller, lighter breasts also need a lift to correct ptosis. In those cases, the reduction includes a lift by design, repositioning the nipple/areola and reshaping the mound for a perkier, balanced result.

13) Before & After Gallery

[Insert photos with descriptive alt text: “Breast lift (mastopexy) before and after—Los Alamitos patient, 4 months.”]

14) Call to Action

Ready to explore a breast lift in Los Alamitos or nearby Orange County cities? Let’s design a plan that’s natural, balanced, and lasting.
Call 562-594-5996 or request your consultation online.