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cosmetic surgery
Breast Lift
Mastopexy is the plastic surgery mammoplasty procedure for raising sagging breasts upon the chest of the woman, by changing and modifying the size, contour, and elevation of the breasts. In a breast-lift surgery to re-establish an aesthetically proportionate bust for the woman, the critical corrective consideration is the tissue viability of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), to ensure the functional sensitivity of the breasts for lactation and breast-feeding.
Quick Facts
- Price range
- Varies by clinic
- Recovery
- Varies
- Sessions
- Varies
- Category
- cosmetic surgery
- Anaesthesia
- Varies
- Min. stay abroad
- Varies
- Price Range (International)
- Varies by clinic
- Average Recovery
- Varies
- Typical Sessions
- Varies
- Category
- cosmetic surgery
Overview
Mastopexy, commonly called a breast lift, is a plastic surgery mammoplasty procedure that raises and reshapes sagging breasts (breast ptosis) on the chest by changing their size, contour and elevation. A central technical consideration is preserving the tissue viability of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), so that the functional sensitivity of the breast, including its role in lactation and breast-feeding, is maintained. In a breast-lift operation the surgeon cuts and removes excess tissue, comprising glandular tissue, fat and skin, together with overstretched suspensory ligaments and surplus skin from the skin envelope, and transposes the nipple-areola complex to a higher position on the breast. Mastopexy can be performed on its own as a discrete breast-lift, or as part of a combined mastopexy and breast augmentation procedure when added volume is also wanted. The same surgical techniques used in mastopexy are also applied in reduction mammoplasty, the correction of oversized breasts. Unlike some breast operations, a breast lift is generally not indicated by a medical cause or physical necessity; instead it is driven by the woman's self-image, the combination of her physical, aesthetic and mental-health considerations. Because it repositions the breast tissue and the nipple-areola complex rather than simply adding an implant, mastopexy specifically addresses sagging rather than a lack of volume, which is why it is sometimes combined with augmentation when both concerns are present.
Key Considerations
Common Risks
Credentials a clinic should hold
Specialty-board certifications and facility-level accreditations relevant to this procedure. Verify on the issuer's public register before booking — most issuers publish a searchable directory.
ISAPS member surgeon
Issuer International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Individual surgeon membership; requires national-board certification in plastic surgery plus peer endorsement.
Verify on the issuer's register →National plastic-surgery board certification
Issuer Country-specific (e.g. ABPS in US, BAAPS in UK, SBCP in Brazil, KSPRS in South Korea, ASPRS in Australia)
Specialty-board certification in plastic surgery from the surgeon's country of practice. The single most important credential for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure.
Verify on the issuer's register →
Current clinical trials
Ongoing research studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov whose intervention involves breast lift. This is a neutral pointer to public research — not an endorsement, not a recruitment drive, and not medical advice. Trial status changes often; confirm eligibility and current status with the study team via each record.
- Not yet recruitingInterventional· Started 2026-07ESPB Versus Intravenous Lidocaine for Pain After MastopexyNCT07687069· Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education· Breast Hypertrophy
- Not yet recruitingInterventional· Started 2025-10-01Hybrid Autologous Breast Augmentation in Mastopexy With Internal BRA Fixation; Using Local Breast Tissues and Fat GraftingNCT07197190· Assiut University· Breast Ptosis
- Not yet recruitingInterventional· Started 2025-09Evaluation of the Scar Healing Effects of ChitoCare Medical Scar Healing Gel in Women Undergoing Breast Reduction or Mastopexy Surgery (CHITOSCAR)NCT06992960· Primex ehf· Surgical Scars
Showing 3 recent ongoing studies. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — all matching trials (U.S. National Library of Medicine, public domain). Retrieved 2026-08-02.
Recovery Timeline
Average recovery for Breast Lift is 0 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.
- 01Day 0–1
Immediate
First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.
- 02Day 2–2
Early recovery
Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.
- 03Day 3–3
Intermediate recovery
Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.
- 04Day 4–0
Full recovery
Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.
Questions to Ask Your Clinic
Browse all destinations offering Breast Lift →Detailed cost breakdown →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a breast lift do?
A breast lift, or mastopexy, raises sagging breasts and reshapes them by changing their size, contour and elevation. It removes excess tissue and overstretched skin and repositions the nipple-areola complex higher on the breast.
Is a breast lift the same as breast augmentation?
No. A breast lift repositions and removes tissue and lifts the nipple-areola complex to correct sagging, whereas augmentation adds volume with an implant. The two can be combined in a single mastopexy and augmentation procedure when added volume is also desired.
Will a breast lift affect breast-feeding or nipple sensation?
A key priority of the surgery is preserving the tissue viability of the nipple-areola complex, which is what maintains the functional sensitivity of the breast and its capacity for lactation and breast-feeding. This is a central consideration when the operation is planned.
Is a breast lift done for medical reasons?
Generally it is not indicated by a medical cause or physical necessity. The decision to correct breast ptosis is driven by the patient's self-image, reflecting a combination of physical, aesthetic and mental-health considerations.
Can a breast lift also reduce very large breasts?
Reducing oversized breasts is a related but distinct procedure called reduction mammoplasty. The same surgical techniques used in a breast lift are also applied in reduction mammoplasty.
Can a lift and implants be done at the same time?
Yes. Mastopexy can be performed as a discrete breast-lift, or combined with breast augmentation in a single procedure when the patient wants both a lift and additional volume.
Conditions treated
Clinical conditions for which breast lift is a treatment-ladder option.
Related Procedures
Other cosmetic surgery procedures in our registry