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The Purpose of a Breast Lift

Your body undergoes certain changes as you get older, and some of these will most likely impact the appearance of your breasts. Pregnancy, gravity, fluctuations in weight, and the aging process can all affect your breasts, causing them to sag over time. Dr. Richard H. Lee can perform a breast lift in Newport Beach to address these changes and restore a more youthful breast appearance.

What Is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift, or Mastopexy is performed to restore a perkier, more youthful breast appearance. Dr. Lee often recommends a breast lift to address the following aesthetic concerns:

  • Moderate to severe sagging issues
  • Nipples that point downward
  • Areolas that become stretched out
  • Loose skin and stretch marks on the breasts caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding

During your breast lift in Newport Beach by Dr. Lee, the breast mound will be reshaped, and the nipple will be repositioned to a higher location to address these issues. Many women find that their breast lift achieves dramatic results, helping them look and feel their best. In addition to a more youthful breast appearance, you may find that your figure is more balanced, allowing you to look great in clothing and swimsuits.

Do I need a Breast Lift?

If your breasts no longer sit as high or feel as firm as they once did, you’re not alone. Life events like pregnancy, weight changes, and aging can all affect breast shape and position. A breast lift (mastopexy) may be the right choice if you want a more youthful, elevated contour, without changing your cup size.

Not sure if a lift is right for you? A private consultation with Dr. Jindal will help clarify your best options and whether a breast lift alone, or combined with a breast augmentation, suits your goals.

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Many women consider a breast lift when they notice one or a couple of these indications:

  • Your nipples point downward or sit below the breast crease
  • You’ve experienced sagging after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
  • You feel less confident about your breast shape or position
  • You want a perkier, firmer silhouette without implants

Am I a Candidate For a Breast Lift?

Candidates for a breast lift in Newport Beach with Dr. Lee often meet the following criteria:

  • Be in good overall health
  • Have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure
  • Not smoke or be willing to quit before surgery and throughout the recovery period
  • Stable Weight
  • Are no longer waiting to bare children
  • Are wanting to change or improve nipple positioning

Before & Afters: Breast Lift in Newport Beach

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What Are The Benefits of a Breast Lift?

For anyone who’s unsatisfied with the position of their breasts, a breast lift can offer quite a few benefits. If you’re experiencing moderate to severely sagging breasts or stretch marks on the breasts, a breast lift may provide you with some or all of these benefits:

  • Reduces sagging of the breasts
  • Lifts the breasts and creates a perkier appearance
  • More youthful-looking breasts
  • More attractive breast shape
  • More voluptuous figure
  • Increased self-confidence
  • Increased wardrobe options
  • Reduced irritation underneath the breasts
  • Improved nipple projection
  • Firmer breast appearance

Breast Procedures at Richard H. Lee Plastic Surgery

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Breast Lift Techniques

Breast lift surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Depending on the specific needs and goals of the patient, the surgery can be performed using several different methods. The most common breast lift techniques are:

Crescent Breast Lift:

A crescent breast lift is a technique typically used with patients who have only minimal breast sagging. This procedure is performed using one crescent-shaped incision along the top half of the areola. In most cases, this breast lift method is combined with a breast augmentation, and implants are inserted through the incisions.

Vertical Breast Lift:

A vertical breast lift is often the best choice for patients experiencing a moderate amount of breast sagging. This technique requires two incisions: one circular incision around the edge of the areola and one vertical incision from the bottom of the areola down to the inframammary fold. Typically, excess skin is removed, and the deep layers of breast tissue are stitched together to enhance the shape of the breast.

Anchor Breast Lift:

For women dealing with major breast sagging, an anchor breast lift may be chosen as the ideal option. This technique, also known as the “inverted T” lift, requires three incisions roughly in the shape of an anchor. During this procedure, the doctor will remove excess skin, reposition breast tissue, and raise the areolas.

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Your Customized Breast Lift Procedure

Your breast lift will be performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Depending on the severity of your sagging issues and your unique goals, Dr. Lee may recommend one of the following incision options:

  • Periareolar incision
  • “Lollipop” incision
  • Wise pattern “anchor” incision

After the incision has been made, Dr. Lee will remove excess skin, tighten and reshape the breast tissue, and move the newly-shaped breast mound to a higher position on the chest wall. He may also reduce the size of the areola if necessary. Dr. Lee will then relocate the nipple to a more elevated, central position on the breast, keeping it attached to the underlying tissue to help preserve the nipple sensation.

Breast Lift Recovery

It’s crucial that you follow Dr. Lee’s aftercare instructions diligently. This will ensure that you heal properly and achieve the best possible results. You will need to wrap your breasts in an ACE bandage after surgery. The bandage should cover your breasts completely and fit somewhat tightly to provide the support you need. You can remove the ACE bandage to shower after the first three days but make sure to rewrap your breasts immediately following your shower.

Dr. Lee will monitor your recovery and let you know when it is safe to discontinue using the ACE bandage. You may experience some mild bruising and swelling after surgery, but this will gradually subside as you heal. Dr. Lee will prescribe pain medication to help you manage any discomfort. Don’t drive while you are taking pain medication.

What Can You Expect From Your Breast Lift Results?


After your breast lift surgery, the results should be immediately visible. Although you won’t see the full effects right away, there should be noticeable improvements in the position and shape of your breasts. Over the next few months, the swelling and bruising will subside and the shape and position of your breasts will gradually become settled. The final results of the surgery should be visible within around two to four months. If you follow all of Dr. Lee’s instructions for recovery, maintain a stable weight, and keep your lifestyle healthy, you can ensure that your breast lift results last as long as possible.

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Breast and Body Testimonial | Richard H. Lee Plastic Surgery

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Why Choose Dr. Richard Lee for a Breast Lift in Newport Beach?

Dr. Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 15 years of experience performing breast lifts in Newport Beach and Orange County areas. He understands the ways in which your breasts change as you get older, and he will create a customized treatment plan that will address your aesthetic goals.

You can learn about your options by speaking with Dr. Lee in person. Please call our office today to schedule a breast lift consultation. We serve patients in Newport Beach and throughout Orange County, California.

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Contact Our Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Richard H. Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Newport Beach. He specializes in a wide array of breast procedures including breast lift. He offers patients are artistic perspective and is able to sketch your potential results for you during your consultation for a Mastopexy in Newport Beach. 

Please contact Dr. Richard H. Lee to schedule your breast lift consultation. We serve patients in Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, and Orange County, California.

Breast Lift FAQs:

How long after a breast lift can I return to work?

Can a breast lift increase the size of my breasts?

Will future pregnancies affect my breast lift results?

Will my cup size change after a breast lift?

Will I have visible scarring after breast lift surgery?

Will a breast lift even out my breasts?

How long will my breast lift last?

How long after a breast lift can I return to work?

Most patients can return to work after about one week and resume routine activities within three weeks, though Dr. Lee advises avoiding all strenuous activity, including heavy lifting, for at least a month. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 15 years of experience, Dr. Lee tailors this timeline to each patient's healing progress and job demands during follow-up visits.

Can a breast lift increase the size of my breasts?

Not on its own — a breast lift is designed to correct sagging rather than add volume. If size is also a concern, breast augmentation may be a better fit, and Dr. Lee, drawing on his extensive experience in both procedures, may recommend combining a lift with augmentation to address shape and size together.

Will future pregnancies affect my breast lift results?

Yes, future pregnancies can affect your results, even though the procedure itself won't impact your ability to conceive or breastfeed. Because pregnancy-related changes can compromise the lifted appearance, Dr. Lee often recommends waiting until you're finished having children before undergoing a breast lift, a guideline he reviews with every patient during consultation.

Will my cup size change after a breast lift?

It's common to drop about one cup size after a breast lift, even though the procedure doesn't primarily aim to reduce volume. This happens because excess skin and sagging tissue are removed to achieve a firmer, more youthful contour, a detail Dr. Lee discusses upfront so patients have realistic expectations.

Will I have visible scarring after breast lift surgery?

Some scarring is unavoidable with breast lift surgery, and the extent depends on which surgical technique is used. Dr. Lee selects the approach best suited to your degree of sagging, and while scars will be visible initially, they typically fade significantly as healing progresses.

Will a breast lift even out my breasts?

Yes, a breast lift is highly effective for improving breast symmetry. Dr. Lee's meticulous, artistic approach to reshaping breast tissue and repositioning the nipple-areola complex is specifically suited to correcting asymmetry along with sagging.

How long will my breast lift last?

Breast lift results typically last 10 to 15 years on average, and can last even longer with a stable weight and healthy lifestyle. Dr. Lee, who has performed breast procedures for over 15 years, discusses factors that influence longevity, such as skin elasticity and future life plans, during your consultation.

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