Breast Lift & Reduction Surgery

Specialist in breast rejuvenation using breast lifts and breast reductions for the Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, & Washington DC area

Breast lift and breast reduction surgeries are two of the most common plastic surgeries that are performed the breast. Breast lift and breast reduction are also very similar surgeries. There are many different variations of techniques for the breast lift and reduction surgeries. Both the breast lift and reduction surgeries will actually attempt to lift the breast to a higher position on the chest. A breast reduction also includes a significant volume reduction in the size of the breasts. So both the breast lift and breast reduction will lift the breast, but the breast reduction will also make the breasts smaller. This size reduction is really the only difference between these two operations. Breast lifts can also have some breast volume reduction, but it usually only a relatively modest decrease in breast size.

There are MANY different techniques to lift a breast and to reduce the breast. This is a simplistic overview of the plastic surgery steps involved in both the breast lift surgery and the breast reduction surgery. This is certainly not the only way to perform a breast lift or breast reduction surgery.  Also note that the nipple, contrary to some women’s understanding, is rarely ever ‘cut off’ and then sewn back on. It is hoped that this set of 3-D illustrations will aide in the understanding of the complexities of the breast lift and breast reduction surgeries.

This 3-D illustration demonstrates the preoperative marks that were made with the woman standing up. This graphic depicts a woman in a lying down position ready for breast lift surgery or breast reduction surgery. Note that the circular mark represents the new size of the areola which will be made smaller with both a breast lift and breast reduction. Also note the arch of the upper mark above the nipple and areola, this upper mark is the new position that the nipple and areola will be raised to during the breast lift and reduction.

This illustration shows that the woman has now had the outer most layer of the breast skin cut away. This skin can also be removed using a laser. What is remaining is the underlying strength layer or dermis of the skin and the fatty component of the breast. This cut away area kind of looks like an ‘upside-down triangle’ or an ‘ice cream cone’.

This 3-D illustration shows that the breast tissue has been separated from the overlying skin. This separation of the breast skin from the breast gland and fat has been completed on the lower half of the breast. The metal instruments are called ‘retractors’ that aide in showing this aspect of the breast lift and breast reduction. The retractors also assist Dr. Brown in exposing the areas of the breast that are being operated on.

This 3-D illustration depicts that the breast has also been separated from the chest muscles in the lower two thirds, and that a stitch has been place into the breast tissue in the area of the tip of the ‘triangle’ or at the tip of the ‘ice cream cone’. The retractor is lifting up the breast tissue and the lower aspects of the breast are being ‘lifted’ and tucked to a higher position on the chest. The breast gland component of the breast has now been lifted or repositioned higher.

This 3-D illustration now has the breast retractor removed and shows how the breast looks with the lowest point of the breast having been tucked up under the upper part of the breast. The breast has been lifted and has been folded on itself. Note how the two sides (pillars) of the breast are essentially hanging over the central lifted area of the breast. The stitch is left for illustration purposes and also depicts the ‘midline’ on the breast.

In this illustration, the sides or ‘pillars’ of the breast tissue have been rotated towards the midline of the breast and sewn together. This rotation of the breast fat and breast gland narrows the breast and lifts up the lower half of the breast even further. Since the breast is now in a higher position, the breast crease or Inframammary Fold (IMF) is now in a higher position.

In this illustration and at this point of the plastic surgery, any extra skin will be cut away and the wounds closed. These are NOT the types of stitches that are used and they are only for diagram purposes. There are no external stitches along the vertical wound or  ‘stick’ of the lollipop, and the circular wound is also closed with internal stitches and a rapidly dissolving stitch on the skin. There is no stitch removal required from a breast lift or breast reduction performed by Dr. Brown.

In breast reduction surgery, the operation is essentially the same except that the lower aspects of the breast are cut away. The removal of breast gland and fat results in a breast reduction. This step actually occurs after the second step of these illustrations. It has been placed here to avoid confusion.

If you are searching for safe breast lift or breast reduction surgery in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington,DC, plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael J. Brown is an excellent choice to have this procedure from. His patients come from Loudoun, Fairfax, Reston, Herndon, Leesburg, Dulles, Ashburn, Middleburg, Great Falls, Potomac Falls, Alexandria, Vienna, Falls Church, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, Richmond,Washington, DC to name a few areas

Return to the Virginia breast lift and reduction overview. To learn more about the risks of breast lift and reduction surgery visit this page.

Prior to any surgical procedure, it is imperative that you have read and understand the consent forms required for a plastic surgical procedure.