Breast Lift

What is a breast lift?: A breast lift procedure, also known as a mastopexy, is a surgical procedure performed to raise, tighten, and reshape the contour of the breast. A woman’s breasts will change over time, whether from pregnancy and breastfeeding, changes in weight, gravity, or the inevitable process of aging. These factors can result in sagging breasts and enlarged areola, which a breast lift will correct. It is important to note that a breast lift will not significantly change the size or shape of your breasts. If you are hoping to achieve rounder, fuller breasts, a breast lift and breast augmentation may be right for you. If you hope to reduce the size of your breasts, talk to Dr. Vallecillos about a breast lift and breast reduction surgery.

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Procedure Walk-Through

Preparation: Dr. Vallecillos may request that you undergo a screening mammogram before the breast lift procedure, and a second one after the surgical site has healed. You should cease taking any medications, herbs, or vitamins that thin the blood during the two weeks before your surgery. If you smoke, you should quit for at least the two weeks preceding your procedure, as well as the two weeks after. Before the day of your surgery, you should arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours after the operation.
Anesthesia: Most patients will receive general anesthesia for a breast lift surgery. However, intravenous sedation and local anesthetic may be an option. Dr. Vallecillos will recommend the best option for you.
There are several techniques that may be utilized during a breast lift procedure, depending on the severity of the condition, the extent of the repair, and the desired outcome of the patient. Incisions may be made in one of three ways:

Around the areola

Around the areola and down to the bottom of the breast

Once the incisions are made, Dr. Vallecillos will lift and reshape underlying tissue, reposition the nipple and areola and (if necessary) reduce the size of the areola, and remove any excess skin. Sutures are placed within the breast tissue to provide internal support, and the incisions are closed.

Breast Lift & Breast Augmentation

When fuller, rounder breasts are the goal, a combination breast lift and breast augmentation surgery may be necessary. There are several methods available for breast augmentation, including saline and silicone implants, as well as autologous fat transfer. Dr. Vallecillos will discuss beforehand with you which method is best for your desired outcome and individual circumstance.

Breast Lift & Breast Reduction

When smaller breasts are the goal, a combination breast lift and breast reduction may be best. During the breast lift procedure, extra breast tissue will be removed and the remaining tissue and skin lifted and firmed.

How Breast Lifts Are Customized to Each Patient

No two mastopexy procedures are exactly alike, nor should they be. The degree of ptosis (the clinical term for breast sagging), your skin quality, nipple position, areola size and your personal aesthetic goals all factor into how Dr. Vallecillos designs your procedure. What works beautifully for one patient may be entirely wrong for another, which is why cookie-cutter approaches have no place in Dr. Vallecillos’ operating room.

Incision Patterns

The three incision patterns used in mastopexy (periareolar, vertical and anchor) each address a different severity of sagging. Mild ptosis, where the nipple sits at or just below the fold, can often be addressed with a periareolar incision alone. Moderate sagging typically calls for the vertical (“lollipop”) approach, while more significant breast tissue descent usually calls for the full anchor pattern. Dr. Vallecillos will evaluate your presentation carefully and recommend the technique most likely to deliver the lift and contour you’re after with the least amount of visible scarring.

Skin Quality

Skin quality and elasticity are also highly important when determining the best course of action for any given breast lift patient. Thinner, less elastic skin requires a different approach than thicker skin with a greater ability to snap back. For patients with more advanced skin laxity, Dr. Vallecillos may recommend pairing the lift with internal suturing techniques that provide longer-lasting structural support. This helps your results hold up against gravity over time.

Patient Goals

Your goals as a patient are incorporated into every decision made throughout the planning process. During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos will ask detailed questions about the look you want to achieve: Are you after a subtle lift and tightening, or a more dramatic repositioning? Do you want to preserve your current volume, or are you considering augmentation as well? The clearer your vision, the more precisely he can tailor the approach, and the more satisfied you’re likely to be with your results.

What to Expect During Breast Lift Recovery

Knowing what the recovery process looks like ahead of time and making the proper preparations makes the experience go much more smoothly. While Dr. Vallecillos will provide you with personalized post-operative instructions at discharge, here’s a general overview of what most mastopexy patients experience:

The first 48 hours: During this initial recovery window, some swelling, bruising and tightness around the chest are completely normal. Most patients describe the discomfort as manageable with prescribed pain medication. You’ll be asked to keep your upper body elevated (even while sleeping) to reduce swelling and support proper healing.
Week 1: By the end of the first week, drainage tubes (if placed) are typically removed, and many patients feel well enough to resume light daily activities. Strenuous movement, lifting and overhead reaching remain off-limits during this phase.
Weeks 2 to 4: Bruising fades substantially and the initial swelling begins to resolve. The shape of your breasts will look more defined as healing progresses, though final results take a few months to fully settle.

Most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks. Physical jobs or routines involving upper-body exertion require a longer break (typically four to six weeks, or until Dr. Vallecillos clears you at a follow-up visit). Wearing your supportive surgical bra consistently throughout the healing period is one of the most impactful things you can do for your outcome.

Scars from mastopexy incisions will go through their own maturation process. They typically appear pink or raised in the first several months before gradually flattening and fading. With proper scar care, including silicone sheeting, sun protection and the topical treatments Dr. Vallecillos recommends, incision lines become significantly less visible over time.

Why Choose Dr. Vallecillos for Your Breast Lift?

Dr. Glenn Vallecillos is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Beverly Hills whose work spans reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at the highest level. He completed his fellowship training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Providence & St. John’s Medical Center and has since built a reputation for producing results that look naturally beautiful, never overdone.

As a Senior Faculty Member of Palette/Scientiae and a national speaker on aesthetic surgical technique, Dr. Vallecillos brings an educator’s precision to every procedure he performs. He has served as a clinical investigator for Mentor Corporation and holds advisory board positions with Allergan and Suneva, giving him early, hands-on access to the most advanced tools and techniques in the field.

Patients at GVMD are included in a consultation process that honors their specific stories, including their concerns, questions, and what success looks like to them. Dr. Vallecillos takes time to understand not just what you want changed, but why, and what outcome would make the experience feel worth it. That philosophy translates directly into surgical planning that prioritizes your vision over a templated result.

Breast Lift Procedures Before & After Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a candidate for a breast lift?

You should consider a breast lift if you are an adult woman who is at a stable weight, is not planning any future pregnancies, and wishes to correct breasts that are loose and sagging, which may include enlarged areolas.

What is the recovery time for a breast lift?

For the first few days after surgery, you will have drainage tubes relieving excess fluids from the surgical sites. The breasts will be bandaged temporarily and should remain on until removed by Dr. Vallecillos in a follow-up consultation. You are allowed to move around normally; however, actions that involve lifting, straining, or strenuous exercise should be avoided until the breasts have completely healed. Sexual activity should be limited during the first week after surgery. Most patients can return to work within two weeks after surgery, provided that their job does not require the aforementioned physical activities. Dr. Vallecillos will most likely recommend that you wear a special supportive bra or ace bandage for several weeks to provide compression on the breasts while they heal.

Are there risks or side effects with a breast lift?

Breast lift surgery, like most surgeries, does carry with it a risk of infection, excessive bleeding, blood clots, and scarring. If you choose to undergo a breast lift in combination with a breast augmentation with implants, risks may include diminished sensitivity in the areola, permanent pigmentation problems, tissue necrosis, and asymmetry of the breasts.

How long do the results last?

The results from a breast lift should be long lasting. Once corrected, the breasts should remain relatively stable, assuming the patient’s weight does not fluctuate greatly. Over time, however, skin inelasticity due to aging and gravity may make another procedure necessary to retain the desired results.

Can a breast lift fix asymmetry?

Yes. A mastopexy can address mild to moderate breast asymmetry by adjusting the degree of lift, nipple repositioning or tissue reshaping on each side independently. More significant asymmetry may benefit from a combined approach, such as pairing a lift with augmentation on one side. Dr. Vallecillos will assess your anatomy and discuss the most effective strategy for achieving balance during your consultation.

Will a breast lift affect my ability to breastfeed?

Mastopexy procedures can affect milk ducts and nipple sensation, which may impact breastfeeding ability in some patients. The degree of impact depends on the technique used and how much tissue is involved. If you plan to breastfeed in the future, discussing this with Dr. Vallecillos before surgery is strongly recommended so the approach can be adapted as much as possible to preserve function.

How do I know if I need a lift, an augmentation or a combination of the two?

A breast lift addresses position and shape. Specifically, this procedure targets sagging, drooping and nipple descent. Augmentation addresses size and volume. If your breasts sit lower than you’d like but you’re also looking for more fullness, a combination mastopexy-augmentation may be the right call. During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos will evaluate your anatomy, listen to your goals and give you a clear recommendation on which approach will produce the result you’re envisioning.

Get Results You Can Be Proud of With Breast Lift by GVMD

Sagging and loss of projection are common, but you don’t have to live with these issues. Dr. Vallecillos and the team at GVMD are ready to help you reclaim the contour you want with a breast lift tailored to your anatomy and your goals. Call us at (310) 273-3007 or book your consultation online.

Breast Lift in Beverly Hills