Breast lift surgery is one of the most popular body contouring procedures performed today. In 2004 alone, there were 76,000 breast lift procedures in the United States. That is a 14 percent increase over the 2003 statistics. The popularity is due largely to the quickness of this outpatient surgery and moderate recovery process. Many women seeking breast lifts are turning to Physicians Marketing Group to help them find qualified surgeons as well as affordable financing. In order to understand exactly what a breast lift procedure entails, we recommend you talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon, as the process varies for each individual.

There are three types of breast lift surgery procedures--concentric mastopexy, vertical mastopexy, and anchor-shaped mastopexy. While the surgeon will elaborate on these in more detail, below is some information about each type of breast lift. During the consultation process, the plastic surgeon will recommend which procedure works best for you.

Concentric mastopexy is performed by marking concentric circles around the areola or nipple. Excess skin is removed from these drawn circles to lift and reshape the breasts. Vertical mastopexy uses a vertical incision from the areola to the infra-mammary fold (where the chest and breast meet). Finally, the anchor-shaped mastopexy uses a keyhole-shaped incision from the areola to the bottom of the breast on both the left and right sides.

Immediately following surgery, patients will notice the chest area is bruised and swollen. The breasts are often higher than patients anticipate, though they will drop during the healing process. Plastic surgeons recommend wearing a surgical bra after the surgery since this offers support and reduces the appearance of scars. After one full week of rest, most patients feel substantially better.