A breast Lift may be performed under general anesthesia. Your time in surgery is typically two to three-and-a-half hours. Patients should be careful to follow all pre-surgical instructions, particularly those involving cessation of smoking. While specific mastoplexy techniques do vary, Breast Lift techniques typically come in two types: the "concentric" Breast Lift and the more commonly performed "anchor shaped" Breast Lift. The degree of lift required will determine which kind of Breast Lift a patient receives. The more lift needed, the more likely the patient will need the “anchor” version of the Breast Lift.

The “Anchor” Technique

This technique is for women with larger, more severely drooping and sagging breasts. It derives its name from the surgical lines the surgeon uses to determine the location of the surgical incisions. The surgeon will draw a keyhole shape directly above the nipple and the areola. At the base of the line, the surgeon then draws an anchor shape extending across the breast. After completing the drawing, the breast skin comprising the upper part of the "anchor" is removed along with any excess breast tissue. The nipple and the areola are then repositioned towards the lower portion of the keyhole. Next, the breast skin is sutured around the areola, then down to the chest and side-to-side along what is now the lower fold of the "lifted" breast.

The “Concentric” Technique

Also referred to as a "doughnut" mastopexy, this Breast Lift technique is frequently used to treat women with smaller and less severely drooping breasts. Concentric mastoplexy requires fewer surgical incisions and in some cases, may be performed using a local anesthesia with a sedative instead of general anesthesia. This technique is sometimes called the "doughnut" mastoplexy from the concentric circles that are incised around the areola. The skin surrounding the areola is surgically removed and the nipple and areola are moved upwards. The outer skin surrounding the areola is then sutured into place. Occasionally, the sutured area may wrinkle and pucker as there is now more skin.

Typically, this condition will subside in a few weeks as the new skin adapts to the modified weight and shape of the breast. In some cases, the surgeon may chose to make an incision that descends from the areola to the crease of the breast. Along this incision, a vertical strip of skin is removed and the gap pulled and sutured together. This procedure usually results in less scarring than the “Anchor” technique.