Breast
Breast lift and reduction
Lighter, higher, or both, with the scar pattern explained before you decide.
- Sample price
- $11,000 to $17,000
- Surgery
- 2 to 4 hours
- Back at a desk
- About 1 to 2 weeks
What it is
A breast lift removes loose skin and raises the breast and nipple. A reduction also removes breast tissue to make the breasts smaller and lighter. Both leave scars, and the pattern depends on how much change you need. The surgeon draws the options on paper at your consult.
General anaesthesia. Done in an accredited surgical facility.
It may suit you if
- Breasts that sit low after pregnancy, weight loss or with age
- Neck, shoulder or back pain, or bra-strap grooves, from heavy breasts
- Nipples that point downward
- You understand and accept the scars
It is not for
- Wanting more volume with no change in position (augmentation alone may suit)
- Planning a pregnancy soon, which is worth talking through first
Recovery, week by week
- Days 1 to 3Soreness and swelling, rest at home in a support bra.
- Weeks 1 to 2Back to desk work. Stitches or tapes checked at the first visit.
- Weeks 3 to 6No heavy lifting. Exercise returns in stages.
- Months 3 to 12Shape settles and scars fade from pink to pale.
Typical timelines. Your surgeon writes your own plan and gives it to you at consult.
Risks to know about
Every operation carries risk. These are discussed in full, with how often they happen in the surgeon's own practice, at your consult:
- Scarring, sometimes thick or raised
- Changes in nipple sensation
- Difficulty breastfeeding after
- Wound healing problems, more likely in smokers
- Risks of anaesthesia
Independent information: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, patient safety.
Your questions
Will insurance pay for a reduction?
Sometimes, when symptoms are documented. The coordinator explains what your insurer usually asks for. Lifts are cosmetic.
Can I have a lift with an implant?
Yes, if you want volume as well as lift. It is planned as one operation or two depending on your tissue.
How visible are the scars?
That depends on the pattern you need and how your skin heals. The surgeon shows the likely pattern on paper, not only in photos.
Talk lift and reduction through with the surgeon.
A private 45 minute consult, in person or by video. You leave with a written plan and the full price.