Donut (Periareolar) Lift
A periareolar lift is best for mild sagging.
The incision goes around the edge of the areola, so the scar is limited to that border. It suits women who need only a small amount of lift.
Breast Surgery
Breast LiftDenver, CO
Raise and reshape sagging breasts for a firmer, more youthful position.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
If your breasts have lost their shape and sit lower than they used to, often after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or simply with time, a breast lift restores them. A breast lift, or mastopexy, removes excess skin and repositions the breast and nipple to a higher, firmer position. It does not add volume or change your cup size; what it does is reshape what you have so your breasts sit where they should. For many women, it gives back the profile they had before children or weight changes.
At his Denver practice, Dr. Jason Martin performs breast lifts tailored to how much sagging there is, choosing the technique that gives the best shape with the least scarring possible. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, he is straightforward about which approach fits your anatomy.
At a Glance
Breast Lift at a Glance
These are typical starting points. Dr. Martin confirms the specifics for your case at your consultation.
- Procedure time
- About 2 to 3 hours
- Anesthesia
- General anesthesia
- Downtime
- About 1 to 2 weeks off work
- Results
- Higher, firmer right away
- Cost in Denver
- $8,000 – $12,000
- Scars
- Depend on the technique
3 to 4 hours when combined with augmentation.
Surgical bra worn for 4 to 6 weeks.
Final result at 3 to 6 months.
A lift alone; higher when combined with augmentation.
From around the areola to a vertical or anchor pattern.
The procedure
What a Breast Lift Does
Over time, the skin and ligaments that support the breast stretch, and the breast settles lower on the chest, a change called ptosis. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, weight loss, and aging all speed it up. A breast lift addresses this by removing the excess, stretched skin, tightening the remaining skin, and moving the nipple and areola up to a natural, higher position on a reshaped breast.
A breast lift changes the position and shape of the breast, not its volume. If you want to be fuller, especially in the upper part of the breast, that requires an implant, which is why a lift and augmentation are so often combined.
Lift, implants, or both
Do You Need a Lift, Implants, or Both?
This is the most important question, and the answer comes down to where your nipple sits.
If your nipple still points forward and sits above the crease beneath your breast, implants alone may give you the fuller, lifted look you want. If your nipple has dropped to or below that crease, no implant will lift it; you need a breast lift to reposition it, with or without an implant for added volume.
Surgeons often describe the ideal nipple position using what is sometimes called the 45/55 rule, a guideline for where the nipple should sit on the breast mound for a natural, youthful look. When the nipple has fallen below that position, a lift is what restores it. Dr. Martin assesses your nipple position and your goals to tell you honestly whether a lift, implants, or both will get you the result you are picturing.
Your options
Your Breast Lift Options
The right lift technique depends on how much sagging there is, and the amount of sagging determines the scar pattern. More lift means a bit more scar, and Dr. Martin always uses the least extensive technique that will give you a good result.
Vertical (Lollipop) Lift
A vertical lift is best for moderate sagging.
It adds a vertical incision from the areola down to the breast crease, which allows more reshaping than a donut lift. It is one of the most common techniques because it balances a strong result with a limited scar.
Anchor (Inverted-T) Lift
An anchor lift is best for significant sagging.
It adds a horizontal incision along the breast crease, which gives the most reshaping for breasts with a large amount of loose skin. The scar is more extensive in exchange for the most complete lift.
GLP-1 weight loss
Breast Lifts After Weight Loss From Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Medications
A growing number of women are coming in for breast lifts after major weight loss on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, a change patients themselves often call "Ozempic breasts." Rapid, significant weight loss takes volume out of the breasts, which can leave them deflated and sagging, sometimes more dramatically than after pregnancy.
A breast lift restores the shape and position of breasts that have deflated this way. Because GLP-1 weight loss often removes a lot of volume, many of these patients combine a lift with a small implant or fat grafting to replace the fullness they have lost, especially in the upper breast. The right plan depends on how much volume and shape changed, which Dr. Martin assesses at your consultation.
Candidacy
Are You a Good Candidate?
You may be a good candidate for a breast lift if your breasts sag or have lost their shape, your nipples point downward or sit below the breast crease, and you are bothered by the position rather than the size. Good general health and realistic expectations matter, as they do for any procedure.
You are likely a good candidate if:
- Your breasts sag or have lost their shape
- Your nipples point downward or sit below the breast crease
- You are bothered by the position rather than the size
- You are in good general health and have realistic expectations
It is honest to talk about timing. A breast lift is best done once you are finished having children, since a future pregnancy can stretch the breasts again and undo the result. The same is true of major weight changes, so a stable weight gives the most lasting outcome. If your sagging is very mild, you may not need surgery yet, and Dr. Martin will say so.
Experience & judgment
Dr. Martin's Approach
Dr. Martin matches the lift technique to your degree of sagging, always choosing the approach that gives the best shape with the least scarring your anatomy allows. He pays particular attention to long-lasting support and a natural nipple position, so the result holds its shape over time.
What he brings to that work
- Jason Martin, MD, FACS, board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
- Fellowship-trained in aesthetic plastic surgery
- Adjunct professor with the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Colorado
- Named a Top Doctor by 5280 magazine in 2024
The procedure, step by step
What to Expect From the Procedure
A breast lift is performed under general anesthesia. The steps follow a consistent sequence:
- 01
The breast is marked
while you are sitting up, so the new nipple position and the amount of skin to remove are planned accurately.
- 02
The incisions are made
in the pattern chosen for your degree of sagging (periareolar, vertical, or anchor).
- 03
Excess skin is removed
and the breast tissue is reshaped and lifted into a higher position.
- 04
The nipple and areola are repositioned
to a natural height, and the areola is resized if needed.
- 05
The incisions are closed
in layers to support the new shape and keep the scars as fine as possible, and a surgical bra is placed.
Recovery
Your Recovery, Step by Step
Recovery from a breast lift is usually more comfortable than women expect. The pattern below is typical; Dr. Martin gives you specific instructions for your case.
-
The first few days
Some soreness, swelling, and tightness are normal and well controlled. You will wear a surgical bra from the start.
-
About 1 to 2 weeks
Most women return to desk work, still wearing the surgical bra and limiting how much they raise their arms.
-
About 4 to 6 weeks
The surgical bra is worn through this period, and exercise gradually resumes as Dr. Martin clears you.
-
Months
Swelling settles, the breasts soften into their final shape over 3 to 6 months, and the scars continue to fade over about a year.
Investment
What Does a Breast Lift Cost in Denver?
In Denver, a breast lift generally runs from about $8,000 to $12,000, and more when combined with augmentation. The cost depends on the technique, whether it is combined with augmentation, and anesthesia and facility fees. A periareolar lift sits at the lower end, while an anchor lift, or a lift combined with implants, is more involved.
At your consultation you will receive a clear, itemized quote for your specific plan, and our team will walk you through financing options so the cost fits your budget.
Proof
Breast Lift Before and After
Photographs of real patients are the clearest way to understand what a breast lift can do for shape and position, and how the scars settle once healed.
Results vary from patient to patient. Photographs are of Dr. Martin's actual patients, shown with their consent.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a breast lift cost in Denver?
A breast lift in Denver generally runs from about $8,000 to $12,000 for a lift alone, and more when it is combined with augmentation. The cost depends on the technique, whether it is combined with augmentation, and anesthesia and facility fees. You will receive an itemized quote for your specific plan at your consultation, along with financing options.
What is the 45/55 rule for breast lifts?
The 45/55 rule is a guideline surgeons use for ideal nipple position on the breast, describing roughly where the nipple should sit on the breast mound for a natural, youthful look. When the nipple has dropped below that position, a breast lift is what repositions it. Dr. Martin assesses your nipple position to determine whether a lift is needed.
Do I need a breast lift or implants?
It depends on where your nipple sits. If your nipple is above the breast crease and you mainly want more fullness, implants alone may work. If your nipple has dropped to or below the crease, a lift is needed to reposition it, since implants add volume but do not lift. Many women combine the two. Dr. Martin examines you and tells you which fits your goals.
Will a breast lift change my size?
A breast lift reshapes and raises the breast without significantly changing its volume, so your cup size stays about the same. If you want to be fuller, an implant is added; if you want to be smaller, that is a breast reduction. Dr. Martin will clarify which procedure matches what you are picturing.
Can you fix saggy breasts without surgery?
Significant sagging is caused by stretched skin and ligaments, which only surgery can remove and tighten. For very mild changes, you may not need a lift yet. There is no non-surgical treatment that meaningfully lifts breasts that have truly dropped, so an honest exam is the way to know where you stand.
Will I be able to breastfeed after a breast lift?
Many women can breastfeed after a breast lift, though it depends on the technique used and individual factors. Because pregnancy can also undo the result, a lift is usually recommended once you are finished having children. Dr. Martin will discuss this with you based on your plans.
What is the best age for a breast lift?
There is no single best age. What matters is that your breasts have sagged enough to bother you, you are finished having children, and you are at a stable weight, since pregnancy and weight changes can affect the result.
Breast lift in Denver
Begin
Schedule Your Consultation
The best way to know whether a breast lift, implants, or both will give you the result you want is an exam with the surgeon who performs the surgery. Dr. Martin will assess your breast shape and nipple position, explain your options in plain terms, and build a plan around your goals. Take our virtual consultation to get started, or call our Denver office at (303) 321-1439 to schedule your visit.
(303) 321-1439