Breast · Surgical Care
Breast Lift
A breast lift can raise breasts that have dropped after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss, so they sit higher and look firmer. It removes stretched skin, tightens the tissue, and moves the nipple up to a more youthful position. Dr. Michael Kluska performs it in our own accredited surgical center in Commerce, Georgia.
Procedure time
1 to 3 hours
Anesthesia
General
Setting
Outpatient
Back to desk work
About 1 week
Final results
About 1 year
What does a breast lift correct?
Perhaps your bras no longer fit the way they did, and your breasts sit lower on your chest than they used to. The shape has shifted in a way that no workout or posture trick can reach, because the skin around the breast has stretched.
The technique depends on how far your breasts have dropped: a crescent or donut lift for mild sagging, a lollipop lift for moderate sagging, and an anchor lift for more significant sagging. A stretched areola (the darker skin around the nipple) can be made smaller at the same time. The scar follows suit: at the areola’s edge for a crescent or donut lift, plus a line down the breast for a lollipop lift, and one along the crease for an anchor lift.
A lift keeps your size about the same: breast augmentation can add fullness at the top in the same surgery, and a breast reduction includes a lift for breasts you want smaller. Like any surgery, a breast lift carries risks, and your consultation covers your options, recovery, and a realistic outcome. A lift alone suits you when your size feels right but the position has changed.
Is a breast lift right for you?
When the position is what has changed, timing decides the rest: if you plan more pregnancies or are still losing weight, it is wiser to wait, since either can change the result. After breastfeeding, most patients wait three to six months for the tissue to settle. You are likely a good candidate if these describe you.
- Nipples that sit below the crease under your breasts
- A stable weight you can keep after surgery
- A nonsmoker, or ready to quit well before surgery
Not sure? The Virtual Aesthetic Planner takes about five minutes and gives Dr. Kluska a head start before your visit.
Preparing for surgery
A few things matter most before a breast lift. If you smoke, stop at least six to eight weeks before surgery. Tell us about every medication and supplement you take, since some thin the blood and are paused about two weeks before surgery.
Arrange a driver for surgery day and help at home for the first two weeks, when you will need a hand with lifting, driving, and most housework. You will receive a full pre-operative checklist at your consultation.
What happens during a breast lift?
Your surgery takes place in our surgical center in Commerce. Here is what happens, step by step.
- Marking
Your breasts are marked while you stand, so the lines follow the way your breasts will rest after surgery. - Anesthesia
You are under general anesthesia, so you are fully asleep and feel nothing during the procedure. - Incision
The incisions follow the pattern you and Dr. Kluska planned, kept as short as your technique allows. - Raising the nipple
Your nipple stays attached to the tissue beneath it, which helps preserve its blood supply and sensation, and is moved up to its new position. - Reshaping and going home
The breast tissue is lifted and reshaped, with stitches beneath the skin to support the new shape. Drains (thin tubes that carry away fluid) are usually not needed, and you go home the same day in a surgical support bra, often within an hour or two of waking up.
Recovery timeline
These milestones are typical; your own pace depends on your technique and how you heal.
- Days 1 to 2
Expect tightness, pressure, and soreness; swelling and bruising peak in the first few days. Wear your support bra around the clock, and sleep on your back with your upper body raised, usually for the first two to four weeks. Avoid exercise and heavy lifting, usually for at least four to six weeks. - Days 3 to 4
Most patients switch from the surgical bra to a soft support bra. - About 1 week
Most patients are back at desk work. - 4 to 6 weeks
Most patients return to their normal activities, and exercise comes back gradually. Side sleeping usually becomes comfortable. - 3 to 6 months
For most patients, the scars flatten and their redness starts to fade. - About 1 year
For most patients, the final shape shows, and the scars keep softening and lightening.
Results
Breast lift before & after
Individual results vary. Photos are of actual Aesthetic Arts patients and are shared with their permission.
Your surgeon
Dr. Michael Kluska, DO, FAACS, FACOS
Triple Board-Certified Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon | Founder of Aesthetic Arts
Dr. Michael Kluska is triple board-certified in cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive, and general surgery, with over 25 years in practice specializing in full-face and body cosmetic surgery. He is a past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and an adjunct clinical professor of plastic surgery at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Patient reviews
What do our patients say?
★★★★★
Other consultations I had didn’t feel as thorough, and quite frankly, some were more focused on selling me a dream than setting realistic expectations. That was never the case here. Dr. Kluska’s high standards were exactly what I was looking for.
Kortneigh M. · Google
★★★★★
The procedure itself went smoothly, and the recovery was exactly as described. I was impressed with the level of care and attention I received from both Dr. Kluska and their team—from pre-op to post-op check-ins, I always felt supported and in good hands.
Bailey S. · Google
★★★★★
Went for my consultation today for my third surgery with Dr. Kluska. Once again the staff was so friendly and accommodating. I’m super excited because the last 2 surgeries turned out better than I ever expected. Dr. K is one of a kind!
Dawn F. · Google
Cost and financing
It is natural to weigh cost early. What you pay for a breast lift depends on whether it is a lift alone or combined with implants or a reduction. You will receive a quote for your own plan at your consultation, with no obligation.
We work with four financing partners: Alphaeon Credit, CareCredit, Cherry Credit, and PatientFi. Each lets you spread the cost over monthly payments. Pre-qualifying takes a few minutes and does not affect your credit score.
Start with a consultation
Meet with Dr. Kluska in Commerce, Buford, or Monroe to learn which lift fits the way your breasts have changed, and whether implants belong in your plan.
Breast lift questions, answered
Have a question that isn’t here? Ask us directly.
Will I have scars?
Yes, every breast lift leaves scars, and for most patients they reach their final look at 12 to 18 months. Keeping them out of direct sun, or under a high-SPF sunscreen, for at least a year helps them fade well, and so does silicone gel or sheeting once the incisions have closed.
How much pain should I expect?
It is normal to worry about this. The first few days usually bring moderate tightness, pressure, and soreness, and prescription pain medication usually covers those days. Most patients move to over-the-counter relief within a week.
Will I lose feeling in my nipples?
Numbness in the nipples and breast skin is common at first and usually lasts about six weeks before feeling starts to return. Most patients notice real improvement between months three and six, and most regain full or close-to-full sensation by six to 12 months. A smaller number have longer-lasting changes, which you can talk through at your consultation.
Can I have a breast lift and implants together?
Yes. When you want both more fullness and a higher position, a lift and implants can be combined in one surgery. It asks more of the breast tissue, recovery is somewhat longer than for a lift alone, and a small touch-up is occasionally needed later to fine-tune the result.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift?
Many patients can, though not everyone is able to. Techniques that keep the milk ducts under the nipple intact tend to protect your ability to breastfeed. If breastfeeding matters to you, say so at your consultation so your technique can account for it.
How long does a breast lift last?
For many patients, the results last 10 to 15 years or more, though your breasts keep aging naturally. A stable weight, a well-fitting supportive bra, sun protection, and not smoking all help the shape last. Another pregnancy can change the result.
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