Sagging Breasts, Redesigned from the Shape Up
A breast lift (mastopexy) is not simply about 'raising' the breast — it is a shape-design surgery that repositions the stretched skin and tissue together with the nipple. U&U Plastic Surgery, a clinic dedicated to breast surgery, guides you to the lift that fits your condition.
Medically reviewed byKikap Kim · Chief Director, Plastic Surgery
Why Breasts Sag, and When a Lift Is Needed
Childbirth and breastfeeding, major weight changes, and the passage of time stretch the skin and supporting tissue of the breast. When volume decreases and excess skin remains, the breast drops downward and the nipple position descends with it. In this state, implants alone often cannot produce the shape you want.
That is why the first step of any lift is judging accurately whether a lift is actually needed. Depending on the degree of sagging, some cases can be handled with augmentation alone and no lift, some need a lift only, and some call for a lift combined with augmentation (or reduction). U&U is a specialist clinic devoted exclusively to the breast, with reduction mastopexy as one of its main fields of practice.
The Direction of a Lift Depends on Your Condition
A lift is not a single fixed operation — its direction changes with the degree of sagging and the volume you want.
Lift Alone
When volume is sufficient but sagging is the problem — we remove the excess skin and reposition the nipple to restore the shape.
Lift + Augmentation
When sagging and volume loss occur together — we design the lift and implant augmentation as one plan, restoring shape and volume at the same time.
Reduction Mastopexy
When the weight of large breasts has driven the sagging — a reduction mastopexy lifts the breast while reducing volume to restore balance.
The Question We Hear Most About Lifts — Scars
Because a breast lift is a surgery that removes excess skin, incisions are unavoidable, and the incision pattern is determined by the degree of sagging. During your consultation we show you the expected incision lines in advance, and after surgery our care program (scar and swelling management, physical therapy for recovery) helps the scars settle. We believe that honestly explaining where scars will sit and how much will remain comes before any promise to hide them.
Before and After Surgery, We Confirm with Examinations
Before surgery, we confirm your condition with blood tests and breast ultrasound, and after surgery we continue to look after your breast health with regular check-ups. If surgery is not suitable for your condition, our principle is not to recommend it.
View the Post-Surgery Breast Screening GuideThe Questions We Hear Most About Breast Lifts
- Will a lift alone improve the shape, without augmentation?
- If you have sufficient volume, a lift alone can improve the shape significantly. If volume loss is also present, however, the upper breast may look empty after a lift — so during your consultation we assess together whether augmentation should be combined.
- I'm planning to have children — can I still get a lift?
- Future pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the breast shape again. If you have plans, please let us know during your consultation — it is best to decide the timing and method together.
- How much scarring will remain?
- It depends on the incision pattern (around the areola, with a vertical line, and so on), and the greater the sagging, the wider the incision becomes. During your consultation, you can see the expected incision lines based on your own condition.
- How long is the recovery period?
- It varies from person to person, but we guide you step by step from initial recovery to returning to daily life. If you are coming from abroad, we design your progress-check schedule around your stay.
- How much does it cost?
- It depends on whether you need a lift alone or a lift combined with augmentation or reduction. Check the structure in our cost guide, then get a personal estimate through a consultation.
Learn More About Breast Lifts
Start by Checking Your Degree of Sagging
With front and side photos, an online consultation can tell you your degree of sagging and the directions available to you. And if you don't need a lift, we will tell you exactly that — it is our principle.