Will a Breast Reduction Result in Lifting My Breasts?
in New York City & Manhattan

*Model

by Dr. Steven Wallach

If you’ve been considering breast reduction surgery, one of the most common questions you might have is: “Will a breast reduction also lift my breasts?” The short answer is: yes, it typically does. But understanding how and why this happens can help you set realistic expectations and make informed decisions about your body and your health.

What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin. Women often seek this surgery for relief from physical discomfort such as back, neck, or shoulder pain, as well as emotional and lifestyle limitations caused by overly large breasts.

While the primary goal of a breast reduction is to decrease breast size and volume, an important and often welcome side effect is that the breasts are also lifted in the process.

How Does a Breast Reduction Lift the Breasts?

To understand this, it helps to visualize the surgery itself. In a typical breast reduction procedure:

• The surgeon removes excess tissue and skin.
• The nipple and areola are repositioned higher on the breast mound.
• The remaining breast tissue is reshaped and tightened.
• The skin envelope (the skin around the breast) is adjusted to match the new, smaller shape.

This combination of removing tissue and repositioning the nipple-areola complex naturally elevates the breasts. The result is a smaller, more lifted, and youthful breast contour.

In fact, many of the same techniques used in a breast lift (also called mastopexy) are part of the breast reduction process.

Breast Reduction vs. Breast Lift: What’s the Difference?

Although both procedures involve lifting the breasts, there are some key differences:

• Breast reduction focuses on decreasing size and weight while also lifting.
• Breast lift (mastopexy) focuses solely on repositioning and reshaping sagging breasts without significantly changing their volume.

In short: a breast reduction includes a lift, but a breast lift doesn’t necessarily reduce size.

Why Breasts Sag in the First Place

Many women seeking a breast reduction also struggle with breast ptosis—the medical term for sagging. This sagging can be caused by:

• Genetics
• Aging and loss of skin elasticity
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Weight fluctuations
• The sheer weight of large breasts pulling downward over time

Because breast reduction removes the weight and reshapes the breast, it directly addresses the causes and effects of sagging.

What Kind of Lift Can You Expect?

While breast reduction does lift the breasts, the degree of lift varies depending on:

• The technique used by the surgeon
• The amount of tissue removed
• Your original breast shape and size
• Skin elasticity and tone
• Postoperative healing

Most women experience a noticeable repositioning of the breasts and nipples to a higher, more central position on the chest wall. The result is often perkier and firmer breasts that sit more proportionately with the rest of your body.

However, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Your surgeon can give you a better idea of your potential outcome during your consultation.

Will My Results Be Permanent?

Breast reduction and the accompanying lift can provide long-lasting results, but no surgery can permanently stop the effects of aging, gravity, or lifestyle factors.

To help maintain your results:

• Wear supportive bras regularly
• Maintain a stable weight
• Practice good skincare
• Avoid smoking, which affects skin elasticity

Pregnancy or significant weight gain after surgery may alter your breast shape again, so it’s ideal to wait until after major life changes, if possible.

Scarring and Recovery Considerations

Like any surgery, a breast reduction involves incisions—and therefore, scarring. Common techniques include:

• Anchor (inverted T) incision – around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease, and along the crease
• Vertical (lollipop) incision – around the areola and down to the crease, avoiding the horizontal incision
• Donut or periareolar – limited to around the areola, used in smaller reductions

While scars will fade over time and can be minimized with proper care, they are an unavoidable part of the procedure. However, most patients feel that the relief from physical discomfort and the improved breast shape far outweigh the scarring.

Final Thoughts: Is Breast Reduction Right for You?

If you are struggling with large, heavy, or sagging breasts that interfere with your daily life, breast reduction could offer both functional relief and cosmetic benefits. And yes—a lift is built into the process.

Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best next step. They can evaluate your goals, body type, and health status to determine if the procedure is a good fit for you. Bring up your desire for lifted, more youthful-looking breasts, and they can tailor the surgical plan to help you achieve the best outcome.

In summary: A breast reduction doesn’t just make your breasts smaller—it also lifts and reshapes them, often resulting in a more proportionate and rejuvenated figure. For many women, it’s a life-changing procedure that enhances both comfort and confidence.