Breast
Breast lift
Raising and reshaping the breast without necessarily adding volume.
Photographs
Illustrative image
Illustrative image
Illustrative imageThis page is general information, not medical advice. It does not diagnose you, recommend a treatment, or replace a consultation. Only a doctor who has examined you can do that.
Overview
A breast lift, or mastopexy, raises the breast and the nipple and removes some loose skin. It does not mainly add volume. If the breast also looks empty, an implant or fat can be added, which is a different operation with the risks of both. Scars are the trade for shape: usually around the areola and vertically down, sometimes also in the fold.
Who it is for
People whose nipple has dropped and who will accept scars to have it higher. Weight should be reasonably stable. A future pregnancy can stretch the result again. It is not a substitute for losing a large amount of weight first.
How it works
Skin is tailored and the nipple is moved on a pedicle of tissue so it keeps a blood supply. The breast tissue may be reshaped with stitches. If an implant is added, pocket and volume are planned at the same time. Drains are sometimes used for a short period.
Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia is standard.
How long it takes
Often 2 to 3 hours, longer if an implant is added. Plan one to two weeks away from a public-facing job, and longer before sport.
Typical results and how long they last
The breast sits higher, with scars that fade over many months but do not vanish. Gravity, weight change, and pregnancy continue. A lift does not permanently freeze a shape. Nipple sensation can be less, more, or painful for a time.
Recovery timeline
First week
Dressings, a supportive bra, limited arm reach. Drains out if they were used.
2–3 weeks
Many are presentable in clothes. Scars are still red.
6 weeks
Sport often restarts gradually. Underwire usually waits.
12–18 months
Scars mature. Shape still responds to weight and time.
Risks and complications
Bleeding, infection, widened or thick scars, asymmetry, and delayed wound healing, especially in people who smoke. The blood supply to the nipple can be strained; partial or, rarely, full nipple loss is the serious local risk and is why a very large lift or a lift plus a big implant needs a surgeon who does this work often. Numbness can be lasting.
Indicative private-pay ranges
Round advertised bands as of 2026 for self-pay patients in Hungary, Germany, and Austria. They are not a quote, not a median from a registry, and not a promise. A consultation can land outside the band. If a public insurer pays at all, it follows different rules.
for the operation, as commonly advertised with the surgeon and the facility
- Hungary
- €2,800–5,000
- Germany
- €5,500–9,500
- Austria
- €5,000–9,000
Questions to ask your surgeon
- Where will the scars be on my body, drawn on me, not only on a diagram?
- Do I need an implant as well, and what happens to the nipple’s blood supply?
- How many lifts have you done in the last year?
- What if I become pregnant later?
- Who pays for a scar revision if one is needed?
Common questions
Will a lift make me larger?
No. It rearranges what you have. Volume needs an implant or fat, which adds risk and cost.
Do the scars disappear?
They fade. They do not become invisible. Scar quality varies with skin, smoking, and tension.
Can the nipple be numb?
Yes, for months or permanently. Increased or painful sensation also happens.
Related procedures
Doctors who list Breast lift
Highest rated doctors offering Breast lift. Order is the average published score, then the number of reviews.
No approved doctors list this procedure yet.