Adam N. Summers, M.D.
Maryland Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa

Breast Lift

Baltimore, Maryland Breast Lift Surgery
Dr. Adam Summers

At the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Summers offers breast lift surgery for patients in Annapolis and Baltimore, MD to improve both their figure and self-confidence. Patients from throughout Maryland (including Townson, Lutherville, Columbia, Owing Mills, Howard County, and Ellicott City breast lift patients) turn to Dr. Summers for all of their cosmetic surgery needs.

Breast Lift: Introduction

A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. As a woman ages, the skin loses elasticity causing the breasts to lose their natural shape and firmness. Breast sagging (also known as "ptosis") worsens when the breasts are stretched due to weight gain or pregnancy (note: many women experience significant changes with a second pregnancy, especially if the baby is breast fed). Dr. Summers has helped many breast lift patients restore their figures with the mastopexy procedure. In select cases, a Baltimore or Annapolis breast lift patient may also benefit from breast implants. Please visit our breast augmentation page to learn how Dr. Summers' Baltimore breast augmentation patients have improved their bust size.

Breast Lift: Goals
  • Elevate the breasts due to sagging caused by aging & gravity.
  • Firm the breasts if they have lost substance after pregnancy.
  • Re-align the nipples if they point down or to the side.
  • Restore the natural suppleness after weight loss.
Breast Lift: Procedure

When performed at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, a breast lift procedure typically takes between one and three hours, depending on the complexity of the case.  Dr. Summers uses a variety of techniques and incisional approaches (e.g. peri-areolar Benelli "doughnut", verticle, transverse, inverted-T)  based on the patient's anatomy.  The goal is to keep the scars as small as possible, but the procedure always involves an incision completely around the areola.  In some cases, excess fat can be removed with liposuction.  In other cases, additional incisions may be required to removed excess tissue - a common technique involves an anchor-like incision along the underside of the breast.  The incision goes around the area where the skin will be removed, defining where the nipple will be relocated.  In each case, after excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved into a higher position.  The skin surrounding the areola is tightened around the breast resulting in an enhanced shape.

Patients with relatively small breasts and minimal ptosis are most likely to only require the incision around the areola.  This is known as the Benelli "doughnut" mastopexy (also known as peri-areolar, circumareolar, and concentric mastopexy) in which circular incisions are made around the areola and a doughnut-shaped area of skin is removed.  For women with minimal breast tissue, addition of a small implant under the pectoralis muscle will provide additional fullness to the breast.  Either saline or silicone implants may be used.

Note: Despite the incision all the way around the areola, Dr. Summers has found that the majority of his patients actually report an improvement in nipple sensation after the mastopexy procedure.

Breast Lift: Recovery

Most patients are able to resume normal, light activity the day after surgery.  Patients should wear their bra 24-hours daily for the first week (the bra is removed only for showers) and avoid any strenuous activity or heavy lifting.  In addition to the regular bra, patients who have a concurrent breast implant may be provided with a "bra strap" to help stabilize the implants and reduce swelling around the top portion of the breast.

Because the breast must accomodate to its new shape and position, patients typically require 6-12 months before their final breast shape is obtained.  Minor "touch-up" procedures to optimize the appearance of scars are occassionally performed under a local anesthesia during this time.

Following the initial recovery period, patients sometimes report minor pain associated with activities - this is typically resolved with ibuprofen and rarely persists longer than one month after the surgery.  While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the pre-operative and post-operative directions we provide during the consultation.

Breast Lift: Costs

The charge for a breast lift procedure at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center ranges from $3,000 - $8,000.  Most patients spend about $6,000 for a routine mastopexy procedure.  The variability in price reflects the many different breast lift techniques which Dr. Summers utilizes - the specific technique which will be used for your breast lift will be discussed at the time of your evaluation.

The fees include all of the following: facility fee at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, anesthesia with a board certified anesthesiologist, surgeon's fee, and all office visits. 

The only other expenses you will incur are pharmacy related for prescription medications (antibiotics and pain medication) and laboratory related for routine blood tests prior to your breast lift surgery.  Patients who are over 40 years of age or who have pre-existing medical conditions will also need to have a medical clearance, which includes an EKG and additional bood tests.

In addition to offering breast lift procedures, Dr. Summers offers other breast procedures at his practice. Please visit these pages to learn about how Dr. Summers helps Baltimore breast reduction, breast augmentation and male breast reduction patients.

Breast surgery patients may also benefit from other body contouring procedures such as abdominoplasty or liposuction. Many Baltimore abdominoplasty and Baltimore liposuction patients have enjoyed slimmer, shapelier figures as a result of Dr. Summers’ extensive surgical experience and artistic eye.


Breast Lift Frequently Asked Questions:

Click on a question below to see the answer.

Q: How do I know if I should have a breast lift?

Q: Can I have other procedures at the same time as a breast lift?

Q: Does it matter how old I am?

Q: What happens during my consultations?

Q: How long will it take to recover from surgery?

Q: Will my insurance cover the surgery?

Q: What kind of anesthesia will be used?

Q: Will my nipples be removed during the breast lift procedure?

Q: Will I loose sensation in my nipples after a breast lift procedure?

Q: What other procedures does Dr. Summers perform?