Breast lift techniques and scars

Grading breast sagging

Surgeons grade breast ptosis by the position of the nipple relative to the crease under the breast:

• Grade 1 (mild): nipple at the level of the crease.
• Grade 2 (moderate): nipple below the crease but above the lowest part of the breast.
• Grade 3 (severe): nipple at the lowest point, pointing down.
• Pseudoptosis: the nipple is in position but the breast tissue has slid below the crease.

Skin quality, breast volume and the size of the areola also influence the choice. The same grade of sagging may need a different technique in a woman with thin, stretched skin than in one with firm skin.

Periareolar ("donut") lift

A ring-shaped incision around the areola. It suits mild sagging and is excellent for reducing enlarged areolas. The lift it can achieve is limited, and too much tension can flatten the breast or widen the areola, so it is not a solution for marked sagging. The scar sits at the junction of the darker areola and the lighter skin, where it is often well camouflaged.

Vertical ("lollipop") lift

An incision around the areola plus a vertical line down to the crease. It reshapes the breast into a narrower, more projecting cone and is the most versatile technique for moderate sagging, with shorter scars than the anchor lift. In the first weeks the lower breast may look puckered; this smooths out as the skin settles.

Inverted-T ("anchor") lift

Adds a horizontal scar hidden in the crease. It removes the most skin and gives the greatest control in severe sagging, after massive weight loss and in breast reductions. Although the scar is longer, it is hidden by a bra or bikini and the shape it allows is often worth it.

Internal techniques: auto-augmentation and support

Beyond the skin pattern, what happens inside the breast matters as much. In an auto-augmentation the surgeon uses a flap of the patient’s own lower breast tissue, moves it upwards and secures it to the chest wall to fill the upper pole – a way to gain fullness without an implant. Some techniques add internal stitches or a sling of tissue to support the new shape. These approaches are explained in our article breast lift without implants. When more volume is needed, an implant or fat can be added – see lift with implants and fat transfer.

Which technique does New City Clinic use?

There is no single "best" lift: the surgeon at New City Clinic chooses the shortest scar pattern that will give a good, lasting shape for your breast. From your photos he gives a first opinion; the final decision is made at the in-person consultation in Istanbul, with markings drawn while you stand. You can read more on New City Clinic’s breast lift page and in the clinic’s blog article breast lift Turkey: the complete mastopexy guide. The profile of Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç lists his areas of practice.

How scars heal

Scars are red or pink for the first months, then gradually flatten and fade over 12–18 months. Silicone gel or sheets, protecting the scars from the sun for a year, not smoking and avoiding tension on the wounds all improve the result. A small number of people tend to form raised (hypertrophic or keloid) scars; tell your surgeon if this has happened to you before.

Scar care month by month

• Weeks 1–2: keep wounds clean and dry as instructed; the tapes or dressings are changed at the check-ups.
• Weeks 3–6: once the wounds are fully closed, start silicone gel or sheets daily, usually for at least two to three months.
• Months 2–6: gentle scar massage if advised; avoid sunbeds and protect scars from the sun with clothing or high-factor sunscreen.
• Months 6–18: scars continue to mature, becoming paler and flatter. Send photos to the team if a scar becomes raised or itchy.

Our recovery guide explains the rest of the healing timeline.

Choosing the technique with your surgeon

When you discuss techniques, ask the surgeon three questions: which incision pattern he recommends and why; whether a shorter scar would give a lasting shape in your case; and whether volume should be added with an implant, fat or your own tissue. A good surgeon explains the trade-off between scar length and shape honestly. Choosing a shorter scar than your breast needs often leads to a flatter breast or early recurrence of sagging, while the right technique gives a better shape for longer. You can meet the New City Clinic surgeons online before you book.

Techniques in a lift with implants

When an implant is added, the surgeon usually chooses a slightly more conservative skin removal, because the implant itself stretches the skin. The lollipop or anchor pattern is adapted to the implant volume, as explained on our lift with implants page.