Are Non-Surgical Alternatives for Breast Lift Effective?7 min read

June 29, 2023
, Breast, Breast Lift

Aesthetica Editorial Team

Imagine being able to reshape, recontour, and perk-up your breasts without having to go “under the knife” for a breast lift!

Whether it be the appeal of a no-downtime procedure like a laser or radiofrequency treatment or the draw of a rejuvenating process like Vampire Breast Lift (PRP), non-surgical breast lifts are becoming more and more popular.

Is a non-surgical breast lift the perfect solution for your cosmetic goals? Let’s compare the differences and similarities between traditional and non-surgical breast lift techniques and see which procedure is best for you!

Breast lifts have grown by 70% since 2000, twice as fast as breast augmentations!

Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

What is a Breast Lift and How Does It Work?

Surgical breast lifts have been the go-to procedure for women looking to restore volume, shape, size, and perkiness of sagging or lopsided breasts.

A breast lift (or mastopexy) is the go-to choice for women who want dramatic results with significant lifting, fat reduction, and/or skin removal. It is commonly paired with other breast-makeover options like breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast revision, and more.

A breast lift is also popular with our mommy makeover package, which provides women with a personalized full-body plan to boost confidence after having children.

A traditional breast lift is a 2-3 hour procedure performed under general anesthesia. Depending on your needs, the surgeon will perform one of three breast lift techniques to lift the breast, tighten loose skin, and elevate nipple position. The three techniques are:

Donut Technique

This technique is used for patients looking for a very small breast lift. The incision made around the areola is shaped like a donut, hence the name.

Lollipop Technique

This technique is used for patients needing a medium-to-large lift. In addition to the donut incision, a vertical incision is made from the areola to the breast crease, resulting in a “lollipop” appearance. This technique is very effective in providing perky cleavage.

Anchor Technique

This technique is recommended to patients looking for a large breast lift with a lot of skin removal. It uses the donut and lollipop incisions with an additional incision along the breast crease, allowing the surgeon to better remove excess fat and skin.

Exploring Non-Surgical Alternatives for a Breast Lift

For women looking for non-surgical options to give their breasts a boost, many alternatives can provide similar results without the cost, surgery, or recovery of a traditional breast lift!

Laser Breast Lift

A laser breast lift is a non-invasive procedure that tightens, firms, and rejuvenates the skin via infrared light energy.

This technology safely heats the deepest layers of skin to contract collagen bands, providing a near-instant lift effect. The skin becomes tighter over time, as more collagen is produced. Because of this new collagen production, a laser breast lift also improves skin tone and texture!

Vampire Breast Lift (aka PRP)

Popular with celebrity facials, platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) uses your own plasma to stimulate the skin, eliminate wrinkles, and tighten skin contour. PRP improves volume loss and sagging skin and restores elastin. A Vampire Breast Lift is often combined with a laser breast lift for even more dramatic results!

Fillers

Dermal fillers can be used to give the appearance of a breast lift. A practitioner will inject hyaluronic acid in or around the nipple, providing a perkier, slightly “lifted” effect.

Liposuction

Often, women looking for a breast lift without undergoing a full traditional mastopexy will also consider liposuction. While still considered a surgery, liposuction removes excess fat pockets in areas that do not require skin tightening or excision.

Comparing Non-Surgical Alternatives to a Traditional Breast Lift

Ultimately, all non-surgical alternatives for a breast lift will deliver much more subtle results than a traditional breast lift.

Non-surgical breast lift alternatives are ideal for women who experience minimal sagging, mild fat pockets, or some skin laxity. These techniques are ideal for women who want to rejuvenate breast skin texture or appearance. In general, they provide an extra boost to “almost-perky-enough-but-not-quite-there” breasts.

On the other hand, women who are experiencing anything more than “mild” breast sagging will prefer a traditional breast lift. While a traditional breast lift is a “bigger deal” than its non-surgical counterparts, a mastopexy provides a more drastic, all-encompassing breast lift that most women are looking for. Additionally, a surgical breast lift is permanent and doesn’t require follow-up treatments, whereas non-surgical alternatives benefit from multiple treatments.

Women of all age groups — as long as their breast tissue is fully developed — will benefit from a breast lift!

Source: East Bay Aesthetic Surgery

Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of Non-Surgical Breast Lift Methods

Non-surgical breast lift treatments are similar to what you’d expect from a facial treatment.

For example, a slightly sagging face with loose cheeks and some uneven texture would benefit greatly from a laser treatment.

Similarly, breasts with the same amount of sagginess, looseness, and rough texture will be “lifted” and smoothed after laser treatments.

However, a face with significant sagging and excess fat/skin will need a face lift procedure. In that same way, breasts with significant sagging and excess fat/skin will also need a surgical lift.

Pros and Cons of Non-surgical Alternatives for Breast Lift

The biggest appeal of non-surgical breast lifts is the little-downtime, minimal-recovery, no-scarring aspect of these procedures. Additionally, non-surgical options are often less expensive than traditional surgery. However, non-surgical alternatives cannot deliver the dramatic results that a traditional surgical lift can.

Non-Surgical Alternative Pros

Minimal downtime
Minimal recovery
Less expensive
Stimulated collagen and elastin production
Improved fine lines/breast wrinkles/smooths skin
Great for maintaining a “youthful” breast appearance
No incisions or scars

Non-Surgical Alternative Cons

Can only deliver subtle results
Cannot remove excess skin
Cannot remove excess fat
Must often be maintained with multiple treatment sessions

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Non-Surgical Breast Lift?

Women with minimal breast sagging or looking for subtle breast enhancements are ideal candidates for non-surgical breast lifts. Often, women who would otherwise receive a “donut technique” breast lift can achieve their desired results with non-surgical alternatives. However, any breast sagging/laxity more than “minimal” would benefit from a traditional surgical breast lift.

Curious About Non-Surgical Breast Lift Options? Contact Us to Learn More!

Ready to embark on your breast lift journey? Meet us at 19500 Sandridge Way, Suite 350, Leesburg, VA 20176, or call us at (703) 574-4342 for a complimentary consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Phillip Chang before moving forward with your procedure! If everything matches up, our team will help you navigate the entire process from beginning to end! Also, remember to check out our blog and social media for more information on plastic surgery and plastic surgery trends!

References

Breast Lift | American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Access date: 17 July 2023.
What Is the Best Age for Getting a Breast Lift? – Dr. Eric P. Bachelor — Access date: 17 July 2023.

Let Us Help You!

Our office can provide you with helpful information, schedule a free consultation, and walk you through the many services and procedures we provide.