Breast Lift Costs, Financing and Insurance Guide

Factors such as age, gravity, childbirth and other circumstances can change the shape and appearance of the breasts, leading to sagging, drooping and wrinkling, among other conditions.¹ A breast lift is a solution to consider. Learn how a breast lift can help restore your breasts' appearance and boost your confidence.

What Is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgery to tighten, lift and reshape breasts, typically by removing excess skin, tissue and even occasionally muscle.¹ It may be done on its own or with other breast procedures such as a breast augmentation or a more comprehensive mommy makeover.²

A breast lift can do many things in addition to tightening and lifting, such as making the breast appear more symmetrical or changing the way it faces, removing extra skin — even making the breast appear more rounded.¹

That said, a breast lift will not drastically change the shape of the breast. To increase or decrease breast volume requires additional procedures, such as a breast augmentation or breast reduction.¹

Good Candidates for Breast Lifts

While anyone who wants to change the shape or firmness of their breasts can consider a breast lift, some criteria make a person a better candidate than others. You may be a good candidate if:³

• You are in good physical health and your weight does not fluctuate.

• You are not a smoker, which can have negative impacts on recovery.

• Your breasts are either flat and elongated or large and droopy.

• Your nipples fall below the breast crease when not supported.

• Your nipples and/or areolae point down.

• Your breast skin is stretched and/or your areolae are enlarged.

• Your breasts are not symmetrical.

Types of Breast Lifts

There are different approaches to a breast lift, depending on the goals of the patient and the condition of the breasts. We've outlined the most common types of breast lifts below.⁴

Anchor lift

An anchor lift incision, the most invasive technique, is for people who have a significant degree of sagging that can't be helped by a less invasive technique. This incision runs the perimeter of the areola, straight down from the areola to the breast crease and then horizontally beneath the breast crease.

Donut lift

The donut lift, or Benelli lift, is for people with moderate sagging and involves a single incision around the perimeter of the areola.

Crescent lift

This less commonly used lift — which, as the name suggests, involves a crescent-shaped incision along the areola — is most often done in conjunction with a breast augmentation and for people with less sagging. It can lift the nipples and/or correct nipple asymmetry.

Lollipop lift

The lollipop lift is for people with moderate sagging who don't want breast implants. The incision runs around the areola and then down close to the breast crease.

Scarless lift

The term “scarless" is something of a misnomer, as there are still incisions made. However, this technique is often done in conjunction with other techniques, such as laser liposuction or specialized sutures. Scars are more minimal than with other lift techniques.

Vampire lift

The vampire lift is not a surgical procedure in the same way as a typical breast lift. The vampire breast lift utilizes injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which comes from your body's blood. After drawing your blood, it's spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, which are injected into the breasts. PRP therapy is thought to increase collagen and elastin production, among other things, and may give breasts a fuller or more lifted appearance.⁵

How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?

Breast lifts range in price, often quite widely, depending on such factors as your plastic surgeon's experience level, where the practice is located, what type of breast lift you're having and your anesthesia type.

The average cost* of a breast lift is around $8,128, though it can range from $3,950 to $14,500.⁶ Here are the average costs* for some popular types of breast lifts.⁶ Note: These do not include such items as facility fees, anesthesia fees, surgical supplies and other costs.⁶

Breast Lift Costs by State/Region

Here are the average costs* for a regular breast lift by state or region across the United States.⁶

Does Insurance Cover Breast Lifts?

Most health insurance companies do not cover breast lifts,⁷ but many surgeons will offer patient financing, such as the CareCredit credit card.

Breast Lift Consultations

As with any cosmetic procedure, it's important to have realistic expectations of what a breast lift can do for your body. When you consult with a plastic surgeon for the first time, you'll want to come with surgical goals and listen to what the surgeon feels will work for your body. You can also expect to discuss such things as:⁸

• Medical conditions, allergies and treatment options

• Your current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use

• Past surgeries

• A family history of breast cancer, previous mammograms or biopsies

Your surgeon will also likely assess your overall health and any underlying conditions that may affect your eligibility for surgery, as well as discuss the effects of anesthesia and/or concerns for recovery.⁸

How Does a Breast Lift Work?

Even before you come in for your surgery, you will likely have to begin preparing for the big day several weeks in advance by:⁹

• Having lab tests to establish your overall state of health

• Adjusting some medications

• Obtaining a baseline mammogram

• Stopping anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin to reduce the chance of bleeding

• Quitting smoking

Since you will likely receive general anesthesia, you will also need to arrange for a driver to and from the surgery, who can stay with you for at least one night after surgery.⁹

Breast Lift Procedure

A breast lift is a surgical procedure, which will most likely be done in an outpatient surgery center or hospital setting.⁹ The procedure will follow a similar process as other surgeries, and includes:¹⁰

• Anesthesia. Depending on the surgical option, you may be given either intravenous anesthesia or general anesthesia (which puts you to sleep) to keep you from feeling pain during the procedure.

• Incisions. Once you are numbed or asleep, the surgeon will make the incisions that align with the type of breast lift you're receiving.

• Reshaping of the breasts. After the incisions are made, the surgeon will lift, cut and reshape the tissue to improve shape and firmness. They will also shift the nipple and areola to a higher or more youthful position.

• Closing incisions. Once the surgeon is done, they'll insert sutures to close the incisions and allow healing. Most surgeons aim to make scars as minimal and subtle as possible, but some scarring will be visible.

Breast Lift Potential Risks and Side Effects

Every surgery comes with possible side effects, even though many of these are minimal and surgeons work to avoid them. Some of these side effects include:¹¹

• Scarring. Most breast lift scars will fade over time and are typically hidden beneath bras and other clothing.¹⁰

• Changes in nipple or breast sensation. Some loss of feeling can occur, and most of the time resolves, but it is possible for the loss of sensation to be permanent.

• Asymmetrical breasts. As breasts heal, breast size and shape can change. Also, a breast lift doesn't radically alter preexisting breast size.

• Partial or total loss of nipples or areolae. Damage to the nipple or areola as a result of blood supply being stopped during surgery is rare.

• Bleeding, infection or reactions to anesthesia. Any surgery brings with it a chance of bleeding that persists after surgery, infection and reactions to anesthesia.

Breast Lift Recovery Timeline

After your surgery, you’ll be given a special postsurgical bra that is essential to wear as your surgeon advises.¹² You may also have a temporary drain placed below the skin in the form of a small, flexible plastic tube that collects excess blood and fluid.¹³ You will most likely be given pain medication and possibly antibiotics.¹³ Mild numbness and discomfort are normal within the first week or so.¹²

You will be discouraged from engaging in any vigorous activity for several weeks, including bending and lifting, and should sleep on your back. Your surgeon will give you specific time frames for returning to daily activities.¹²

Some surgeons recommend you avoid smoking, consuming alcohol or exposing your breasts to the sun until you are further along in your recovery. Ultimately, you will want to heed whatever advice your surgeon tailors to you.¹²

Financing a Breast Lift With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for breast lifts and related expenses not covered by health insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Paypal, The Washington Post and more.