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3 Types of Breast Lift Incisions: What’s the Difference?
While every breast lift surgery involves removing stretched-out tissue and elevating the breasts into a higher position on the chest to address sagging, there is more than one way to accomplish these results. There are several incicions used for breast lifts at St. Louis’ West County Plastic surgeons, with each option providing maximum benefits while minimizing the resulting scar.
Patients who do not need much of a lift typically undergo a procedure that involves minimal incisions. More dramatic results, however, require longer incisions.
Here is a look at the three types of incisions used by the plastic surgeons at our practice:
Periareolar Incision
If you know your word roots, you may be able to figure out that this incision name refers to a circle made all around the darker-pigmented tissue that surrounds the nipple, known as the areola. This circular incision can be enough to provide the plastic surgeon with access to the necessary tissues for some patients, and the resulting scar is hidden in the pigmentation change at the areola’s border. Note that this incision is rarely used for lifting as the elevating benefits are minimal, though it is used to decrease areola size.
Vertical Breast Incision
The “next level” of incision—for patients who need a more significant lift with more tissue removed—involves the creation of a vertical line that runs downward from the periareolar circle. Because of this incisions’s shape, it is often referred to as a “lollipop” incision. Since the cut is made along the underside of the breast, the resulting scar is not visible in almost any type of clothing—including bras.
“Wise” Incision
The incision that allows the most access is known as the Wise pattern, with lines extending to the right and left from the bottom of the vertical line of the “lollipop” technique. These incisions form a curving horizontal line along the lower breast crease. If you were to envision the overall look of the incision, it resembles an anchor, which is the nickname for this approach. A significant amount of tissue can be removed and the breast can be lifted more dramatically on the chest, with the horizontal scar essentially hiding in the crease below the breast.
Choosing the right incision for you is an important part of the breast lift process—but it’s not a decision you’re making on your own. Your plastic surgeon will guide you with recommendations after consulting with you, taking your medical history, examining your breasts, determining the degree of sagging to be addressed, and more.
Contact the team at West County Plastic Surgeons for more information about breast lift surgery, including the necessary incisions. Call 314.996.8800 or send a message online.

If you have questions or would like to book a consultation with one of the surgeons at West County Plastic Surgery, please call (314) 996-8800.