Am I a Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?

You’re usually a good candidate for a breast lift if sagging is your main concern and you’re a nonsmoker in good general health with a stable weight. If you’re still actively losing weight or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed again soon, it’s often wiser to wait, as future weight fluctuations and hormonal changes can stretch the skin and alter your breast volume.

If your goal is to feel more comfortable in clothing and more confident with your breast shape without necessarily getting “bigger,” this guide will help you determine when to get a breast lift.

Signs You Need a Breast Lift

Common signs that you could benefit from a breast lift include:

• Nipples that sit at or below the breast crease
• Nipples that point downward
• Large, heavy breasts that cause discomfort
• A flat or elongated breast shape, especially after breastfeeding or massive weight loss
• Areolas that look stretched
• Excess breast skin

A breast lift addresses ptosis (sagging) in the breasts by raising the breasts higher on the chest wall and repositioning the nipples and areolae, if needed. This procedure also removes redundant skin and shapes the remaining tissue to improve the breast contour.

What Health Factors Matter Most for Breast Lift Candidacy?

The most important factors are your:

• Overall health
• Ability to heal well
• Readiness for anesthesia
• Weight stability

I also look closely at your nicotine use because it can interfere with circulation and wound healing.

If you’re wondering about the recommended BMI for breast lift, there is no universal cutoff. However, a BMI above 30 is associated with increased anesthesia complexity and a higher risk of complications. For safer and more predictable results, I typically recommend you wait until you are within 10 to 15 pounds of your goal weight and have maintained that weight for at least 3 to 6 months.

Can You Still Breastfeed After a Breast Lift?

Your ability to breastfeed can’t be guaranteed after surgery, but with careful surgical planning, you might be able to nurse in the future. Breastfeeding depends on intact milk ducts, gland tissue, and nerve supply, and any breast surgery can affect one or more of those structures, depending on the technique used and your anatomy.

I recommend waiting to get a breast lift after breastfeeding, as pregnancy and lactation can change your breast volume and stretch the skin, which can affect both your surgical outcome and how long your results last.

When Is the Right Time After Pregnancy or Breastfeeding?

In most cases, the right time for a postpartum breast lift is after you’ve completely finished breastfeeding and your breast size has stabilized. For many patients, this means waiting about 6 months after stopping breastfeeding, since hormonal changes and volume fluctuations can continue for several months once nursing ends.

If you did not breastfeed, surgeons typically recommend waiting until breast size has remained stable for several months after pregnancy before considering surgery.

Am I a Breast Lift Candidate After Significant Weight Loss?

You would be a good candidate for a breast lift after weight loss if you are healthy, bothered by skin laxity and a “deflated” breast appearance, and not actively losing weight. The key is being weight-stable long enough that we can shape the breasts around the size you expect to maintain.

Can You Get a Breast Lift With Existing Implants?

In most cases, yes, you can get a breast lift after a previous breast augmentation. If you like your current volume and the implants are in good condition, the lift focuses on repositioning the nipple and tightening the skin and breast envelope over the implant.

If you want a different size or shape, or if the implants are older or no longer a good fit for your goals, we may recommend an implant exchange at the same time as the lift.

Scenario	Recommendation	Why This Plan Works
You like your current implant size and the implants are in good condition, but the breast tissue has drooped	Breast lift + keep implants	Addresses nipple and skin position while preserving current volume and implant choice
Minimal sagging and nipple position are acceptable, but you want a different implant size/type	Breast lift + implant exchange	Corrects sagging and updates implants for goals or maintenance
You want more upper-breast fullness than you have now, in addition to lifting	Breast lift + augmentation (new implants or fat transfer)	Adds volume and fullness while lifting and reshaping breast tissue
Minimal sagging and nipple position are acceptable, but you want a different implant size or type	Implant exchange only (possibly no lift)	Changes implant characteristics without unnecessary lifting if the position is already good

If you’re deciding whether you need lifting, more volume, or both, see Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift: How To Decide. For a broader overview of your breast enhancement options, our blog post, Bigger, Smaller, Perkier: 6 Types of Cosmetic Breast Surgery To Consider, can be a helpful resource.

When To See a Breast Lift Specialist in St. Louis

Consider scheduling a consultation if breast sagging affects your clothing fit, confidence, or comfort, such as strap grooving or under-breast irritation. It’s also important to consult a specialist if you have implants and are considering whether to keep them, exchange them, or add augmentation to a lift.

At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, our patients benefit from the expertise of a team of board-certified plastic surgeons with 75-plus years of combined experience. We offer a full range of breast procedures in-house, including breast lift, augmentation, reduction, revision, and fat transfer. This breadth matters because the “right” plan often depends on nuanced decision-making, such as shape versus volume, scar strategy, implant status, and long-term stability.

Breast Lift FAQ

Will a breast lift affect mammograms?

A breast lift does not prevent accurate mammograms, but it can change how images are taken and interpreted. Because nipple position and internal tissues are repositioned, and scar tissue may be present, it’s important to tell the imaging center about any prior breast surgery so they can select the appropriate views.

Can a breast lift improve asymmetry?

A breast lift can often improve nipple height differences and mild shape asymmetry. If volume differences are part of the issue, we can discuss additional options.

What is the best age for a breast lift?

There is no single “best” age for a breast lift. Timing and candidacy are based more on weight stability, health status, and life stage factors, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding, than on age.

What should I bring to my breast lift consultation?

Bring a list of the medications and supplements you are taking, your surgical history, your goals, and any implant records you have if you’ve had prior breast surgery. Feel free to bring before-and-after photos that help illustrate your aesthetic goals.

Take the Next Step

If you’re weighing whether a breast lift is right for you, a consultation is the best way to get an accurate answer. Request a consultation using the online form or call St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery at (636) 530-6161 to schedule your visit.