Doughnut Mastopexy is a type of breast lift surgery that involves less skin removal and results in a significantly faster recovery time than breast lift surgery performed with the standard “anchor” technique. The scarring from doughnut mastopexy occurs around the circumference of the nipple and areola, and is often less noticeable than the vertical scars from the standard technique. It should be noted that the doughnut technique may not be a good option for women with larger breasts.

Reasons for Considering a Doughnut Mastopexy

If you have small, sagging breasts are the best candidates for doughnut mastopexy, which may not be suitable for all breast types. Often, if your breasts are too large or sagging considerably, this form of breast lift surgery will not be appropriate. However there are still breast lift surgery options for you, such as the standard anchor shape incision, which works well with most breast types which can provide additional support after your surgery. Talk to your doctor to find out if you are a candidate for the doughnut mastopexy technique, or if another surgical approach is better suited to your individual needs.

General Procedure

When performing a doughnut mastopexy, the breast lift surgeon first makes two circular incisions around the circumference of the areola. The doughnut-shaped area of skin is then removed and the remaining skin is reattached to the areola.

Depending on the size of the two concentric circles removed, there may be considerable difference in the circumference of the areola and the amount of adjacent skin to be re-attached. For this reason, there may be some wrinkling of the skin around the nipple following a doughnut mastopexy. Although this is one of the risks of breast lift surgery, most patients consider the benefits of a breast lift to to significantly outweigh the chance of wrinkling around the nipple.

In some cases, a surgeon may recommend the “ lollipop incision” technique, which involves making an additional vertical incision on the breast. Talk to your doctor to find out more about doughnut mastopexy, the lollipop incision technique, and other breast lift options.

Recovery Process

After your surgery is completed, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. You’ll need to wear an elastic bandage or support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts as they heal.