Breast Lift in Denver
Lift, reshape, and feel like yourself again with Dr. Aline Rau
What is a breast lift?
If your breasts have dropped after kids, nursing, or weight loss, a breast lift (mastopexy) puts them back where they belong. The procedure removes excess skin, reshapes the breast tissue, and moves the nipple to a higher, natural position. It restores lift and shape without adding volume.
Dr. Aline Rau, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Amavi Aesthetic Surgery in Denver, performs breast lifts as a standalone procedure or combined with augmentation or reduction.
If your breasts look full in a bra and deflated without, whether it is after breastfeeding, GLP-1 weight loss, or time, a breast lift is the procedure designed to fix exactly that.
What happens during a breast lift procedure?
A breast lift is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Aline Rau removes the excess skin, reshapes and lifts the breast tissue, and repositions the nipple and areola higher on the breast. If the areola has stretched, she can reduce it at the same time so it stays proportional to the new shape.
Where will my breast lift incisions be?
The incision is customized to how much sagging and excess skin you have:
Periareolar: around the edge of the areola, for a mild lift
Vertical, or "lollipop": around the areola and down to the breast fold, for moderate sagging
Anchor, or "inverted T": around the areola, down, and along the fold, for significant sagging or a large amount of excess skin
Dr. Aline Rau will advise you at your consultation which incision type fits your anatomy and why.
Do I need implants with a breast lift?
A standard lift reshapes and repositions. If you have also lost fullness, especially at the top of the breast, Dr. Aline Rau can build it back into the same surgery in one of three ways: by rearranging your own breast tissue (auto-augmentation), with fat grafting or alloClae for natural volume, or with implants for the most volume and projection.
Which one is right for you depends on your anatomy and the look you want. Dr. Aline Rau will help you choose the right option at your consultation.
How long does breast lift recovery take?
A breast lift is an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. Most patients are doing light activity within a few days, avoid lifting for four to six weeks, and wear a support bra for six weeks. Swelling improves over 6 to 12 weeks, and scars keep fading for 6 to 12 months. Here is what to expect, phase by phase:
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Days 1 to 3: Rest, support bra on
Home the same day in a soft support bra; we see you the next day. Tightness and soreness more than sharp pain. Sleep propped on your back, with short walks around the house.
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Days 4 to 7: Light activity
Most patients are off prescription pain medication within a few days. Light daily activity is fine. No lifting, pushing, or reaching overhead yet.
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Weeks 2 to 4: Desk work and driving
Back at a desk job by the second week, driving once off prescription pain medication. Walking for exercise is fine; the support bra stays on.
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Weeks 4 to 6: More activity, still no lifting
Lower-body workouts come back. Still no heavy lifting, no running, and no chest or upper-body exercises until Dr. Aline Rau clears you.
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Week 6 and beyond: Cleared for exercise
Dr. Aline Rau clears most patients for full workouts around six weeks. The support bra comes off and underwire is allowed again.
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Weeks 6 to 12: Swelling settles
Swelling keeps improving and the breasts soften into their lifted position. This is when your bras and necklines fit the way you pictured.
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Ongoing: Continued support
Follow-ups at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months, and 1 year, with 24/7 aftercare access in between. Scars keep fading for 6 to 12 months.
Want the full breakdown? Read our guide to what to expect during recovery from cosmetic surgery
What will my breast lift scars look like?
Every breast lift leaves a scar, and the honest answer is that a well-placed scar is the trade for a breast that sits where it should.
The scar traces the edge of the areola, where the change in skin color hides it, and, depending on how much lift you need, may continue in a thin vertical line down to the breast fold and along the crease beneath it. None of it shows in a bra, a swimsuit, or a low neckline.
Scars change a great deal in the first year. Expect the lines to look pink and slightly raised for the first few months, then flatten and fade over six to twelve months.
Our team will guide you on scar care at your follow-up visits so each line heals as thin and light as possible.
Am I a good candidate for a breast lift?
Most healthy women whose breasts have dropped or flattened at the top are candidates for a breast lift. A quick check at home: if your nipple sits at or below the crease under your breast, a lift is usually the answer.
Dr. Aline Rau will give you an honest answer at your consultation.
A breast lift may be right for you if:
Your breasts look full in a bra and deflated without one
Your nipples sit at or below the breast crease, or point downward
You are done with pregnancy and breastfeeding, or at a stable weight after weight loss
You are a non-smoker in good health with realistic expectations about scars
Wait on a breast lift if:
You are planning a future pregnancy or still breastfeeding
Your weight is still changing, including while a GLP-1 dose is being adjusted
Your main goal is a size change. Depending on whether you want to go up or down in size, a breast augmentation or a breast reduction is something you may want to discuss with Dr. Aline Rau
After pregnancy or weight loss
Nursing and significant weight loss, including on GLP-1 medications, often leave the breasts loose and empty at the top.
Once your weight is stable and you are a few months past weaning, a lift removes that extra skin for good. Many mothers pair it with a tummy tuck as a mommy makeover.
Read more about loose skin after GLP-1 weight loss.
Explore real breast lift results in our Before & After Gallery
Why Choose a Female Plastic Surgeon for Your Breast Lift in Denver?
Many women in Denver specifically seek out Dr. Aline Rau because of the advantages a woman-to-woman approach brings to breast surgery:
A shared perspective: As a female plastic surgeon and a mother of two, Dr. Aline Rau understands how pregnancy, breastfeeding, and time change the breasts, and what "I just want them back where they were" actually means.
Candid conversation and discretion: Our women-owned practice is a private, discreet space where you can say exactly what bothers you about your breasts without feeling awkward about it.
A personalized, boutique experience: As a female-led practice, we closely guide your entire journey, from your first consultation through your final post-op visit.
Your Questions About A Breast Lift, Answered
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A breast lift is an outpatient procedure. Most patients are doing light activity within a few days, back at a desk job within about two weeks, and cleared for full workouts around six weeks. You wear a support bra with no underwire for six weeks and avoid lifting for four to six weeks. Swelling improves over 6 to 12 weeks, and scars keep fading for 6 to 12 months.
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Yes, every breast lift leaves a scar, but it is placed where it hides: around the edge of the areola and, depending on how much lift you need, in a thin line down to the breast fold and sometimes along the crease. Nothing shows in a bra, swimsuit, or low neckline. Scars look pink and raised for the first few months, then flatten and fade over six to twelve months.
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Most patients describe the first few days as tight and sore rather than sharply painful, and are off prescription pain medication within a few days. The support bra helps more than people expect. Soreness eases day by day, and by the second week most women are back to a desk job and daily routines.
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A breast lift reshapes and raises the breast while keeping nearly all of the breast tissue, so your cup size stays about the same. A breast reduction removes breast tissue and weight to make the breasts smaller, and includes a lift as part of the procedure. If your breasts are heavy and cause neck or back pain, a reduction is usually the right option. Learn more about breast reduction in Denver.
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During a breast lift the nipple stays attached to the tissue beneath it, which protects blood supply and, for most patients, sensation. Some numbness in the first weeks is common and usually resolves. Many women can still breastfeed after a lift, but no breast surgery can guarantee it, which is one reason Dr. Aline Rau recommends waiting until you are done having children.
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The cost depends on the incision pattern you need and whether you combine the lift with implants, fat grafting, or another procedure. Dr. Aline Rau reviews all of this at your consultation, and you leave with a personalized quote for your exact plan. Financing options are available; see our financing page for details.
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A breast lift is long-lasting, and most patients enjoy their results for many years. The breasts will still age, and pregnancy, breastfeeding, or large weight changes can stretch the skin again. Keeping a stable weight and wearing a supportive bra during exercise helps the result hold. A lift can be revised later if life changes the shape again.
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Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons patients come to see us now. Rapid weight loss, on your own or with medications like Ozempic or Zepbound, often leaves the breasts deflated with loose skin. Dr. Aline Rau asks that your weight has been stable for about six months first, so the result you get is the result you keep.
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Breast Lift Guides & Resources
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Book a consultation with Dr. Aline Rau, a board-certified female plastic surgeon in Denver, and explore your options for a personalized breast lift.
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Serving Denver & The Rocky Mountain Region
Amavi Aesthetic Surgery is conveniently located in the heart of the South Denver corridor. We are proud to serve patients throughout the Greater Denver Metro area,
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