A breast lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes sagging breasts by removing loose skin, tightening the tissue beneath and moving the nipple higher. It does not add volume; an implant can be combined when upper fullness is wanted. Dr. Chowdhury Rashedul Mughni performs breast lift surgery in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, where the incision pattern follows the degree of sagging. Every lift leaves scars, and this page explains them honestly.
Reviewed by Dr. Chowdhury Rashedul Mughni, BMDC reg. A 41174. This page is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for in-person clinical assessment by a qualified plastic surgeon. Treatment decisions depend on individual factors that can only be evaluated during a consultation with Dr. Mughni. In his words: “The first step is to accept that, without scar no surgery is possible.”
To find out whether a breast lift suits your body and your plans, you can arrange a consultation with Dr. Mughni at EKAGRA Health, Dhanmondi.
What is a breast lift (mastopexy)?
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is surgery that raises sagging breasts by removing excess skin, tightening the supporting tissue and repositioning the nipple and areola.
The medical term for sagging is breast ptosis. It develops when the skin and internal support of the breast stretch over time. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight change and ageing are the usual causes, and most women experience some combination of them.
A lift changes shape and position. It does not make the breast bigger. Women who want more fullness in the upper breast often combine the lift with an implant. A lift is one of several procedures within Dr. Mughni’s breast surgery service, and the right choice depends on what the breast needs: lifting, volume, reduction, or a mix.
How is the degree of sagging graded?
Surgeons grade sagging by where the nipple sits relative to the fold under the breast, called the inframammary fold.
The standard Regnault system has three grades plus one variant:
| Grade | Where the nipple sits | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 (mild) | Level with the breast fold | Small lift, short scars may be enough |
| Grade 2 (moderate) | Below the fold, but not the lowest point of the breast | Moderate lift, often a vertical scar |
| Grade 3 (severe) | Below the fold and pointing downward | Larger lift, often an anchor-shaped scar |
| Pseudoptosis | At or above the fold, with the breast tissue hanging below | Lower breast reshaped; plan set at assessment |
Grading is done in person, because breast size and skin quality also shape the plan.
Which incision pattern is used?
The incision pattern follows the degree of sagging: the more the breast has dropped, the longer the scar needed to lift it properly.
• Crescent lift. A small crescent of skin is removed above the areola. It gives only a minimal lift, for very mild sagging or slight nipple asymmetry, and the scar can widen.
• Donut (periareolar) lift. The incision runs only around the areola. It suits mild sagging, where the nipple needs to move up by no more than about 2 cm.
• Lollipop (vertical) lift. The incision circles the areola and runs straight down to the breast fold. It can be used for any grade and avoids a scar in the fold itself.
• Anchor (Wise pattern) lift. The lollipop incision plus a horizontal scar hidden in the breast fold. It is used for severe sagging or where the skin is thin and stretched.
A smaller incision than the breast needs is a false saving: a 2002 survey of surgeons reported more revisions after periareolar-only lifts than after vertical or anchor patterns.
Lift only or lift with an implant?
A lift alone suits women happy with their size; an implant is added when the upper breast has lost fullness.
| Lift only | Lift with implant | |
|---|---|---|
| What it changes | Shape and nipple position | Shape, nipple position and volume |
| Suits | Enough breast volume, sagging skin | Volume lost after pregnancy or weight loss |
| Upper breast fullness | Not added; breast lifted | Added by the implant |
| Scars | Per incision pattern | Same patterns as a lift alone |
| Complexity | Lower | Higher: two goals in one operation |
| Cost range (2026) | From BDT 140,000 | From BDT 160,000 |
Combining both goals adds complexity. In a published meta-analysis of 4,856 single-stage lift-with-implant operations (Khavanin and colleagues, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2014), the pooled complication rate was 13.1% and the reoperation rate 10.7%, while sagging returned in 5.2%. These figures come from published surgical literature, not from any single practice. Women weighing implants can read more on breast augmentation with implants.
Who is a good candidate?
A good candidate is healthy, at a steady weight, does not smoke and has finished pregnancy and breastfeeding or plans around them.
Surgery is postponed during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, because hormonal changes alter the breast and can affect the result. Women who plan more children can still have a lift, but a future pregnancy can stretch the breast again. After major weight loss, the skin is often thin and loose, which usually calls for a longer incision pattern.
Some conditions need control before elective surgery: uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders, active infection and poor wound healing. Active smokers are not suitable candidates, and stopping well before surgery is required. Untreated breast cancer rules out cosmetic breast surgery, and a mammogram may be advised beforehand depending on age and history.
If you hope to breastfeed later, say so at consultation. Difficulty with future breastfeeding is a recognised risk, covered in detail on breastfeeding after breast surgery. Some mothers combine a lift with abdominal surgery, as explained in the post-pregnancy body reshaping guide.
What does recovery look like?
Most patients return to desk work after about one week, avoid strenuous activity for two weeks and resume intense exercise around weeks 4 to 6.
• First week. Soreness, bruising and swelling peak, then ease. The breasts feel tight and firm, and nipple sensation may be dulled or oversensitive. A surgical bra is worn through the week, and someone should take you home and stay the first night.
• Weeks 2 to 3. Stitches are removed in stages if they are not dissolvable. Scar care usually begins around week 3, and itching around healing scars is common. Lifting, heavy housework and driving wait until cleared.
• Weeks 4 to 6. A supportive bra continues. Gentle exercise builds toward normal activity.
• Months 3 to 12. The shape settles and softens into a more natural look. Nipple numbness, when present, usually fades, though it can last a year or longer.
A full stage-by-stage plan is on the breast surgery recovery timeline.
What are the risks of a breast lift, and how are they managed?
Every lift carries surgical risks, and the one every patient will have is a scar.
Named risks include bleeding or fluid collection, infection, changes in nipple and breast sensation, uneven nipple position or shape, wound-healing problems and, rarely, loss of blood supply to the nipple. Over time the lower breast can drop again, known as bottoming out. The lift itself lasts, but ageing, gravity and weight change continue to act on the breast.
Scars deserve the most honesty. They start red or pink, stay that way for many months and fade most by around one year. Keloids, raised scars that grow beyond the wound, are more common in darker skin, including people of Asian descent; published estimates put keloid incidence at 4.5% to 16% in darker-pigmented populations. Tension on a wound raises the risk of thick scarring.
Management starts in the operating room: incisions planned to sit where clothing covers them, closure without excess tension and careful control of bleeding. After surgery, scar care with silicone and pressure, when advised, and protection from sun help the scar mature well.
How much does a breast lift cost in Bangladesh?
In 2026, a breast lift with Dr. Mughni starts from BDT 140,000 for a lift alone and from BDT 160,000 with an implant. The upper end of the range is around BDT 220,000.
The final figure depends on consultation. It varies with the grade of sagging, technique, first operation or revision, anaesthesia type and hospital stay. Pre-operative tests are billed separately by the diagnostic centre. Payment is usually made in stages: at booking, on the day of surgery and after surgery. A full breakdown is on the breast surgery cost guide for Bangladesh.
Dr. Mughni’s approach to breast lift surgery
His approach puts the scar first and weight management second.
Dr. Chowdhury Rashedul Mughni notes:
“The first step is to accept that, without scar no surgery is possible. Post-surgery weight management is very important.”
In his consultations, the scar comes before size or shape. Where will it sit? How long before it fades? What does the patient need to do for it? Only once the scar is accepted does the plan move on. Weight comes next: a lift reshapes the breast on the body as it is today, and a large gain or loss afterwards changes it again. Dr. Mughni prefers a natural shape that suits the patient’s frame over an exaggerated one, and no plan is agreed before a full discussion of what the surgery can and cannot do.
Why patients choose Dr. Mughni for a breast lift
Patients choose Dr. Mughni for verifiable training, more than twelve years specialising in plastic surgery and plain answers about scars and limits.
His qualifications, society roles and career are set out on Dr. Mughni’s professional profile. Patients describe their own experience on the patient testimonials page.
Where is breast lift surgery performed?
Consultations and breast lift surgery are available at both of Dr. Mughni’s chambers in Dhanmondi.
EKAGRA Health in Dhanmondi is the primary chamber, at Wahab Point, Floor 7, House 13, Road 2. The second is the Cosmetic Surgery Centre on Satmasjid Road, at Shankar Plaza, 72 Satmasjid Road. Surgery takes place at the chamber and its admitting hospital. For consultation enquiries, the number for both chambers is 01842-182545, also on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a breast lift cost in Bangladesh?
With Dr. Mughni in 2026, a lift alone starts from BDT 140,000 and a lift with an implant from BDT 160,000, up to around BDT 220,000. The final figure depends on consultation, because the grade of sagging, technique, anaesthesia and hospital stay all change the cost. Pre-operative tests are billed separately.
How long after pregnancy should I wait for a breast lift?
Wait until you have stopped breastfeeding and your breasts and weight have settled. Surgery is not done during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because hormones change breast tissue. If more children are planned, a future pregnancy can stretch the breast again. Dr. Mughni advises on timing for each patient at consultation.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift?
It may be possible, but difficulty with breastfeeding after a breast lift is a recognised risk, and no surgeon can promise either way. If you plan to breastfeed in future, tell Dr. Mughni at consultation. Your plans for children are part of the history taken before any breast surgery is recommended.
Will a breast lift leave scars?
Yes. Every lift leaves scars, and their length follows the incision pattern: around the areola, down to the breast fold, or also along the fold. Scars stay pink for months and fade most by about one year. Darker skin has a higher tendency to thick or raised scars, so scar care matters.
Do I need implants with a breast lift?
Not always. A lift reshapes and raises the breast but does not add volume. If you are happy with your size, a lift alone is often enough. If the upper breast has emptied after pregnancy or weight loss, an implant restores fullness. Combining the two adds complexity, which is discussed at consultation.
How long does a breast lift last?
The result is long-lasting, but the breast keeps ageing. Gravity, future pregnancy and weight change can bring some sagging back over the years. In a published review of combined lift-and-implant operations, sagging returned in about 5%. Keeping a stable weight after surgery is the most useful thing a patient can do to protect the result.
How long is recovery from a breast lift?
Most patients return to desk work after about a week. Strenuous activity waits at least two weeks, and intense exercise around four to six weeks. A supportive bra is worn for four to six weeks. The breast shape keeps settling over several months, and scars continue to mature for about a year.
A breast lift restores form to a breast changed by time, pregnancy or weight. It cannot avoid a scar, and it lasts longest when weight stays stable. A consultation with Dr. Mughni in Dhanmondi is the place to discuss whether it is right for you.
Read the medical disclaimer.