Breast Lift (Mastopexy) in Toronto
Our expert surgeons combine advanced techniques and personalized care to enhance your natural beauty. We focus on making sure you get long-lasting results and an easy recovery.
We prioritize not just the outcome but also your comfort and recovery.
Using the latest Health Canada-approved techniques
Surgery Time
1 – 3 hrs
Recovery
1 – 6 weeks
Final Results
6 months
From
$10,500+
What a Breast Lift Does
Whether due to aging, pregnancy, or weight changes, many women experience sagging that cannot be fixed with bras or exercise alone.
A breast lift, or mastopexy, removes loose skin, tightens the tissue underneath and moves the nipple and areola to a higher position on the breast. A stretched areola is made smaller at the same time.
It does not change your cup size. It removes loose skin and lifts your existing tissue so the breasts sit higher and look rounder and fuller at the top, but it adds no volume. To also go larger, a lift is combined with implants or fat transfer. To go smaller, it is combined with a breast reduction.
A breast lift is usually considered for:
- Sagging after pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Loose skin following significant weight loss
- Nipples that point downward or sit below the breast crease
- Breasts that have lost their shape or firmness with age
- Uneven breast shape or mild asymmetry
- Enlarged or stretched areolas
Surgery takes two to three hours under general anesthetic and you go home the same day. Most patients are back at a desk job within one to two weeks. The breasts sit high and firm at first, then settle over three to six months into their final shape.
Do You Need a Lift, Implants, or Both?
This is the question most consultations start with, and there is a simple way to check before you book one. Find the crease underneath your breast, then look at where your nipple sits in relation to it.
- Above the crease. An implant alone will usually give you what you want. See breast augmentation.
- Level with the crease. Borderline. An implant may be enough if your skin quality is good, but a small lift often gives a better shape.
- Below the crease. You need a lift. An implant on its own adds weight to a breast that is already sitting low, which makes the droop more obvious rather than less.
- Pointing downward. You need a lift, and probably a full one.
Volume is the second question, not the first. Once the lift is planned, your surgeon will tell you whether tightening the tissue you have will give you the fullness you want across the upper breast, or whether an implant or fat is needed to get there.
Breast Lift Before & After Photos
Results from our own patients, photographed at three months or later.
Three Decisions When Planning a Breast Lift
1
Lift pattern
Your surgeon will recommend a lift pattern based on how much skin has to be removed:
Periareolar (donut). A circular incision around the areola. It leaves the least scar and produces the least lift, and suits mild sagging and a stretched areola.
Vertical (lollipop). Around the areola and straight down to the crease. It handles moderate sagging and gives the most control over breast shape.
Anchor (Wise pattern). Around the areola, down to the crease, and along the crease itself. It leaves the most scar and produces the most lift, and is needed for significant sagging or loose skin after weight loss.
2
Nipple and areola position
Your surgeon marks the new nipple position while you are standing, because the position changes when you lie down. The target is level with the crease beneath the breast, which reads as natural both in a bra and out of one. A nipple set too high looks operated and cannot be corrected afterwards, so this mark is deliberately conservative.
If your areola has stretched, it is reduced during the same operation. Most patients do not realise this is included until they ask.
3
Whether to add volume
A lift moves volume upward but does not create it. If you want fullness across the upper breast, that comes from an implant or from grafted fat.
This is decided before surgery, since adding volume later means a second operation.
Breast lift alone
A breast lift on its own rebuilds the tissue you already have into a higher shape. Loose skin is removed, the remaining tissue is tightened and repositioned, and the nipple is moved up. A stretched areola is reduced at the same time.
Your cup size does not change, although most patients find bras fit better and look fuller because the volume has moved upward. Surgery takes approximately two to three hours, and most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks. Breast lift surgery starts at $9,800.
Breast lift with implants
A breast lift with implants rebuilds the shape while an implant adds volume, particularly across the upper breast where a lift on its own can leave you flatter than you want.
This is a more demanding operation than either procedure alone because your surgeon is tightening the skin envelope and filling it at the same time, and those two goals pull against each other. Some surgeons stage it across two operations. We usually perform it in one, and your surgeon will tell you at consultation if staging is safer in your case.
Breast lift with fat transfer
Fat is taken from your abdomen, flanks or thighs through liposuction, cleaned, and grafted into the breast during the lift. Because it is your own tissue, the result feels and moves naturally, while the donor area is contoured at the same time. You may also see this called fat grafting.
Fat transfer adds about half a cup size because the amount that can be transferred is limited and not all of the fat will survive. What it does well is soften the upper slope so the result looks less operated. Surgery takes approximately three hours, and the procedure requires small liposuction incisions.
Internal Bra Breast Lift in Toronto
Skin is not a reliable long-term support. In a standard lift, the reshaped tissue is held in position largely by the skin envelope, and skin keeps responding to gravity. This is why some lifts settle more than others over the following years.
An internal bra addresses that. A soft mesh or tissue matrix is placed inside the breast during the lift to support the reshaped tissue from within, taking tension off the skin. Your body grows its own collagen through the material, which leaves a stronger internal framework behind.
McRae PlastiGalaflexc Surgery Podcast
A soft, mesh-like scaffold that supports the breast tissue while you heal. Over roughly two years your body absorbs it and replaces it with your own collagen.
It is not yet fully approved in Canada, so we use it through Health Canada’s Special Access Programme. This is the material used most often in lifts, augmentations and revision surgery where extra long-term support is the goal.
Alloderm
In use longer and fully approved in Canada. It is made from donated human tissue that has been treated to remove all the cells, leaving only the strong supporting layer.
It is heavier duty, and we use it mainly in complex revision and reconstruction cases where more structural support is needed.
Who it suits
- Moderate to severe sagging, where a standard lift would be working against a lot of weight
- Thin or poor quality skin that is unlikely to hold the correction on its own
- A previous breast surgery where the implant has dropped or the lift has settled
- Anyone whose main concern is how long the result will last
An internal bra is not a separate operation. It is added to your lift, and the decision is made at consultation once your surgeon has assessed your skin and tissue. A breast lift with internal bra support at our practice starts from $15,500+ depending on the material used, surgical complexity and whether implants or fat transfer are included.
It does not remove the need for a lift pattern, and it does not remove your scars. What it does is give the reshaped tissue something stronger than skin to hold onto.
Our Surgeons' Approach to Breast Lift Surgery
Every patient has different anatomy and goals. Dr. Mark McRae and Dr. Matthew McRae provide surgeon-led care from consultation through recovery, beginning with a detailed assessment of your skin quality, breast tissue, nipple position and the distance from your collarbone to the nipple.
Every recommendation begins with your safety, anatomy, goals, and whether surgery is genuinely the right option for you.
Rather than using the same approach for every patient, they select from the full range of mastopexy patterns, along with the nipple position, incision and level of internal support that best suit your body. A vertical lift on a breast that needs an anchor will not hold, and an anchor on a breast that only needed a vertical leaves a scar you did not need.
Dr. Mark McRae
MD, FRCSC · Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Mark McRae is board-certified in Canada and the United States and is an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital.
He specializes in facial and breast surgery, with a focus on precision and natural-looking results. His training includes Cornell University, Yale School of Medicine, New York University and a craniofacial fellowship at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Matthew McRae
MD, FRCSC · Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Matthew McRae is a board-certified reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon in Toronto. His aesthetic practice includes breast surgery, facial surgery and male chest contouring.
He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto and previously directed the Plastic Surgery Residency Program at McMaster University. His training includes Cornell, Yale, the University of Toronto and the Buncke Clinic in San Francisco.
Who This Surgery Suits
- Your nipple sits at or below the crease under your breast, or points downward.
- Your weight has been stable and you are in good general health.
- You are finished having children, or you accept that a future pregnancy will change the result. Breastfeeding stretches the tissue again, and a lift does not prevent that.
- You do not smoke, or you can stop six weeks before surgery and stay off it six weeks after. Nicotine narrows blood vessels, and in a lift that matters more than in most operations because the blood supply to the nipple has to be preserved.
- You understand that this operation trades scars for shape, and you have decided the shape is worth it.
This may not be the right procedure if your main concern is size rather than position, if you are hoping to avoid scars entirely, or if you are still planning a pregnancy in the near future.
What the Day Looks Like
- Before
Nothing to eat or drink after the time you are given. Your surgeon marks you standing up, because the whole plan depends on where things sit under gravity, and confirms it with you while you are awake. - Anesthetic
General, given by an anesthesiologist. You are asleep for the whole procedure. - Surgery
Two to three hours, longer if implants or fat transfer are included. Excess skin is removed, the tissue underneath is tightened and repositioned, and the nipple is moved to its new position while staying attached to its own blood supply. - After
A few hours in recovery, then home in a post-surgical bra. An adult needs to drive you and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
Week by Week Recovery
Days 1–3
The first 24 hours are mainly about allowing the anesthetic and other medications to clear your system. Rest, take your prescribed medication and keep activity light. Nausea, tightness, swelling and lower energy are normal during early recovery.
Week 1
Continue resting and avoid lifting, strenuous activity and unnecessary upper-body movement. Some patients with desk-based jobs may return to work within the first week, but others need more time depending on their energy and discomfort.
Weeks 2–4
Most patients feel significantly better around the two-week mark, although recovery between two and six weeks varies. Light daily activities can gradually resume, but avoid chest exercises, upper-body workouts and running during the first month. If you had fat transfer, continue following instructions for your compression garment and donor areas.
Week 6
If your incisions have healed well, you can usually return to exercise, swimming and more strenuous activities. Introduce activity gradually, listen to your body and wear a supportive bra during vigorous exercise.
Week 8–12
By around eight weeks, most patients feel close to their usual energy level. Swelling continues to settle, so wait until this stage before purchasing new bras or judging your final size.
Months 3–12
Your breasts continue to soften and settle as swelling decreases and scars mature. Results generally become more stable between three and twelve months. Follow-up appointments allow your surgeon to monitor your healing throughout the first year.
How Our Surgeons Protect Nipple Sensation and Manage Scars
The surgical technique is selected partly to protect the nerves that supply the nipple. That nerve reaches the nipple from the side of the chest wall, so the lift pattern and the way the tissue is repositioned are both chosen with it in mind, which is one reason the most aggressive pattern is not used when a lesser one will hold the correction.
Scars are managed from the planning stage rather than afterwards. Incisions are closed in layers to take tension off the skin, and you are given a taping and silicone protocol at your first follow-up.
During your consultation, your surgeon will explain the steps used to protect nipple sensation and how your scars will be monitored through the first year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a breast lift change your breast size?
A breast lift does not change your cup size. It removes loose skin and lifts your existing tissue so the breasts sit higher and look rounder and fuller at the top, but it adds no volume. To also go larger, a lift is combined with implants or fat grafting. To go smaller, it is combined with a breast reduction.
Do I need a breast lift or just implants?
Find the crease under your breast and see where your nipple sits. Above the crease, an implant alone will usually achieve what you want. At or below it, you need a lift. An implant placed on a breast that is already sitting low adds weight without raising anything.
How painful is breast lift recovery, and how long does it take?
Most patients describe a breast lift as tightness and soreness rather than sharp pain, controlled with medication for the first few days. A typical timeline is light walking immediately, driving at about one week once off prescription painkillers, desk work in one to two weeks, and exercise or lifting children at four to six weeks. Swelling settles over several weeks and the final shape appears over three to six months.
What is included in the cost of breast lift surgery in Toronto?
The cost includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, use of an accredited surgical facility and postoperative care. Breast lift surgery starts at $10,500 and runs to around $15,500 depending on the lift pattern, whether internal support is used, and whether implants or fat transfer are included. During your consultation our team will explain the expected costs based on your personalized treatment plan. Check our pricing page.
Does OHIP cover a breast lift in Toronto?
OHIP does not cover a breast lift, because a procedure done to enhance appearance is treated as cosmetic rather than medically necessary, and the same applies to private extended health insurance. Please contact our office for an estimate based on your goals and objectives.
What is an internal bra breast lift, and do I need one?
An internal bra is a soft mesh or tissue matrix placed inside the breast during a lift to support the reshaped tissue from within, rather than relying on skin alone. It is added to your lift rather than performed instead of one. It is most useful where the tissue is heavy, the skin quality is poor, or a previous lift has settled. Your surgeon will tell you at consultation whether it is worth adding in your case.
Can you breastfeed after a breast lift?
Many women can breastfeed after a breast lift, because techniques that keep the nipple attached to the underlying tissue usually preserve the milk ducts and nerves. It cannot be guaranteed, so tell your surgeon before surgery if you plan to nurse, so the approach can be chosen to protect that ability.
Do you lose nipple sensation after a breast lift?
Temporary changes in nipple sensation are common after a breast lift and usually recover over weeks to months. Permanent loss of sensation is uncommon and is more likely with larger lifts. The surgical technique is selected partly to protect the nerves that supply the nipple.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift?
Many women can breastfeed after a breast lift, because techniques that keep the nipple attached to the underlying tissue usually preserve the milk ducts and nerves. It cannot be guaranteed, so tell your surgeon before surgery if you plan to nurse, so the approach can be chosen to protect that ability.
Contact Us
- Address (St. Michael’s Hospital): 30 Bond Street, Martin Family Center, B1 (Ground Level), Donnelly Wing, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 416-638-3499
- Email: info@mcraeplasticsurgery.com
- Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4 PM, Friday: 8 AM – 3 PM, Saturday – Sunday: Closed
- Fax Line for Referrals: 416-637-7608