Sharing all about my breast lift (mastopexy) and reduction surgery.
My Breast Lift and Reduction Surgery
On January 20, 2026, I finally got a procedure I had wanted to get done since having children: a breast lift (mastopexy.) In this blog post, I’m going to do my best to cover it all, from why I chose to get this procedure, how I found my surgeon, all the way up until the bras I’m loving now, 3 months post surgery.
Why I Decided To Get Surgery
I think it goes without saying, but I’ll say it: my breasts were lifeless. All jokes aside, it’s true: after pregnancies, breastfeeding, weight loss, and just general ageing, my breasts were not full, they were laying flat (I had no upper fullness anymore), and I was getting tired of not feeling sexy. Getting dressed was limiting, because I could really only wear a handful of styles of clothing, I had no real cleavage anymore (unless I ‘smooshed’ my breasts together uncomfortably in some sort of bra) and don’t get me started on bathing suit shopping – how depressing!
But let’s back up. More than anything, I was suffering from an identity crisis. In my adolescence all the way up until the end of my breastfeeding journeys, I had large breasts. I went to college wearing a 36DDD that was always a little snug, so I’m not even sure what my true bra size was. When I was pregnant and breastfeeding, I was over a 36F. Then, when I was done with having babies, my 34D barely fit, but the excess skin from the weight fluctuation required the D cup size. Long story short, I was left with breasts I didn’t recognize or understand – I only knew how to handle large breasts and now, I felt unrecognizable.
And yes, I am so proud of my body for breastfeeding all four of my children. I was blessed in that my body produced enough milk to exclusively nurse for 14-16 months per child (even tandem nursing twins!) I am still in awe of how powerful and life-giving women’s bodies are. However, that doesn’t mean I have to like the way this body looks and feels now. Two things can be true at the same time. I lived 30 years of life before I became a mother, I still want to honor and nurture the woman that came before the mother.
How I Chose My Surgeon and Surgery Timing
The “right time” to get this kind of surgery totally depends on everyone’s life stage and needs. Personally, I wanted to wait until my kids were old enough where I didn’t need to help them with basic needs (getting in and out of bed, getting dressed, using the potty, eating, etc.) I didn’t want to layer on guilt onto my recovery. Plus, I don’t have family nearby to help and my husband is gone 7am-7:30pm (or later) everyday, so everything in this household falls on me during the week.
Thus, for me, 4.5 felt like a good age for my youngest to consider surgery. A few months after their 4th birthday, I knew they’d be starting full day nursery school, so I scheduled a consultation. The story of how I chose my surgeon is simple: I went for a facial in my town’s spa and the lovely woman who owned the place mentioned her friend who just got a breast lift done locally and was so happy. I researched the surgeon, loved her mentality, her before & afters, and because I’m responsible for 4 kiddos, I wanted to stay local. Living where I live, most people go to New York City for surgery, but all of the follow up appointments would be difficult if I had to get there, so I chose New Jersey.
At our consultation, I got a good gut feeling. The surgeon was female, which was important to me. I wanted someone who has had boobs (and more specifically, has had children.) I just felt a comfort level knowing that my surgeon has experienced the body shifts and understood breasts from a female POV. That’s just me (plenty of my friends have had male surgeons and also adore their results!)
In the car ride home from the consultation, I called my mother, asked her if she could stay with me for a few days after surgery, she said yes, and I called the doctor’s office right back and booked the appointment! I knew if I didn’t do it that minute, I’d talk myself out of it. I didn’t feel a need to go to other consultations, I agreed with the doctor’s vision. She pinched up my skin in front of that mirror and said, “We’re just going to remove all of this extra skin and pull the breasts up!” and I almost cried in relief – my scrunched up breast looked perky and round! Also, she didn’t feel that I needed implants, because I had enough solid breast tissue to use, which was also important to me: I didn’t want breast implants. One of my breasts was slightly larger than the other (as most women’s are!) and she also told me I’d need a small reduction in that breast to match the size of the other one.
My surgeon was Dr. Alexis Parcells, the surgery was in Old Bridge, NJ at a surgery center, and all of my appointments were out of her Spring Lake office.
Preparation Leading Up to the Surgery & Post Surgery Must Haves
There’s not much you need to do prior to surgery, except all of the “pre op” appointments/tasks. Aside from bloodwork and surgery clearance (done with my general practitioner), I was able to do everything virtually.
Three weeks prior to surgery, I stopped drinking alcohol, had to stop taking certain vitamins and supplements, and started preparing for that week. There are some items I purchased to make the post-surgery recovery experience better:
- Button down shirts (you can’t lift your arms above your head for 6 weeks and it’s also extremely difficult mobility-wise to get yourself in and out of clothing for the first 1-2 weeks, so you’ll want some cute button down shirts to wear around and out.) I lived in flowy pants and button downs for 2 weeks.
- Wedge pillow: my doctor recommended I sleep upright as much as possible (to reduce swelling) and I could not have done it without this pillow.
- Extra compression bras: I actually recommend purchasing these the day of your 1 day post op appointment, just in case you get sizing wrong. Your surgeon/nurse will tell you what size you are. But when you do order them, these are the best!
- Juven recovery drink: I swear by this – not only did I enjoy the drink, I really felt like bruising and incision closure was much better thanks to this drink. I drank it for a full 2-2.5 weeks!
- Abdominal gauze pads: you’ll need this during recovery to go over your breasts and under your compression bra.
- Under boob incision cloth: I used these once I was able to ditch the full-blown gauze. They kept my incisions from rubbing against my bra and just made me feel more comfortable.
In addition, I made sure I had proper help lined up. My mother came into town for a few days to help me with driving (the first week is tough/unsafe to drive, as you’re so tight and you really should have T-rex arms as much as possible – and rest!) Also, I moved things around my house so that I wouldn’t need to reach up for them. For instance, my plates and bowls are in a cabinet above my head, so I put them in a lower cabinet. And as a gentle reminder – no shame in the paper plate game! The less work you have to do (washing dishes, lifting, etc), the better for your recovery.
The Day of Surgery
Nerves were high! I couldn’t believe the time was finally here! To be honest, the surgery itself didn’t scare me, it was the general anesthesia. Once I got over those jitters, surgery day was a breeze. My biggest advice is definitely follow their advice when it comes to wearing comfortable, loose, baggy sweatpants/bottoms. I chose a pair of joggers and the waistband was sliiightly snug and the nurse had to pull my pants up after using the bathroom post-op, because you’re so tender afterwards. Aside from that, I showered in the morning, wore my glasses (no contact lenses!), and followed all of the pre-op instructions (you have to wear an anti-nausea patch, take anti-nausea medication, not drink or eat prior, etc.) It’s a major surgery!
My mother drove me to the surgery and then they took me right in and got me prepped for surgery. This is when my surgeon came in to see me, tell me about what to expect, and ask me if I had any last minute questions. She took a Sharpie and marked up my chest for where she’d be making the incisions and that was wild – it really made me feel like I was about to have a life changing surgery! After that, she said her goodbyes and they brought me into the OR. I remember answering a few questions and then the anesthesia kicked in and I don’t remember a thing. The total surgery took about 2-2.5 hours.
My mother picked me up from surgery, and she has a funny video of me talking – I was so out of it! I just remember the ride from the surgery center back home (which was about 45 minutes) was uncomfortable. I was still majorly out of it from the drugs, and I felt a sharp “cutting” pain in the middle of my chest – it felt like someone had hidden a tiny razor in between my breasts. Every bump on the road was a little painful (nothing major, but worth mentioning in this post.)
When I got home from surgery, I basically ate a tiny meal and went to sleep.
You can watch my recap here:
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Breast Lift Recovery Timeline
Overall, recovery from breast lift and reduction surgery is manageable. In comparison, a couple of years ago, I had a hernia surgery (right above my belly button) and that was much more uncomfortable and painful (I had to take the narcotics for that!) Now, I didn’t have drains, so I can’t comment on that. In general, the toughest part of recovery is not being able to lift your hands above your head and being restricted in movement for the first week especially. The surgeon and nurses will tell you to have “T-rex arms” for the first couple of weeks so that you don’t stretch your incisions and risk splitting them open and delay healing. You also can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for the first few weeks. When you have children, it’s especially tough! Again, this is another reason why I waited so long to have this surgery – I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t have any guilt around not picking up my babies. They totally understood and were very helpful in recovery!
Week 1
- This goes without saying, but Days 1-3 are the hardest. You feel very “tight” and for me, those first 24 hours were tough because I had a compression bandage wrapped around me (to help with swelling) and it was giving me that “tiny razor” feeling. Also, you’re so tense from the T-rex arms that your shoulders are essentially up to your ears and it causes some upper back and neck soreness (I ended up going to my favorite nail salon 1 week post-op to get a shoulder massage, because it was so sore!)
- You’ll have a post-op appointment the next day. At this appointment, they took off my surgical tape, changed my gauze, gave me my compression bra size, and just checked to make sure everything was healing properly. I got to see my new breasts! Warning: they look crazy, don’t panic! They are swollen and will be “stuck” to the side and higher up on your chest plate due to muscle contractions and that swelling. Despite all of this, I was in awe: I couldn’t believe they just stood there on their own!! My incisions were minimal and my nipples looked great (I was worried they would look odd, but they don’t even look like they were changed at all – they fit my breast perfectly!)
- My biggest advice during this time is to rest. Your body needs to use every cell to heal. I overdid it on day 2 and 3 because my kids were all home sick with a vicious virus (go figure!) and I was so tired.
- Note: your spouse/parent/friend will have to assist you at first in getting your compression bra on and off. You are so tight that you barely want to move your arms, so I had Lu help me with this every morning before he went to work. I’d shower, change my gauze, and put on a clean compression bra. It was the best part of my day, haha!
- After day 3, I stopped the sponge baths and took a shower with my chest wrapped in Saran Wrap. This was a pain in the butt, but it only lasted for the first week and then you’re able to shower normally.
- I didn’t need the narcotics/pain medication, but I did use Tylenol regularly for about 5-7 days.
- I got a blowout, since there was no way I was able to do my hair!
Changing gauze: a little note about what worked best for me! My doctor recommended that I place gauze over my breasts every day for comfort and to absorb any fluid that may drain out of my breasts or blood. I did have some fluid drain out a bit in the beginning (not much, just a little spot for the first week.) To make this easier, I taped 3 pieces of abdominal gauze together so I could place it over my breasts as one piece, instead of trying to hold the different gauzes in place while I put my compression bra on. This was a tricky dance, and the taping of the gauze made it much easier!
Week 2
By the start of the second week, I definitely felt like myself again. I was able to drive, although my arms were still mostly pinned to my sides. The hardest part, again, is doing this as a mother and having to take care of your children. Luckily, my kids were very helpful and understanding – they carried their own backpacks to school, helped me do the dishes after dinner, and opened all of my heavy doors and cabinets.
You’re also able to shower regularly, which was nice. I was also able to get myself in and out of the compression bra by week 2. There was some bruising that peaked around this time, right at the bottom corner of my breasts, near my rib cage.
Week 3
At 3 weeks, I had another post-op follow up appointment. At this appointment, they trimmed my sutures that were poking out, told me I didn’t need to wear gauze anymore, and could stop sleeping upright if I still was. I ditched the wedge pillow!
During this week, I felt more range of potion was possible, I didn’t feel so tight, my mid back pain went away once I was able to finally relax my shoulders, and I started wearing more “regular clothes” (I would put on shirts gingerly, careful not to lift my hands above my head.) Also, I was able to do my hair myself, still carefully, but I didn’t need to go for any blowouts anymore (I did about 2 of those and they were nice little treats!)
Week 4
By this week, I was really jonesing for a workout! I was craving a sweat, but my doctor really discouraged any major exercise (especially sweating) until 6 weeks, so I started walking 10,000 steps a day during this week. I was still wearing a compression bra, and I’d walk on a treadmill (or outside) for 45 minutes. It was just the blood pumping activity I needed! It’s hard not to work out, especially because at this point, although you’re still tender, you feel like you can easily exercise.
During this week, my bruising had disappeared, and my scabs were still formed, but just starting to fall off.
Week 5
During this week, the last of my scars went away, and I started applying a silicone scar cream. I’d apply it morning and night and use a small vibrating tool on my incisions, per the recommendation of the surgeon.
This week, I started stepping up my exercise with some lower body movements after my walks. I did mostly squats and lunges (with no weights) and some unweighted hip bridges. It felt great to get my heart rate up a bit!
Week 6
At 6 weeks, I had my final post op follow up appointment. Dr. Parcells came to see me, make sure everything looked good, and we took some after photos. I was (and still am) thrilled with the results! Right after this appointment, I headed to SOMA to get fitted for proper bras, measuring at a 34C. It felt so exciting to try on regular bras for the first time and see fullness on the tops of my bra again!
Here are some of my favorite bras to wear now:
- Triangle bralette
- Demi cut underwire bra (I have only worn this once, as the doctor advised avoiding underwire as much as possible in the first 6 months)
- Mesh bralette
- Athleta bralette (has some compression in it, which feels nice)
- Longline bra – this makes me feel very secure, I actually wear it for working out and leisure
And around 8 weeks, I switched over to scar tape to put on my incisions before bed/after a shower. The adhesive isn’t too firm, so it’s comfortable to take off – and I’ve noticed a huge positive change in my scars.
You can watch more about my recovery here on Instagram:
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Breast Lift and Reduction Scars and Final Thoughts
The #1 question I get about this surgery is, “How are the scars?” I’ll admit, I was very nervous about the scarring. I’ve had stretch marks on my breasts since I was 13, and I thought adding more scarring would make me feel even more self conscious about it. However, the lift is so good and makes your breasts look so round and perky, I don’t even notice the scars! The scars are more minimal than I thought they would be – I was bracing for it! The scars are an anchor scar, so they cut around your nipple, down and under your breasts. However, the line is very thin and with time, it will turn white and fade. My friends who have had this surgery before have shown me their scars and I couldn’t even see a line after a couple of years!
As someone who was self conscious going into it, I have to say, I am so happy with the scars – the ones that you would see head on are barely visible now and the ones under my breasts are not even visible head on. The recommendation next is to go for microneedling, which I plan to do in the fall.
Most importantly, I am just thrilled with the experience. I’ve never felt more confident with my body, it’s so exciting to shop for clothes, I can fit into the cute dresses I was never able to fit into, and I’m no longer nervous to lean over in fear of someone seeing my wrinkly saggy boobs! Bathing suit shopping no longer brings me to tears, and I feel so much less matronly in clothing. Having a large chest has its benefits, but I’m so happy to enter my manageable boob era. I couldn’t recommend this procedure anymore – and if you’re worried you’re going to hate the scars, you must not hate your boobs enough, because even if my scars weren’t great, I would still be so happy that I have perky, youthful looking breasts again.
I hope this posts answers all the questions you’ve had, and feel free to leave a comment with any follow-up questions, and I’m happy to get back to you!