A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure designed to correct sagging breasts and improve their overall shape. Over time, gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, and the natural aging process can affect the firmness and position of the breasts. A breast lift helps raise the breasts, remove excess skin, and restore a more harmonious appearance to the silhouette.
At Clinique Contour, Dr. Stephen C. Nicolaidis specializes in implant-free breast surgery, including breast lift, explantation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, and fat transfer breast augmentation.
Expertise developed through breast explant surgery
Breast lift surgery plays an important role in Dr. Nicolaidis’ practice. His expertise has developed in parallel with breast explant surgery, which involves the removal of breast implants and their surrounding capsule.
As of May 2026, he has performed more than 1,400 explant surgeries. Based on his large clinical experience, which has been presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgery Meetings in 2020 and 2022, approximately 95% of explant patients also require simultaneous breast lift in order to achieve a more harmonious breast shape after implant removal.
This experience has allowed him to develop an in-depth understanding of breast tissue, breast sagging, and the surgical challenges that can arise after [many] years with implants.
When a breast lift would have been more appropriate
In some cases, these patients already had a sufficient amount of natural breast tissue. Rather than performing a breast lift, part of their natural breast tissue was removed and replaced with implants in an attempt to create more volume or a lifting effect.
This approach can complicate the situation later on. When these patients wish to have their implants removed, whether due to discomfort, complications or symptoms of breast implant illness (BII), the breast lift can become more difficult to perform. The previous removal of natural breast tissue can sometimes limit the possibilities for reshaping the breasts after explant surgery.
Why a breast lift serves a different purpose than implants
When breasts are sagging, the main concern is not always a lack of volume. It may instead involve the position of the nipples, skin quality, excess skin, or the distribution of breast tissue.
A breast lift is designed specifically to address these concerns. It aims to raise the breasts, reposition the tissues, and improve breast shape without the use of breast implants.
For someone whose main concern is sagging, adding implants may sometimes make the breasts heavier. Over time, this additional weight can contribute to further tissue descent and may lead to discomfort in the neck, shoulders, or back.
A personalized consultation
Each patient has a different anatomy, surgical history, and set of goals. A consultation makes it possible to assess the degree of sagging, tissue quality, previous surgeries, and aesthetic expectations.
In Montreal, Clinique Contour offers a personalized approach to breast lift surgery, in line with Dr. Nicolaidis’ expertise in breast explant surgery and his implant-free practice.
Learn more about breast lift surgery
To learn more about this procedure, visit our complete page on breast lift surgery. You will find detailed information about indications, surgical techniques, the procedure itself, recovery, and postoperative instructions.