The vertical breast lift (mastopexy) technique is for women with mild to moderate breast ptosis. With this technique a central, vertical key-hole incision is made. Often, the deep layer of the breast tissue is sutured together to shape the breast. Finally, the areola is slid into a higher position and the skin is closed around the areola and down the center of the breast. The final scar is like a lollipop, with a scar around the areola and straight down the center of the breast to the breast fold. On occasion, a small horizontal scar is placed in the inframammary fold to help smooth out the closure.

This technique typically does not cause puckering of the skin around the areola (as does the areolar breast lift), but it does leave the breasts very high and perky and the bases of the breasts are very tight and flat immediately after surgery. Within a few weeks from surgery, the breasts soften and begin to assume a nice appearance.