Incision Patterns and Ptosis Grade
유방하수 (Yubang hasu, breast ptosis) is graded using the Regnault classification, which measures how far the nipple has descended relative to the inframammary fold (the crease beneath the breast). Grade determines incision pattern — and incision pattern determines scar length, operating time, and price.
Grade 1 (mild ptosis): The nipple sits at or just below the fold. A periareolar (doughnut) incision — a ring of skin removed around the areola border — produces correction limited to 1–2 cm of lift. Scar is confined to the areola edge.
Grade 2 (moderate ptosis): The nipple sits below the fold but still faces forward. A vertical (lollipop) incision adds a straight line from the lower areola to the fold, allowing more significant tissue repositioning and reshaping of the breast mound.
Grade 3 (severe ptosis): The nipple points downward below the fold. An anchor (inverted-T) incision is required — the most extensive pattern, adding a horizontal scar along the inframammary fold. This technique provides the greatest degree of correction but carries the longest visible scarring.
Combined with implant: Augmentation mastopexy uses the Grade 2 or Grade 3 incision pattern in most cases, as the tissue envelope must accommodate both the repositioned nipple-areola complex and the implant pocket.
| Ptosis Grade | Incision | Scar Location | Degree of Correction | KRW Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 — Mild | Periareolar (doughnut) | Areola border only | 1–2 cm nipple elevation | ₩3.5–5M |
| Grade 2 — Moderate | Vertical (lollipop) | Areola + vertical line to fold | Moderate tissue reshaping | ₩4.5–6.5M |
| Grade 3 — Severe | Anchor (inverted-T) | Areola + vertical + horizontal fold | Maximum correction | ₩6–8M |
| Combined with implant | Vertical or anchor | As above, Grade 2 or 3 pattern | Lift + volume addition | ₩6–12M |
Korea’s aesthetic surgery sector draws from approximately 2,100 board-certified plastic surgeons registered with the 대한성형외과학회 (Daehan Seonghyeong Oegwa Haghoe, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons — KSPRS).¹ Board certification requires six years of medical school plus a four-year plastic surgery residency.² Verify any surgeon’s certification directly on the KSPRS public registry before booking.³
Candidacy: Lift Alone vs Combined Augmentation
The surgical decision is not simply “do I want a lift?” — it is “do I want higher, or higher and larger?” Getting this wrong means undergoing a second procedure.
Lift alone (mastopexy only): Correct for patients with sufficient breast volume who are satisfied with their size but experiencing ptosis due to post-pregnancy changes, weight loss, or ageing. The procedure repositions tissue and removes excess skin; breast volume does not increase.
Combined augmentation mastopexy: Correct for patients who want both a higher nipple position and additional volume. The surgeon must plan implant pocket depth and tissue repositioning simultaneously — competing forces that require careful intraoperative balance.
The key question to answer before consultation: Does your current breast tissue fill a cup size you are satisfied with, or does it feel deflated?
Often a good candidate
- Stable weight for 6+ months — significant fluctuation after surgery affects the result
- Completed childbearing, or comfortable with the understanding that future pregnancy will alter the outcome
- Ptosis confirmed at Grade 1, 2, or 3 on clinical assessment — nipple below or at the inframammary fold
- Realistic expectation: lift restores position, not the breast tissue of an earlier decade
- Non-smoker, or smoke-free for 6+ weeks — smoking impairs tissue perfusion and wound healing
Should reconsider or wait
- Planning future pregnancy — pregnancy after mastopexy can re-introduce ptosis and require revision
- BMI above 30 — excess adipose tissue increases anaesthetic risk and may reduce lift longevity
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring — longer incisions in anchor cases carry higher scar risk
- Wanting a very significant size increase with a severe ptosis correction — tension management becomes complex
Not a suitable candidate
- Active smoker who is unwilling to stop — necrosis risk at the nipple-areola complex is clinically significant
- Uncontrolled diabetes — wound healing is compromised and infection risk is elevated
- Breastfeeding within the past 3 months — breast tissue is still involuting and final volume is not yet stable
- Expecting to return to full activity within 2 weeks — insufficient recovery before international travel compounds complications
Cost in Korea and What’s Included
Three factors set the price of a breast lift in Korea: ptosis grade (which determines incision length and operating time), whether an implant is included, and implant selection if combined.
Lift alone (mastopexy): ₩3.5–8M (≈USD $2,600–5,900 / AUD $4,000–8,800). Grade 1 periareolar cases sit at the lower end; Grade 3 anchor cases sit at the upper end due to longer operating time and greater tissue work.
Combined augmentation mastopexy: ₩6–12M (≈USD $4,400–8,900 / AUD $6,600–13,200). Implant type — cohesive gel versus round versus anatomical — drives cost variation within the combined range.
Plastic surgery and dermatology collectively represent the largest share of procedures sought by international patients in Korea.⁴ Approximately 60% of medical tourists seeking aesthetic procedures concentrate in Gangnam-gu, where the majority of specialist breast surgery clinics operate.⁵
Standard inclusions to confirm with any clinic: anaesthesia, one night of post-operative monitoring, compression bra, first follow-up at day 7, and suture removal. Not always included: translation service, accommodation, airport transfer, silicone scar sheets (required from week 2), and second follow-up at day 12–14.
Request an itemised quotation in writing. FX reference: 1 USD ≈ ₩1,350, 1 AUD ≈ ₩920 (July 2026 — confirm current rate before budgeting).
Recovery and Minimum Seoul Stay
A breast lift produces longer incisions than augmentation alone — wound integrity before a long-haul flight requires a minimum 12–14 days in Seoul. Flying before clearance risks wound dehiscence (reopening), seroma (fluid accumulation), and deep vein thrombosis from cabin pressure changes.
Surgery performed under general anaesthesia. Drains may be placed for 24–48 hours to prevent seroma. Compression bra fitted immediately post-op. Rest in accommodation — no walking beyond essential movement.
Wound inspection, drain removal if not already completed, suture check. Surgeon assesses nipple-areola perfusion. Light walking permitted. No lifting above shoulder height.
Second check. If wound edges are intact and no signs of infection or seroma, surgeon issues clearance to fly. Silicone sheeting starts this week. Compression bra worn throughout the flight.
Soft supportive bra worn continuously until this point. Underwire and underwired sports bras reintroduced only on surgeon clearance — premature use can distort the healing breast mound.
Scars progress from pink/raised to flatter and paler. Silicone gel or sheets applied daily. SPF 50+ mandatory on any scar exposed to sun — UV exposure permanently darkens immature scar tissue. Hypertrophic response managed with steroid injection at 4–6 weeks if required.
Patients travelling from Australia should factor 14 nights minimum into itinerary planning for any mastopexy — combined or lift alone. Post-clearance scar management (silicone sheets, SPF) continues at home for 6–12 months; the clinic cannot manage this phase remotely unless a telemedicine follow-up protocol is agreed before departure.
Can I get a breast lift and implants at the same time in Korea?
Yes — augmentation mastopexy (simultaneous implant placement and lift) is performed routinely at Korean clinics. It is technically more complex than either procedure alone because the surgeon must plan both the implant pocket and the tissue repositioning simultaneously. The competing tension between the implant weight and the lift sutures requires experience to manage correctly. Request to see before-and-after portfolios specifically of combined cases — not just augmentation cases — before consenting. Combined procedure typically runs ₩6–12M depending on implant type and ptosis grade.
How much does a breast lift cost in Korea?
Lift alone (mastopexy without implant): ₩3.5–8M (USD $2,600–5,900) depending on ptosis grade and technique — anchor incision cases cost more than periareolar due to operating time. Combined augmentation mastopexy: ₩6–12M (USD $4,400–8,900) depending on implant selection. All-in from Australia (surgery + flights + 14 nights): approximately AUD $12,000–22,000 for combined mastopexy augmentation — below Australian pricing for the same combined procedure at private hospitals.
Will a breast lift in Korea leave visible scars?
All mastopexy incisions produce permanent scars — this is unavoidable. Scar visibility depends on incision pattern, individual healing, and post-operative care. Periareolar scars (at the areola border) tend to be least visible. Vertical/lollipop scars run beneath the areola to the fold — initially visible, gradually fading over 12–18 months. Anchor scars are most extensive. Korean surgeons use fine suture technique and tension-free closure to minimise hypertrophic risk. Consistent silicone gel and SPF 50+ application is the patient's responsibility — these significantly affect long-term scar appearance.
References
¹ KSPRS Board Certification Registry — total certified surgeons [ksprs-registry-total-certified] ² KSPRS Board Certification Registry — training requirements [ksprs-registry-training-requirements] ³ KSPRS Board Certification Registry — public verification [ksprs-registry-public-verification] ⁴ KHIDI Medical Tourism Statistics 2024 — top specialties [khidi-2024-stats-top-specialties] ⁵ KHIDI Medical Tourism Statistics 2024 — Gangnam concentration [khidi-2024-stats-gangnam-concentration] ⁶ KHIDI Medical Tourism Statistics 2024 — total patients and YoY growth [khidi-2024-stats-total-patients] [khidi-2024-stats-yoy-growth]