A breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. Sagging breasts result from poor skin tone, stretching of ligaments during pregnancy and breast-feeding, weight changes and the aging process. These conditions are correctable with the same basic operative procedure and thousands of women each year undergo successful surgical alteration of their breasts. Elevating the nipple to a more acceptable position creates a shapelier breast. Sometimes during uplift operations, a surgeon places a small implant to add extra support and shape to the breast. New techniques in plastic surgery aim to reduce the length of incisions and scars involved in breast lifts and reductions. In traditional techniques, doctors make incision lines around the areola, down the bottom center and horizontally under the breast and resulting in an "anchor scar." Modern methods limit the incisions to either just around the areola (small circular scar) or around the areola and down the center of the breast resulting in a "lollipop scar." Physicians close all incisions in multiple layers in order to minimize the widening of the scars.