A Benelli Lift is one of the more common breast lift techniques for those who are not seeking extensive breast enhancement. Designed for women with smaller breasts, the Benelli Lift involves the removal of tissue positioned around the areola. This tissue is doughnut-shaped and accounts for the alternative name for the procedure, the Doughnut Lift.

The Benelli Lift remedies mild sagging that may occur in small breasts due to breastfeeding, aging or extensive participation in sports. It is generally not a recommended treatment for women who want full breast augmentation or a significant change in the look of the breasts. This breast lift involves making an incision near the areola and removing excessive skin tissue. The area just outside of the nipple is then sutured. In some cases, breast implants accompany the Benelli Lift. In other cases, the removal of the excessive skin tissue results in a rounder shape and more elevated breasts.

The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and patients are given general anesthesia. The recovery period following a Benelli Lift extends for several weeks and includes bruising and swelling. The removal of sutures occurs after 2 weeks, after which activities such as work may be resumed. It can take up to a month to return to more strenuous physical activities. Surgery scars heal across several months and are eventually only minimally visible.