Many women find that after pregnancy, weight loss, or the natural aging process, their breasts lose both their youthful position and their fullness. While a standard lift addresses sagging, it doesn’t add volume. Conversely, an implant alone can sometimes make sagging look worse.
This is where the Breast Lift with Implants (clinically known as Augmentation Mastopexy) comes in—a “gold standard” procedure that restores both shape and size simultaneously.
Understanding the Procedure: Why Both?
A Breast Lift with Implants is a combination surgery designed for patients who have “ptosis” (sagging) but also want to increase their cup size or restore upper-pole fullness.
The Breast Lift (Mastopexy): Removes excess skin and tightens the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. It also repositions the nipple/areola to a more youthful height.
The Breast Implant (Augmentation): Adds volume and “projection” to the breast, filling out the newly lifted skin envelope.
Am I a Candidate for Augmentation Mastopexy?
You might be an ideal candidate for this combined procedure if you experience:
Breast Sagging: Your nipples point downward or fall below the breast crease.
Loss of Volume: Your breasts look “empty” or deflated, especially at the top.
Asymmetry: One breast is lower or smaller than the other.
Post-Pregnancy Changes: You want to restore your pre-baby silhouette.
The Surgical Approach: How It Works
Combining these two surgeries requires high surgical precision. The surgeon must balance the weight of the implant with the newly tightened skin.
1. Incision Techniques
The incision pattern depends on the degree of sagging:
Periareolar (Donut): Around the areola. Best for mild sagging.
Vertical (Lollipop): Around the areola and down to the breast crease. Best for moderate sagging.
Inverted-T (Anchor): Around the areola, down to the crease, and along the crease. Best for significant sagging and larger implants.
2. Implant Placement
In most combined cases, the implant is placed submuscularly (under the pectoral muscle). This provides extra support for the implant and helps prevent future sagging by using the muscle as a “shelf.”
The Benefits of a Combined Procedure
One Recovery Period: Instead of two separate surgeries months apart, you undergo one anesthesia session and one healing phase.
Superior Results: Addressing volume and gravity at the same time often leads to a more harmonious and “perky” aesthetic than doing them separately.
Customized Symmetry: It allows the surgeon to meticulously match the height and volume of both breasts.
Recovery and Long-Term Care
Recovery from a Breast Lift with Implants is slightly more involved than a simple augmentation.
Support: You will need to wear a medical-grade support bra for 4–6 weeks to ensure the skin heals tightly around the implants.
