Breast Lift With Implants in Are You a Good Candidate for Breast Lift with Augmentation?
You are likely a good candidate for combining these procedures if:
- You would like your breasts to have more volume
- Your breasts have begun to sag lower on your chest
- Your nipples have lost their outward projection
- You are in good health overall
- You have realistic expectations about what plastic surgery can achieve
During a consultation, Dr. Raj not only assesses your candidacy, but also listens to the concerns you have about your breasts so that he can devise a surgical plan to help you attain those goals. If he feels that it is not necessary to combine a breast lift and breast augmentation to achieve your desired breast profile, he may suggest a different approach.
Benefits of Combining a Breast Lift and Augmentation
Combining these procedures allows patients to address both volume loss and sagging in one surgery. Rather than undergoing two separate operations, you benefit from a single anesthesia event and one recovery period. A lift alone improves positioning, while implants restore fullness and enhance projection, particularly in the upper breast.
The combined procedure can improve overall proportions, enhance symmetry, and create a more youthful contour. For many women, addressing both concerns simultaneously produces more comprehensive and longer-lasting aesthetic improvement than performing either surgery alone.
What Do Breasts Look Like After a Lift Without Implants?
A breast lift by itself repositions sagging tissue, elevates the nipples, and tightens stretched skin to create a firmer, more youthful contour. However, it does not significantly increase breast size or restore the fullness lost over time. In some cases, breasts may appear slightly smaller after a lift because excess skin has been removed and tissue has been reshaped. While the breasts sit higher and look perkier, patients who have experienced pregnancy, weight loss, or age-related volume loss may still notice a lack of upper pole roundness. Women who desire both lift and added fullness often find that combining augmentation with mastopexy better achieves their goals.
Mastopexy Procedure Details
Before your mastopexy with implants, Dr. Raj provides anesthesia so that you can rest comfortably during the surgery. He then removes a small amount of skin from the breast to create a lifting effect. He also makes a pocket beside each pectoralis muscle, where he inserts the breast implants. Dr. Raj can also adjust the positioning and projection of the nipples to give them a more youthful, perky appearance. Altogether, the surgery usually lasts a few hours.
Implant Placement and Incision Options
During a combined breast lift and augmentation, surgical technique plays an important role in achieving balanced, natural-looking results. Implants may be placed either beneath the chest muscle or directly behind the breast tissue. Submuscular placement often provides additional upper pole coverage and support, while subglandular placement may create more pronounced fullness in select patients.
Incision patterns vary depending on the degree of sagging present. Options may include a periareolar incision around the nipple, a vertical incision extending downward, or an anchor-shaped incision for more significant ptosis. The approach is customized to your anatomy and goals to create optimal shape, symmetry, and support.
Recovery from Breast Lift with Augmentation
Focus on resting in the days after your surgery, taking the medication Dr. Raj has prescribed to alleviate lingering discomfort. Most patients take one to two weeks off work before they feel well enough to return. Limit your physical activity to give your breasts time to heal and postpone all strenuous exercise for at least six weeks.
Dr. Raj provides you with a compression bra to wear at all times — except when bathing — to accelerate the healing process, improve the results and limit swelling. The bruising and swelling should gradually subside in the weeks to follow. Dr. Raj will schedule multiple follow-up appointments to ensure you are progressing safely and successfully.
The appearance of your breasts will gradually improve in the months after surgery, with full results visible after approximately three to six months. While scarring is an inevitable part of having breast lift with implants, your scars should become less prominent with time.
Costs of Breast Lift/Breast Implants
The price of combining these procedures depends on the size and type of breast implants chosen (silicone and saline), as well as the extent of the breast ptosis that needs to be addressed. During your consultation, Dr. Raj will provide a more complete cost breakdown so that you can make an informed decision. Raj Plastic Surgery accepts financing through CareCredit if you would like to make payments toward the total cost of the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift With Implants
Will I still need a lift in the future if I choose only implants now?
Breast implants alone don’t prevent sagging. If your skin continues to stretch over time due to aging, weight changes, or pregnancy, you may require a lift in the future. Combining procedures initially can reduce the likelihood of needing additional surgery later, depending on your anatomy.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift with augmentation?
Many women are still able to breastfeed after surgery, but this can’t be guaranteed. Breastfeeding ability depends on the surgical technique and your natural anatomy. If future breastfeeding is important to you, discuss this during your consultation with Dr. Raj, so your surgical plan can reflect that goal.
How do I choose the right implant size when combining procedures?
Implant size selection depends on your existing breast tissue, chest width, skin elasticity, and desired outcome. Trying on implant sizers during consultation can help you visualize proportions. The goal is to choose a size that complements your lifted shape rather than overwhelms it.
Will my breasts feel natural after surgery?
Most patients report that their breasts feel soft and natural once healing is complete. Implant placement, implant type, and your existing tissue all influence the final feel. Swelling initially creates firmness, but this gradually improves as tissues settle.
How long do results typically last?
Results are long-lasting, but natural aging continues. Implants are durable, yet they may eventually require replacement. Maintaining a stable weight and following postoperative guidance from Dr. Raj and our team helps preserve your results for many years.
Choose Dr. Raj for Breast Lift with Augmentation
Dr. Raj is known as the premier breast plastic surgeon in Cleveland, having achieved amazingly natural looking, transformative results for his patients. To attain your ideal breast size, shape and positioning, it is important for you to select a skilled doctor who understands how to perform breast lift and breast augmentation in a way where the results complement each other. For a consultation, please call Raj Plastic Surgery at (440) 808-8030.
