What Is a Breast Lift with Implants?
A breast lift (mastopexy) with implants is designed to meet the cosmetic desires of women who would like to improve signs of sagging breast tissue and enhance the volume and shape of the breasts. The results of a combined breast augmentation and breast lift procedure can produce a firmer, fuller, more youthful breast appearance. For patients who can benefit from both of these advanced breast enhancement options, Dr. Neil J. Zemmel can often perform these procedures simultaneously in a single operation. Ultimately, a breast lift with implants (also known as an “augmentation-mastopexy”) can provide comprehensive breast rejuvenation with results that appear both beautiful and natural.
- Breast Lift with Implants Candidates
- Breast Lift with Implants Procedure
- Breast Lift with Implants Recovery
- Breast Lift with or without Implants
- Breast Lift with Implants Risks
- Breast Lift with Implants Cost
- Additional FAQs
Am I a Candidate for a Breast Lift with Implants?
You may be an ideal candidate for a breast lift with implants procedure if you are looking to improve the appearance of your breasts in the following ways:
- Elevate the breast position on the chest wall for a more youthful projection
- Adjust the location of the nipples/areolas
- Reduce signs of sagging or “drooping” breasts (breast ptosis)
- Increase the volume and/or size of the breasts
- Enhance the shape of the breasts
- Achieve a greater symmetrical balance between the breasts
If you believe a breast lift with implants procedure may be right for your needs, please contact Richmond Aesthetic Surgery for an initial consultation to determine whether you are a good candidate for this procedure. Our experienced plastic surgeon can talk with you about your goals and answer any questions you may have.
Should I Receive a Breast Lift With or Without Implants?
The decision to undergo breast augmentation, a breast lift, or a combination of both procedures is dependent on your individual aesthetic goals and the starting condition of your breasts. If you want to improve the shape of the breasts and simply raise the position of the nipple and areola, a breast lift may be right for you. If you want to increase your cup size, maintain the extra fullness of the breasts you had during pregnancy, or further enhance your natural shape and volume, breast augmentation may be the best option for you. Many of our patients require a combination of techniques in order to obtain the optimal shape and volume. The factors that will influence the need for a breast augmentation, or a breast lift, or a combination, are:
- The cup size and volume of your breasts
- The degree of skin laxity and the presence of stretch marks
- The amount and distribution of breast tissue within the breast
- The position and shape of the crease (inframammary fold) on each side
- Overall breast symmetry
- The combined thickness of breast tissue and skin
- The shape of the rib cage, breast bone, and pectoralis muscle
- The position and size of the nipples and areolas on the breasts
- The width of your chest
- The length of your torso and width of your hips
The degree of ptosis (sagging) can be divided into the following stages:
- Grade 0 (No Ptosis): The nipple and areola are located above the level of the inframammary fold and are located at the most anterior projecting point of the breast.
- Grade I (Mild Ptosis): The nipple and areola are located at the level of the inframammary fold and a significant amount of breast tissue is located below the fold. The nipple is located at the most projecting portion of the breast.
- Grade II (Moderate Ptosis): The nipple and areola are located below the breast fold and the majority of breast tissue is located below the fold and nipple. The nipple is located nearly on the most anterior projecting point of the breast.
- Grade III (Advanced Ptosis): The nipple and areola and located far below the inframammary crease. Nearly all of the breast tissue is located below the inframammary crease.
- Grade IV (Severe Ptosis): The nipple and areola are located far below the crease and point downwards. Most of the breast tissue is located below the level of the inframammary fold.
- Pseudoptosis: The nipple and areola are located at the level of the inframammary crease, but the majority of breast tissue is located below the crease.
Women who desire a breast lift but have a minimum amount of breast tissue may also require breast implants to achieve their expectations. In addition, sometimes sagging of the breasts is actually caused by a loss of breast volume rather than an excess of stretched skin. In these cases, breast implants can serve as the foundation for maintaining a youthful shape and position to the breasts, and can provide longer-lasting results.
During your consultation, Dr. Zemmel will perform an examination and discuss your personal aesthetic goals and expectations. Using this information, he will work with you to design an approach for your breast surgery that can best meet your unique needs.
What Does the Breast Lift with Implants Procedure Involve?
Procedure Time and Anesthesia
Depending on each patient’s unique needs, the surgery typically takes about two to three hours to complete. Breast augmentation alone generally takes less than an hour, while the addition of a lift, depending on the technique used, extends the total procedure time.
The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis under deep sedation or general anesthesia in a fully accredited surgical facility or hospital setting.
Creating the Lift and Reshaping the Breasts
Your surgeon will begin by making carefully planned incisions based on the degree of lift required. Excess skin is removed, and the underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to create a more youthful, balanced contour. The nipples and areolas are also repositioned as needed to achieve natural-looking results.
Implant Placement
Once the lift is complete, breast implants are placed either above or below the pectoral muscle, according to the surgical plan established prior to surgery. In many cases, the same incisions used for the lift can also be used to place the implants, which helps minimize the total number of incisions.
Closing the Incisions and Final Steps
Throughout the procedure, meticulous surgical technique is used to reduce bleeding, bruising, and trauma to the surrounding tissue — factors that can contribute to a smoother recovery. All incisions are closed with fine, absorbable sutures that do not require removal and are designed to support optimal healing and minimal, well-concealed scarring. Over time, these incision lines typically fade significantly and are well tolerated by most patients.
What Is the Recovery from a Breast Lift with Implants Like?
The First Few Days After Surgery
Patients will likely experience temporary bruising, swelling, tenderness, and some degree of discomfort after surgery. Many also describe a feeling of tightness or fullness in the chest, similar to sensations experienced during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Pain medication and closely following post-procedure instructions can help manage these effects as they gradually subside, often improving significantly within the first several days.
Your first follow-up appointment is typically scheduled within the first few days after surgery so your surgeon can assess healing, change dressings if needed, and address any questions. You will receive detailed guidance on incision care, showering, supportive garments, and activity restrictions to help promote optimal healing.
Returning to Daily Activities
Most patients are able to return to light daily activities within about three to seven days, depending on the extent of their procedure. It is generally recommended to plan for at least one to two weeks of downtime before returning to work. A soft surgical bra is usually worn initially, followed by a transition to a supportive sports bra as swelling begins to decrease.
Exercise and Physical Restrictions
Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and upper body strain should be avoided for several weeks. Light activity, such as walking, is encouraged early in the recovery process, and some patients may resume gentle cardio after a couple of weeks. More vigorous exercise routines are typically reintroduced around four to six weeks, once cleared by your surgeon.
Healing Timeline and Scar Care
As your body heals, swelling will continue to resolve and your results will gradually refine. While many patients feel comfortable returning to their normal routines within a few weeks, complete healing and final results can take several months. Beginning a scar care regimen, often around two weeks after surgery, can help minimize the visibility of incision lines over time.
Ongoing Support and Follow-Up
Throughout your recovery, our team remains available to support you. Regular follow-up visits allow us to monitor your progress and ensure you are healing properly, helping you achieve the best possible outcome from your breast lift with implants procedure.
Are There Any Risks to a Breast Lift with Implants?
A breast lift with implants is a complex operation that changes nearly every dimension of the breasts. It requires not only inserting and managing a breast implant, but also an expert knowledge of the soft tissue dynamics covering the implant. It should be performed only by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
As with any surgery, there is some risk, and it is Dr. Zemmel’s primary concern to minimize any risks associated with your procedure. Dr. Zemmel prioritizes his patients’ safety and comfort when performing a breast lift with implants to yield the best possible results. He maximizes your safety by:
- Using only accredited hospital operating rooms.
- Working with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.
- Maintaining a consistent operating room team to help ensure reliable results and a smooth surgery.
- Using only the highest-quality instruments and materials for your procedure.
- Closely following up with each breast lift-breast implant patient to help ensure a rapid and comfortable recovery.
- As with any surgery, there is a risk of complications or negative reactions to anesthesia. Bleeding or infection can occur. Fortunately these complications are rare and occur less than 1% of the time. It is possible for your scars to widen over time. Your surgeon will prescribe medical grade scar cream after surgery to help soften and settle the scars.
A small amount of asymmetry is normal and natural after surgery. You will not have an exact copy of the right and left breasts. Many factors beyond the surgeon’s control influence the final shape of the breasts. The size and shape of the pectoralis muscles, the shape of the rib cage, differences between the right and left ribs, and the shape of the breast bone all influence your final shape.
During your pre-operative breast surgery consultation, your surgeon will go over any pre-existing asymmetries in detail. Dr. Zemmel spends a significant amount of time during the consultation process to educate patients about all possible risks and complications so that they can make well-informed decisions about the surgery.
How Much Does a Breast Lift with Augmentation Cost?
The cost of a breast lift with augmentation may vary greatly from patient to patient with an augmentation with a full lift ranging from $12,000-$15,000 and an augmentation with partial lift being $12,000-$13,000. In general, your estimated total will be calculated based on the type of implants placed, the extent of tissue removed, the specific surgical techniques utilized, the complexity of the treatment, and other factors. The surgeon’s fee as well as costs associated with anesthesia and use of the surgical facility will also be taken into account.
Richmond Aesthetic Surgery accepts a variety of convenient forms of payment and we work with multiple reputable financing companies that offer an array of payment plans to qualified applicants. Once your customized treatment plan is developed, a member of our team will calculate a total cost estimate of your breast lift with implants procedure and talk more with you about payment options.
Additional FAQs About Breast Lift with Implants
How Do You Sleep After a Breast Lift with Implants?
For the first couple months after your breast lift with implants procedure, you should sleep on your back and avoid resting on your stomach. This is important to ensure you heal properly, allowing the scar tissue to fully form around each implant. When sleeping on your stomach or side, the implant can be shifted and affect the final result.
Even if you have undergone a breast lift without implants, you should make sure to sleep on your back to avoid putting excess pressure on the incisions, which can lead to more swelling, additional discomfort, and a more significant scar appearance. Sleeping on your back provides the best possible position for the breasts to heal after surgery.
How Can I Reduce Swelling After My Breast Lift with Implants?
Swelling is normal after any breast surgery, and this can make your breasts appear larger than expected at first. It is important to remember swelling will fade, and your final results will gradually become more noticeable. Most swelling subsides within 4 to 6 weeks after breast lift surgery.
To help minimize swelling, you will be instructed to wear the post-operative dressings and an elastic bandage or support bra for the first part of your recovery. Using a cool compress for about 20 minutes several times per day can also help reduce inflammation and swelling. If you are concerned about your swelling, you should contact your plastic surgeon to learn if what you are experiencing is normal.
When Can I Exercise After My Breast Lift with Implants?
You will be encouraged to walk around and be lightly active during your recovery. For the first 2 weeks, you should avoid lifting your arms above your head and lifting objects more than 5 pounds. After this time, patients can usually resume light cardio. You should be able to return to more strenuous exercise after about four weeks.
Is it Possible to Lift Your Breasts Naturally?
Although there are many articles claiming that certain chest exercises can help lift the breasts naturally, achieving a significant breast lift is not possible without surgery. Over time, the skin and ligaments tend to stretch and loosen, causing the breasts to take on a sagging appearance. This lax tissue cannot achieve a youthful, “perky” lift unless excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is tightened, such as in the breast lift procedure.
Schedule Your Breast Lift with Implants Consultation
For additional information on breast lift with implants surgery, or to schedule a consultation, we welcome you to contact our practice today.