To Lift or Not to Lift? Do I need a Breast Lift with Implants?
One of the most common concerns patients have is whether breast implants will give their breasts an automatic lift? Patients often ask questions like, “Can breast implants help with sagging breasts?” or “Will increasing the breast size automatically treat sagging?”
Considering whether you need a breast lift with implants is important, but there’s not always a simple or straightforward answer to the question. Each patient is different, and whether you need a breast lift with your implants depends entirely on your specific goals and concerns.
Brian V. Heil, MD, FACS, carefully examines your breast tissues and discusses your aesthetic goals to determine if you should or shouldn’t lift.
What do breast implants do?
Breast implants have one primary goal — making your breasts look bigger. Their primary goal is adding volume to your breast tissues, so they’re not concerned with lifting sagging breasts. In some cases, implants may eliminate a small amount of sag from the breasts, even if that’s not the primary goal.
However, in most cases, breast implants will merely increase your breast size without removing or even reducing the sagging effect. If you have sagging breasts now, breast implants will leave you with larger sagging breasts. As such, if you want an overall improvement in your breast quality, it’s worth considering a breast lift with breast implants.
What does a breast lift do?
Breast lift (mastopexy) is a procedure in which your breast shape is surgically altered. During the procedure, the plastic surgeon removes excess or sagging skin tissues to raise the breasts higher, giving them a lift. Breast lifts are ideally suited for individuals with sagging breasts or downward-pointing nipples. However, a breast lift doesn’t alter your breast size or add volume to your breast tissue.
Do I need a breast lift with implants?
As you can see, breast implants and a breast lift are two different procedures, even if they’re concerned with the same part of the body. While breast implants add volume and size, a breast lift elevates the breast and removes excess skin tissues to make them appear firm and taut.
You may need a breast lift with implants if:
- You have sagging breasts due to excessive skin tissues or loss of volume
- You have excessively flat or lengthen breasts
- The areolae of your nipples point downwards
- Your nipples are lower than the breast creases
- You have disproportionately drooping breasts
These are all issues that can only be addressed with a breast lift. If you get breast implants without addressing these issues, you’ll end up with larger breasts that still have these aesthetics issues. Your plastic surgeon will carefully examine your breast tissues during your consultation to advise on whether you need a breast lift with breast implants.
Can I get a breast lift with implants together?
If you don’t already have breast implants, you can opt for a combined breast augmentation and breast lift procedure. Dr. Heil will carefully perform a breast lift to remove the excess skin tissue and reposition the breasts and nipples, and the breast implants will add volume. You’ll receive the benefits of both procedures simultaneously, allowing you to leave the office with larger and perkier breasts.
