Should You Combine Your Breast Lift With Breast Augmentation? Here’s How to Decide

You know you’re ready to make your dream look a reality with breast enhancement, but you aren’t sure which surgical approach is right for you. Will implants give you the perkier look you’re going for, or do you need a little more lift? As a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs both breast lift and breast augmentation procedures, I’ve had this conversation more than a few times. The answer is different for every person, of course, but there are a few general guidelines I share with women weighing their breast enhancement options.

Read on to learn more about the differences between breast augmentation and breast lift and how you can decide whether combining these procedures is the right path for you.

Top Reasons To Consider a Breast Lift

A breast lift makes breasts perkier by removing excess skin and tightening surrounding tissue to restore a more youthful, elevated breast contour. The procedure also directs nipples upward and reduces the size of enlarged areolas.

Commonly sought after pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or aging, the procedure enhances breast shape without significantly altering the size. Here are some top reasons you might want to consider a breast lift:

1. Loss of Breast Position

As women age, breasts often lose their perkiness. Over time, the dermis begins to lose elasticity, making it unable to hold the breasts in place and causing them to sag. The dermis is the layer below the skin’s surface that is made up of nerves, fat, blood vessels, elastin, and collagen. After the age of 20, the body produces 1% less collagen and elastin in the dermis each year. These elastin and collagen fibers become thicker and looser, which leads to wrinkling and sagging.

2. Previous Pregnancy

During pregnancy, breasts become fuller and engorged to prepare for breastfeeding. As your breasts become bigger, the skin must stretch to account for the growth. Post-breastfeeding, your breasts will likely shrink down, which can lead to deflated-looking or sagging breasts. The more pregnancies you have, the more your breasts will be affected. Even if you do not breastfeed, the weight fluctuations caused by pregnancy can still impact your post-pregnancy breasts.

3. Weight Loss

The breasts are primarily composed of fat tissue. When you gain weight, your fat cells expand, just as weight loss causes them to shrink. Some breasts have more fatty tissue than others, making sagginess more apparent with weight loss. Additionally, rapid weight loss, as you might experience with bariatric surgery or weight loss injections, will likely cause more skin laxity; in contrast, gradual weight loss allows your body to adjust, minimizing sagging. You can learn more about breast lifting and other skin tightening procedures after weight loss in our related blog post.

4. Genetics

Just like the rest of your body, genetics dictate not only breast shape and size but also firmness, fat tissue, and elasticity. Your breast characteristics can come from both sides of your family, so your mom’s breasts are not necessarily the most accurate predictor of your future breasts.

Top Reasons To Consider Breast Implants

Breast augmentation with implants primarily increases the size of the breast and improves breast shape. Here are a few reasons you might consider getting breast implants:

1. Naturally Small Breast Size

Women who want more fullness and a more balanced silhouette can benefit from breast implants. They can address underdevelopment or disproportionate breast size relative to the body frame, creating curves that align with personal aesthetic goals while improving clothing fit.

2. Volume Loss Due to Pregnancy or Weight Changes

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or significant weight fluctuations often lead to deflated breast tissue and loss of upper-pole fullness. A boob job restores that loss of fullness, recreating a more youthful-looking shape.

3. Correcting Breast Asymmetry

Most women have breasts that are not entirely symmetrical, but when that imbalance is significant, it can make it difficult to find good-fitting bras and make you feel self-conscious. With implants, we can adjust the size of one or both breasts, improving their symmetry.

When To Include Implants in Your Breast Lift

You may benefit from combining your breast lift with breast augmentation if you want to make your breasts perkier and:

• You are looking to regain or increase your breast size: Whether you’ve lost volume or never really had the fullness you want, you can choose a new size and shape to create the look you’ve always wanted.
• You want to correct asymmetry: In addition to those with naturally asymmetrical breasts, some women can develop asymmetry after pregnancy or weight loss. I correct this imbalance by placing differently sized implants in each breast.
• You want a rounder, fuller shape: Implants allow you to customize your breast projection, upper pole fullness, and overall volume. It allows for a bit more personalization than a breast lift alone.

When NOT to Include Implants in Your Breast Lift

You may be happy with your results from a breast lift without implants if:

• You only want to correct drooping: You can typically go without implants if you are not looking for a size increase and only wish to address stretched skin and achieve a “perkier” look.
• You are OK with your breasts staying the same size or appearing slightly smaller: A breast lift does not remove tissue, but breasts may appear or feel very subtly smaller once they are lifted and the skin is tightened.

The Benefits of Combining Your Breast Lift With Implants

You always have the option to get a lift and add implants separately should you change your mind in the future. However, having them done together offers the benefits of:

• A single recovery period
• Paying one set of surgeon’s fees and facility fees
• Enjoying your dream look now versus going back to make adjustments later

If you have an idea of the look you want to achieve but aren’t sure how best to achieve it, consult personally with a board-certified plastic surgeon. A surgeon who takes the time to listen closely to you and understand your desires will recommend the right approach for your individual goals.

To see more examples of the results you can expect after with breast enhancement at Rockmore Plastic Surgery, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.

If you would like to talk more about your breast lift or breast augmentation at our practice near Albany, NY, please contact us online or call (518) 328-3330.