Breast Lift vs Implants: Do I Need Breast Lift or Implants (or Both)?

“I am really not keen on the scarring from a breast lift and would prefer to simply have implants. But I would love to hear any surgeons’ opinions.”

I’ve heard some variation of that comment countless times from women who want to improve the shape and size of their breasts and are weighing the benefits of a breast lift vs implants. In this post, I’ll discuss some of the factors that influence that decision and the benefits and limitations of the procedures.

How To Determine Whether You Need a Lift or Augmentation

The decision to have a lift or get breast implants—or to combine both procedures—involves several factors that can influence the final choice.

Those factors include:

• Position of nipples: If nipples point down or fall below the crease (inframammary fold) of the breast, a lift is needed.
• Existing breast size: If your breasts appear deflated or you simply want larger breasts, implants can add volume, but won’t create a lifted appearance.
• Presence of excess skin: Aging or weight loss can stretch the skin. A breast lift can remove the excess skin from breasts that have moderate to severe sagging.
• Patient’s cosmetic goals: Not everyone needs both a breast lift and implants, but if you have sagging breasts and volume loss, the combination can remedy both issues. Bringing a couple of photos showing the results you want can help ensure you and the plastic surgeon are on the same page.

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Even though combining a breast lift with augmentation is a very common procedure, some patients may opt to get breast implants without a lift initially. Those who aren’t satisfied with the outcomes can later undergo a lift.

Benefits and Limits of Breast Lift With Implants

There are pros and cons associated with combining augmentation with a breast lift.

The benefits include:

• Having both procedures simultaneously saves time, both in surgery and recovery.
• Saving money. You only pay once for anesthesia (and any other potential expenses). And you can take fewer days off from work because there is only one recovery.
• Avoiding the risk associated with undergoing anesthesia in 2 surgeries.

You can see the results enjoyed by some of our actual patients by viewing before-and-after photos in our online gallery.

The limitations include:

• The up-front cost is higher than what you pay for a single procedure (but the combined cost will be less overall).
• You will also be under anesthesia longer than if you had just one procedure.
• Every breast lift with implants procedure results in some scars, though they’ll soften and fade over time.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that even excellent results don’t last forever. Aging and weight changes eventually cause breasts to sag.

If you’re considering a breast lift with breast augmentation in the Boston area, contact us using the online form to request a personal consultation. You can also call us at (781) 237-7700 to schedule an appointment.