Breast enhancement procedures using implants have been performed for decades now. There is plenty of information available online; however, in some cases, it might be difficult to figure out on your own what procedure is the best for your particular case or if you are a good candidate for the procedure you have in mind.

When it comes to the breasts, most often, the first thing that comes to mind is breast augmentation. But if you are over a certain age, or your breast tissues have been affected by weight fluctuations or one or multiple pregnancies, the chances are to be a good candidate for another procedure – we call it mastopexy. In more popular terms, it’s the breast lift. And the breast lift surgery can be performed with or without implants. Let’s see who is a good candidate for the procedure and what you need to know about this intervention!

The ABCs of breast lift surgery

The main reason why patients undergo breast lift surgery is to elevate the breast tissues to a more anatomically correct position on the chest wall. In other words, patients who have saggy breasts, excess skin at the level of the breasts, and a lack of upper pole fullness could qualify for a breast lift surgery.

The mastopexy intervention is performed with the patient under general anesthesia, just like it is the case with a breast augmentation surgery. The plastic surgeon makes incisions under the breasts, in the inframammary fold, around the areola, and even vertically from the areola’s edge to the inframammary fold to be able to eliminate excess skin and reposition the mammary gland higher on the chest. The nipple and areola complex is also repositioned in a correct position. It often happens that the nipple and areola complex is facing downward when the patient has saggy breasts. This aspect is corrected during the intervention.

After the intervention, the patient needs to follow a set of post-operative indications to ensure fast healing and minimal scars are left behind after the surgery. A post-op bra is mandatory for at least a few weeks to a few months.

Breast lift with implants – how it is performed

The breast lift with implant surgery is very similar to the classic breast lift intervention, with the difference that the plastic surgeon will also insert breast implants during the surgery. So, the plastic surgeon makes the incisions and creates pockets under the mammary gland or pectoral muscles to insert the breast implants. The breast tissues are also elevated to the right anatomical position, and the excess skin is eliminated. The incisions are then sutured, and the patient can be moved to the recovery room.

As you can see from the details of the procedure, mastopexy with implants implies combining the technique used to elevate the breasts with the one for breast augmentation with implants. As a result, after the surgery, the patient doesn’t have only perky breasts but also bigger breasts due to the use of implants. This means that the breast lift with implants is recommended for patients who want an increase in volume and not only perkier breasts.

Who is a good candidate for the breast lift with implants?

There are a few categories of people who could benefit from a breast lift with implants, such as:

• Patients with small saggy breasts

The breast lift surgery addresses women with saggy breasts, whatever their size might be. But the breast lift with implant surgery is perfect for patients with small, saggy breasts. It delivers much better results for these patients compared to undergoing just a simple mastopexy because it augments the breasts too and makes the silhouette more harmonious.

What it’s important to mention is that the breasts can look smaller after the breast lift surgery as the plastic surgeon eliminates excess skin. If there is a significant amount of excess skin, the patient might be surprised at the transformation and the new volume, even if the plastic surgeon didn’t do any actions to affect this volume. This is the reason why an experienced plastic surgeon will always mention. Harmonious breasts are not only a matter of position on the chest wall but also of the right size. If the plastic surgeon notices that an improvement in terms of volume could benefit the patient, it’s essential to consider it.

• Patients who want to have a different shape of the breasts

Some of us dream of that perfect round, apple shape of the breasts. The breasts that are full have lots of upper pole volume and look perky and firm. But the classic breast lift surgery is not guaranteed to deliver the breast shape of your dreams. What happens is that the plastic surgeon works with the tissues of the patient. Perkiness can be achieved, the glandular tissue is elevated, but the shape of the breasts will be the natural one. Achieving that upper pole fullness some of us desire is a matter of using some high profile implants. If you want a specific shape of the breasts after the breast lift surgery, the plastic surgeon might recommend using implants, too, even if they are of a small volume.

Other things to keep in mind

The breast lift surgery can deliver amazing results that last. However, an ulterior pregnancy or considerable weight fluctuations can have an impact on these results. A good candidate for the breast lift with implants is a person who doesn’t smoke, has a normal weight, and no medical contraindications for the surgery.

Final words

The breast lift with implants is a 2-in-1 procedure. It helps patients achieve not only perkier breasts but breasts with a larger volume that are more proportionate to the rest of the body. Undergoing the breast lift with implants surgery is a big decision; make sure to consult with a talented and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Essie Yates at the Yates Institute for Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale.