Breast implant augmentation combined with breast lift surgery, also called augmentation-mastopexy, involves raising, enlarging, and shaping the breasts. Natural ageing, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss can contribute to sagging, and a loss of breast firmness, fullness, shape and volume. If you desire a more lifted breast with additional volume, Plastic Surgeon Dr Matt Starr may recommend a breast lift combined with breast augmentation with implants or fat graft to boost breast volume. A breast lift with implants or fat graft can achieve a firmer and perkier appearance, and restore fullness in the upper breasts. The breast lift aims to raise the breasts, reshaping them to produce a rounder appearance, and in most cases, the nipple and areola is also lifted to a more youthful position. Breast augmentation with implants or fat graft is designed to increase your cup size by augmenting your breast volume.
What can a breast lift and augmentation achieve for you?
An augmentation-mastopexy can achieve many beneficial outcomes for women with various breast concerns, including:
- Boost your self-esteem, wellbeing and confidence
- Enhance your breast shape by lifting and reducing the amount of breast tissue that hangs below the inframammary fold
- Reducing discomfort from skin irritation and rashes
- Enlarge the breasts, improving size and shape, and adding overall volume
- Restore breast volume loss experienced through pregnancy, massive weight fluctuations, breastfeeding, and natural ageing
- Increase depth, enhancing outward projection and creating a fuller cleavage and upper pole volume
- Correct any breast asymmetry present
- Reconstruct the breasts following a mastectomy or trauma
- Achieve a firmer, rejuvenated look and feel
Am I a suitable candidate?
Your suitability for the procedure will be assessed during your consultation with Dr Starr, where many factors are considered, and a procedure plan will be tailored to your individual concerns and desired outcomes. Generally, patients are eligible if they have the following:
- A desire for increased breast volume
- Low-hanging or sagging breasts
- Breasts with a flat or deflated appearance
- Nipples that are positioned at or lower than your breast crease
- Stretched or irregularly shaped areolae
- Breast asymmetry, where one breast hangs lower or has a different shape to the other breast
- Areolar asymmetry, where one areola hangs lower or has a different shape to the other areola
- Tuberous breasts
- A reasonably stable weight for the past six months or more
- Ceased breast feeding for six or more months
- Realistic expectations for the surgery and a positive mindset
Patients will be unable to undergo the procedure if their breasts have not fully developed. It is also not recommended that patients postpone a combined breast lift and augmentation if they are breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, have an active breast infection, or other breast condition undergoing active treatment. Women often find the procedure highly gratifying in providing aesthetically pleasing results and improving confidence in their bodies.
Consultation with Dr Matt Starr
During your consultation with Plastic Surgeon Dr Matt Starr, you will discuss your medical history, your reasons for wanting a breast lift, your expectations, and your desired outcome. It is crucial that you mention any medical conditions, medications, and previous relevant surgeries you may have undergone, including whether there is a history of breast cancer in your family. You will also need to mention any potential plans for pregnancy or whether you are still breastfeeding. Dr Starr will perform an examination, take measurements, and will usually take clinical photographs of your breasts. These deidentified photos form a valuable part of your confidential medical record by aiding surgical planning and allowing comparison of appearances ‘before’ and ‘after’ surgery.
Dr Matt Starr has immense experience and knowledge in breast surgery, and understands that every woman’s breasts and desired outcomes are different. Dr Starr will recommend a procedure and aftercare plan for you that is based on your health, lifestyle, the extent of your breast sagging, and the outcomes you wish to achieve. Once you and Dr Starr have agreed upon a bespoke treatment plan, he will be able to provide you with an estimate of the costs involved.
The procedure
Every breast augmentation and lift surgery is different, as every woman’s breasts can change and grow in many diverse ways. You will need to make several decisions in consultation with Dr Starr that depend on your aesthetic goals for the surgery and the targeted concerns. This will involve choosing the implant type, including shape and texture, based on your desired aesthetic, lifestyle, and what will best suit your natural body contours. Dr Starr will then determine what breast lift technique he will use during the procedure to ensure your breast concerns are corrected, that your new breast shape is supported, and that you achieve the look you desire. Breast lift techniques recommended will vary based on your breast shape, the amount of sagging, excess skin present, and your goal breast size and shape.
The augmentation will be performed either with implants or fat grafting. Please see breast augmentation with implants, and fat grafting enhancement for more information on these procedures.
The procedure may take four or more hours, depending on the extent of the surgery, and is conducted under general anaesthetic. Your breast augmentation-mastopexy may be performed as a day procedure, or with an overnight stay in the hospital.
Recovery & aftercare
Immediately after your procedure, you will experience mild pain, swelling, bruising, and tightness across your chest, which are normal post-procedure experiences. After your surgery, you will be fitted with a compression bra to help minimise bruising and swelling and support your breast lift. You may also have drains inserted at the surgical sites to help prevent fluid accumulation. The drains are removed when the fluid produced slows, usually a few days to a week post-procedure. You will also be prescribed pain medication to help with the pain, which should reduce significantly after one week. Bruising and swelling may persist for a few weeks after your surgery.
In general, post-operative aftercare instructions are as follows:
- Avoid smoking six weeks prior to surgery
- Take sufficient time off work – usually two weeks for office workers, potentially longer depending on the demands of your occupation
- Avoiding showering in the first 24 hours after surgery
- Sleeping on your back in the first week after your procedure
- Take all prescribed medications such as antibiotics if required
- Light walking is encouraged after a couple of days to prevent clots in the legs and other complications
- You can return to light exercise after two to three weeks
- Avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for six weeks
- Do not drive whilst impaired by discomfort or pain medication
- Wear your compression bra exclusively for six weeks, after this time you may reintroduce your other bras
It is important that patients follow their aftercare plan as advised by Dr Starr to ensure optimal healing and the best possible results, mitigating the potential for any risks and minimising visible scarring where possible.
What risks or complications are associated with a breast augmentation combined with a breast lift?
Any procedure, medical or cosmetic that you may undergo has associated risks or complications that can potentially arise. The following list is risks and complications related to an augmentation-mastopexy:
- Bruising
- Asymmetry
- Poor scarring
- Excessive bleeding or haematoma
- Infection
- Delayed wound healing
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation – increased or decreased sensitivity
- Anaesthesia complications
- Blood clots
- Fluid accumulation
- Pain
- Breast lumps
- Loss of breast tissue
- Excessive breast firmness
- Difficulty or inability to breastfeed
- Capsular contracture, also known as scar tissue formation inside the breast
- Implant rupture or leak
- Visible implant rippling beneath the breast skin
- Breast Implant Associated – Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
- Implant rotation or migration
- Implant exposure
Any procedure, medical or cosmetic, has associated risks or complications that could potentially occur, and patients should be aware of these before undergoing any surgery. Dr Starr will work to minimise any risks or complications at every step of your journey.
