Can you combine a breast lift with a breast augmentation?

As women age, many of them notice unwelcome changes in their breasts. They tend to droop and sag, with the nipple hanging below the breast fold, and the breasts may take on a “deflated” appearance. The changes may be exacerbated in women who have breast-fed one or more babies, but they can happen to any woman.

Some women may consider having cosmetic surgery to restore their breasts to a more youthful appearance. Many of these women wonder whether a breast lift or a breast augmentation would produce a better result. In fact, you don’t have to choose between these. Although some women choose to have just one or the other of these procedures, there are also women who may benefit from having both of them at the same time.

As a general rule, A/Prof Marucci explains to his patients “if you are unhappy with your breast volume, but happy with the shape, you need implants. If you are happy with the volume, but unhappy with the shape, you need a breast lift. If you are unhappy with both the shape and the volume, you need a breast lift with implants”.

The combined procedure is known as augmentation mastopexy

When a breast lift and breast augmentation are performed together, the combined procedure is medically termed augmentation mastopexy. This involves placing breast implants in order to restore lost volume (or add more volume to breasts that are naturally small), as well as removing excess sagging skin and lifting the nipple back up to its more youthful position.

It is possible to perform these two procedures separately, with a recovery period in between. The breast lift would be performed first, followed by the augmentation. However, having the procedures done at the same time tends to produce more precise results. If they’re done separately, then the surgeon will need to remove excess skin for the breast lift, followed by stretching the remaining skin to accommodate the implants. When the procedures are instead performed simultaneously, the surgeon can remove the right amount of excess skin, while leaving behind enough to accommodate the implants. It’s much easier to create a good cosmetic result, as the surgeon can tailor the amount of skin removal and the positioning of nipple to the new breast volume, sculpting the overall breast appearance all at once.

Having the two procedures together does increase the amount of time in the operating room somewhat, but the combined surgery will still be at a very safe length of time. The patient will only need to undergo anesthesia and surgical recovery once, instead of twice. This is another major reason why women prefer to have the procedures performed together rather than separately.

Why do women choose augmentation mastopexy?

A breast augmentation alone can restore lost volume and improve fullness of the breasts, but cannot correct drooping. A breast lift alone can help with sagging and can bring the nipples back to their youthful positions, but cannot improve fullness, especially in the upper pole of the breasts (the “cleavage” area). Women who have experienced both sagging and volume loss may prefer the results they get from addressing both of these problems instead of just one of them.

Are you considering breast augmentation and/or breast lift Sydney?

If you’ve been considering having a breast lift or a breast augmentation, then it’s possible that you could get a better result from a combined procedure. This is not true for everyone, so it’s a good idea to seek personalized medical advice as you’re considering your options.

If you’re around the greater Sydney area, and are wondering whether augmentation mastopexy is right for you, we invite you to schedule an appointment with A/Prof. Marucci to discuss it further. You can visit us in one of our two convenient office locations, in Kogarah and Miranda. After an examination, and a discussion of your goals for your appearance, A/Prof. Marucci will offer you his professional recommendation on which procedure would be most likely to lead to your desired outcome. Please contact our office if you wish to book an appointment.