Do I Need A Lift With My Breast Augmentation?

Q: I am the mother of 3 children and am soon to be age 35. After going through 3 pregnancies my breasts are definitely not what they used to be. They not only have gotten smaller but they seem to sag more now than before. With each pregnancy they have gotten progressively worse. I know that I need an augmentation but am uncertain if I need a lift also. How do you know if you need a breast lift when getting an implant?

A: An implant will do a great job of adding volume to a deflated breast but it will not lift up a sagging breast. This is contrary to what most women think an implant can do. When the position of the nipple is close to, at, or below the lower breast crease/fold, some type of breast lift will be needed. This is regardless of whether one is getting an implant at the same time. Without a breast lift, the implanted bigger breasts will merely drive down the position if the nipple and may even make it look worse. This can be predicted before surgery by carefully looking at the nipple position and the amount of loose breast skin. When lifts are done at the time of breast implants, the procedure is known as augmentation mastopexy.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana