A breast lift raises your breasts and reshapes them by removing loose skin and moving the nipple higher. Implants add volume. If your main complaint is that your breasts sit lower than they used to, a lift is usually the answer. If you are happy with where they sit but want them fuller, implants are. If you want both, the two can be done together.
The confusion is understandable. Both operations change how your chest looks in clothes, both are done by the same surgeon, and plenty of women come to a consultation asking for implants when what bothers them is really the sag.
What does a breast lift do?
A breast lift, which surgeons call a mastopexy, tightens the skin envelope and lifts the breast tissue you already have. The nipple and the darker skin around it are moved up to sit higher on the breast, and the extra skin that allowed everything to drop is removed.
What it does not do is add size. Your breasts may look fuller once they are lifted and firmer, simply because the tissue is gathered into a better shape, but the amount of tissue is the same.
Women usually consider a lift after pregnancy and breastfeeding, after losing a lot of weight, or as the skin loosens with age. You can read more on our breast lift page.
What do breast implants do?
Implants make the breasts bigger. They are placed through a small incision, either under the breast where it meets the chest, around the edge of the nipple, or under the arm, and they sit behind your own breast tissue.
They can give a little lift to a breast that has only just started to drop, because there is more volume filling out the skin. But an implant is not designed to raise a breast that hangs low. Putting one into a breast that really needs a lift can leave the breast sitting over the implant, which is the opposite of what most women want.
Dr. Chang Soo Kim talks through silicone and saline implants at the consultation, and helps you choose a size that suits your frame. Our breast augmentation page has more on the options.
How can I tell which one I need?
The main thing a surgeon looks at is where your nipple sits compared with the crease underneath your breast.
If the nipple is level with the crease or above it, and you simply want more volume, implants on their own are often enough. If the nipple has dropped to the crease or below it, or points downwards, a lift is usually needed to bring it back up. Skin quality, stretch marks and how much tissue you have also play into it.
You can get a rough sense in front of a mirror, but the decision belongs to an exam. Two women who look similar in a bra can need quite different operations.
When would I need both?
When your breasts have dropped and lost volume at the same time. That is common after pregnancy, and after major weight loss. A lift on its own would raise them but leave the upper part looking empty. Implants on their own would add size but leave them sitting low.
Done together, the lift reshapes and raises the breast and the implant restores fullness, particularly at the top. Some women choose to do them in one operation; occasionally a surgeon will suggest two stages. Dr. Kim will tell you which he recommends for you and why.
What is recovery like?
Both operations are done as outpatient surgery in Bellava’s own Joint Commission accredited surgical suite in Bedford Hills, so you go home the same day.
After a breast lift, most patients are back to their regular activities in one to two weeks. You will be given clear instructions on supportive bras, lifting and exercise, and Dr. Kim will tell you when you are cleared for each. Recovery after combined surgery can take a little longer, and he will go through that with you before you book.
Will there be scars?
Yes. Every incision leaves a scar, and a lift needs more incisions than implants alone, usually around the areola and often down the front of the breast. Dr. Kim places them where they are easiest to hide, and they generally soften and fade over the following year.
Frequently asked questions
Do breast lift results last?
They can last for many years, especially if your weight stays steady. Ageing, gravity and future pregnancies will still have an effect over time, which is why some women wait until they have finished having children.
Will I need to replace my implants?
Possibly at some point. Implants are not considered lifetime devices, and some women have them replaced or removed years later. Dr. Kim covers this at the consultation.
Do implants affect mammograms?
They can make some of the breast harder to see, so you may need extra views. Tell the imaging centre you have implants when you book.
How much does it cost?
It depends on whether you need a lift, implants or both. Bellava gives you one quote at a free consultation that covers the surgeon, anesthesia and the facility together, and financing is available.
Talk to Dr. Kim in Bedford Hills
If you are not sure whether you need a lift, implants or both, an exam will answer it quickly. Call or text Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center in Bedford Hills, NY at (914) 809-9693 to arrange a free consultation with Dr. Chang Soo Kim. You can also see results from his patients in our before and after gallery.