Breast Lift with Implants

A breast lift with implants, also called augmentation-mastopexy, combines two procedures into one surgery. It lifts and reshapes breast tissue that has begun to sag while adding volume with a saline or silicone implant, restoring fullness that a lift alone cannot achieve. Dr. Stafford R. Broumand, a board-certified plastic surgeon, approaches this procedure with a focus on natural, refined results tailored to each patient’s goals.

What Is a Breast Lift with Implants?

Breast lift with implants combines a breast lift and breast augmentation into a single operation. If your breasts have lost both their position and their volume, whether from pregnancy, weight change, or the natural effects of aging, this procedure raises and reshapes the breast while adding an implant to restore fullness in the upper breast.

This is one of the most requested breast procedures in New York City because it solves two concerns at once. A lift alone repositions the breast without changing its size, and implants alone add volume without correcting significant sagging. Together, they address both concerns in a single recovery period.

This is also a technically demanding operation, since lifting the skin and adding an implant work in opposite directions. A 2018 research review found that, with careful planning, this combined approach is a safe option for appropriately selected, well-informed patients. At 740 Park Plastic Surgery in Manhattan, Dr. Broumand’s approach reflects a philosophy of revealing your natural proportions rather than creating a dramatic change.

What Types of Breast Sagging Does This Procedure Correct?

Breast sagging, known clinically as ptosis, is graded by where your nipple sits relative to the crease under your breast:

  • Mild sagging: the nipple sits at the level of the crease
  • Moderate sagging: the nipple sits below the crease
  • Significant sagging: the nipple sits well below the crease and points downward
  • Pseudo-sagging: the nipple sits above the crease, but the breast tissue hangs lower

Understanding Breast Ptosis Classification

During your consultation, Dr. Broumand assesses your degree of sagging, your skin’s elasticity, and your natural breast volume, then recommends the incision pattern that removes only the skin needed to reshape your breast. Clinical research supports a shorter incision around the areola for patients with mild to moderate sagging, while a longer, anchor-shaped incision remains the standard for more significant excess skin.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation with a Lift

Depending on your specific needs and aesthetic concerns, a breast augmentation with a breast lift procedure may be able to Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Combining a breast lift with breast implants ASPS Go to Source help:

  • Increase the size of your breasts
  • Restore lost breast volume
  • Eliminate excess skin and breast sagging/drooping
  • Elevate the breasts to a higher, more youthful position
  • Improve the projection of the breasts
  • Enhance the overall breast shape
  • Reposition and resize the nipple-areolar complexes
  • Enhance breast symmetry

*Results may vary

hand holding surgical breast implants

What Should I Know About Choosing Breast Implants?

Both saline and silicone gel breast implants are approved by the FDA for cosmetic use, with silicone gel approved for patients 22 and older and saline approved for patients 18 and older.

Silicone gel is chosen more often for this procedure because its soft, natural feel suits breasts that have lost volume. Saline implants let Dr. Broumand fine-tune your fill volume during surgery. Most patients choose a round, smooth-shell design, and the specific size and profile are selected together during your consultation based on your chest, your existing tissue, and your goals.

Modern implants have a well-documented safety record, though they are not lifetime devices and may need replacement over the years.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Breast Lift with Implants?

Good candidates are women in stable overall health who are bothered by both the position and the volume of their breasts, most often after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging. Ideal candidates:

  • Do not smoke, or are willing to stop nicotine for at least 4 weeks before and after surgery
  • Have realistic expectations for their results
  • Have completed their planned pregnancies, since future pregnancy and breastfeeding can change your results

If you currently smoke, have an unmanaged chronic illness, have a history of slow wound healing, or want a very large implant along with an extensive lift, a staged approach or a lift alone may be a better fit. Dr. Broumand’s evaluation identifies the safest path for you.

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How Do I Prepare for Breast Lift with Implants Surgery?

Preparing for augmentation-mastopexy starts with a thorough consultation, where Dr. Broumand reviews your goals, your medical history, and your ideal implant size and incision pattern. From there, preparation typically includes:

  • A recent mammogram, if recommended based on your age and history
  • Adjusting or pausing certain medications and supplements that increase bleeding risk
  • Stopping nicotine use at least 4 weeks before surgery
  • Arranging a friend or family member to drive you home and stay with you the first night
  • Filling any prescriptions in advance so they are ready when you get home

Dr. Broumand’s team walks you through your personalized pre-operative instructions well before your surgery date, so you know exactly what to expect.

close up of woman's cleavage in bra

What Happens During Breast Lift with Implants Surgery?

Augmentation-mastopexy is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia in our AAAASF-certified surgical suite, the highest level of ambulatory surgical accreditation available.

After careful pre-operative markings, Dr. Broumand makes the planned incision, lifts and reshapes the breast tissue, and places your implant, most often in a pocket partly beneath the chest muscle. He delivers implants using a no-touch technique that helps limit contact between the implant and your skin. Once your symmetry and positioning are confirmed, the incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures.

The full procedure typically takes 2 to 3 hours, and you return home the same day with a friend or family member.

What Is Recovery Like After a Breast Lift with Implants?

Most patients feel the strongest discomfort during the first 48 to 72 hours, managed with a combination of prescription and over-the-counter medication, followed by steady improvement each week.

You will wear a supportive surgical bra continuously for the first several weeks to protect your incisions and support your implants. Desk work and light daily activity typically resume between 7 and 10 days, and moderate cardio resumes at about 3 weeks. Chest and upper-body strength training waits until about 6 weeks.

Your final breast shape continues to settle for about three months as swelling resolves. Dr. Broumand’s team schedules follow-up visits throughout your first year to monitor your healing and long-term results.

What Are the Risks of a Breast Lift with Implants?

All surgery carries risk, and an honest conversation about them is part of good planning. Common risks of this procedure include:

  • Bleeding or infection
  • Changes in nipple or skin sensation
  • Asymmetry between the breasts
  • Scarring that takes time to fade
  • Capsular contracture, or firm scar tissue around the implant
  • Implant-related issues, such as shifting or rupture

Capsular contracture, or firm scar tissue around the implant, is one of the most common implant complications the FDA tracks. For one commonly used surgical technique, a 2025 patient study of over 400 augmentation-mastopexy patients reported an overall complication rate of about 12 percent, with sagging recurring in fewer than 5 percent of cases. Results vary by technique and patient anatomy, and Dr. Broumand will discuss what to expect with your specific surgical plan.

Some patients associate a cluster of symptoms with silicone implants, sometimes called breast implant illness, which remains an active area of research. Dr. Broumand reviews this in detail during your consultation, along with every other risk specific to your surgery, so you can make an informed decision.

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Can I Combine a Breast Lift with Implants with Other Procedures?

Many patients choose to combine a breast lift with implants with other procedures to address multiple concerns in a single recovery period. Commonly paired procedures include:

  • Mommy Makeover, which combines breast and body procedures after pregnancy
  • Tummy Tuck, to remove excess abdominal skin and tighten muscle
  • Liposuction, to refine areas of stubborn fat
  • Arm Lift, to address loose skin along the upper arm

Combining procedures adds some time to your surgery but consolidates your recovery into a single period. Dr. Broumand will discuss which combinations make sense for your goals and your health during your consultation.

confident woman in low cut bikini top

Why Choose Dr. Broumand for Your Breast Lift with Implants?

Dr. Stafford R. Broumand is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 30 years of clinical practice, dual certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 24 consecutive years, recognized in New York Magazine’s Top Doctors listings, included on the Super Doctors list of the top 5 percent of physicians, and served as President of the New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2014.

What patients notice most is how personal the process feels. Dr. Broumand tailors every surgical plan, from incision pattern to implant size and profile, to each patient’s own anatomy and goals, rather than applying a single standard approach. Every consultation, procedure, and follow-up visit is conducted with the discretion patients expect from a Park Avenue practice.

To learn more about his training and credentials, visit Dr. Broumand’s full bio.

woman with perky breasts posing in lace bra

 

Breast Lift with Implants Before-and-After Photos

Ready to see what’s possible? Browse before-and-after photos from Dr. Broumand’s breast lift with implants patients in our photo gallery.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a breast lift with implants take?

Most procedures take 2 or 3 hours and are performed as a single outpatient surgery under general anesthesia. Very large implants combined with extensive skin removal may be staged into two operations for safety.

How much does a breast lift with implants cost?

Your investment depends on your implant type, incision pattern, and whether you combine this with another procedure. Dr. Broumand provides a personalized quote once he has evaluated your anatomy and goals during your consultation. The practice accepts CareCredit, PatientFi, and Cherry financing to help patients plan for their procedure.

Will insurance cover a breast lift with implants?

No. This is a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by health insurance. The practice accepts CareCredit, PatientFi, and Cherry financing to help patients plan for their procedure.

Will I have visible scars after a breast lift with implants?

Yes, some scarring is a natural part of any incision-based procedure. The location and length of your scars depend on the incision pattern Dr. Broumand recommends for your degree of sagging, whether around the areola, in a vertical line, or in an anchor shape. Scars typically fade significantly over 12 to 18 months and can be minimized with silicone-based scar treatments and sun protection.

Will I be able to breastfeed after a breast lift with implants?

Many patients retain the ability to breastfeed after this procedure, though any breast surgery can affect milk production or nipple sensation. If you are planning a future pregnancy, discuss timing with Dr. Broumand during your consultation.

How long will my results last?

Your lifted breast shape is long-lasting, and modern implants typically last more than a decade before needing evaluation, though they are not lifetime devices. Weight changes, pregnancy, and normal aging can affect your shape over time. Maintaining a stable weight and wearing supportive bras during high-impact activity both help preserve your results.

What happens to my results if I gain or lose weight after surgery?

Significant weight changes can affect your results by altering breast volume and skin elasticity, even after your implants are in place. Maintaining a stable weight after surgery is the best way to preserve your shape and position long-term. If you are planning significant weight loss, it is worth discussing timing with Dr. Broumand during your consultation.

When can I sleep on my side or stomach again?

Most patients sleep on their back for about 4 to 6 weeks. Side sleeping is usually reintroduced first, and stomach sleeping typically waits until your tissue has fully settled, often at 8 weeks or later.

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Contact Us

If you are considering a breast lift with implants in Manhattan and would like to meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon whose practice reflects precision and discretion, 740 Park Plastic Surgery welcomes your inquiry. Consultations are private and unhurried, giving you the time you need to discuss your goals with Dr. Broumand in detail. To contact us today and schedule a consultation, reach out to our Manhattan office.

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Dr. Stafford Broumand has reviewed and approved this content.

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