Do I Need An Implant With My Breast Lift?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I want to change the look of my breasts. I don’t mind having small breasts but I just don’t like the sag. Do you think a  breast lift alone will give me a good result? What are the benefits of implants with a lift? Is the combination better than a lift alone?

A: Your breast sagging and your questions about how to improve them are fairly classic. Your dilemma is not new and it can be hard to figure out what exactly to do. So let me break down into the structural problems. In sagging breasts, there are three elements to them that bother women. First is the lack of upper pole fullness. While a lift may make some immediate improvement, it will not be sustained. This is what implants are used for to create some permanent upper pole fullness. The next issue is the low nipple position that is either pointing forward but low on the breast mound or is pointing downward to the floor. This is what a lift does best, reposition the nipple back up higher and in a more centric position on the breast mound. Lastly, is the bottoming out of the lower breast tissue that hands over the lower breast fold. This also is what a lift helps with by removing skin and tightening the tissues on the lower pole.

This being said, I find in many cases that a breast lift alone can be disappointing particularly in the thin-skinned small breasted patient. It really requires an implant to create sustained upper pole fullness and some upward movement of the breast

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana