Can You Have Implants After a Breast Reduction and Lift?

Yes this is possible and may be recommended if you wish to be more full on top. A small implant can still give you overall smaller less heavy but still full breasts. However there are other ways to accomplish this at the time of your Breast Lift/Breast reduction. If you have been considering a Breast Lift, Reduction or improving your appearance after breast augmentation but are not comfortable with introducing artificial material into your body, you may want to look into the benefits of breast augmentation with fat transfer. An alternative to breast implants is fat transfer also known as fat grafting or lipoinjection. This technique allows women the option of enhancing the appearance of their breasts without the potential problems of saline or silicone implants such as hardness, rippling or rupture.Who is a candidate?Any woman who is healthyWomen with sufficient body fat for the procedureWomen considering breast augmentation who wish to be one cup size larger or lessWomen who have had breast augmentation or reconstruction but who lack fullness or have contour concerns. Fat transfer can further enhance and reshape your breasts while smoothing out visible or palpable edges of breast implants. This will disguise implant rippling and wrinkling.Women with normal mammographySee the below links for more details: 

Breast reduction is a functional operation that removes weight generating symptoms in the shoulder, back, and neck.  A reduction always includes a breast lift which makes them look more youthful.  It makes no sense to remove natural breast tissue and replace it with an artificial substance.

Breast implants do provide fullness to the central and upper pole of the breast. if a patient is left with inadequate breast volume after a breast reduction or mastopexy they might need to have breast implants. You can potentially develop neck and/or back pain if you have very heavy breasts (either from very large implants or from large and heavy breast tissue).

The quick answer to this is yes you can do all three procedures: lift, reduction, and augmentation.
I have had occasion to do this at the same procedure and occasionally many years later (more common with subsequent weight loss). In all of these instances, the patients did not complain about the same syptoms they had when they were larger breasted.
I agree with you, in that it would seem natural that patients would report recurrent back pain but this does not seem to occur.
I will be very interested to hear what the other plastic surgeons who answer this have to say but it is very unusual for patients, even with big implants (larger than 400) to complain about back pain. This does not mean that they do not experience relief when they eventually have the implants removed but generally they seem motivated to tolerate the weight and volume.
I agree with you also in that the use of the implant is one of the best methods to ensure upper breast fullness after reduction and lift.

MessageMamma,
Yes, it is possible to have implants after a breast lift/reduction. One problem with breasts lifts/reductions is that there is often still a deficiency in the upper pole of the breast (fullness). There is often sufficient tissue to perform an auto-augmentation by rotating some of the extra tissue up into the upper pole.
However, the other option is placing an implant at the same time or as part of a staged procedure. If your insurance company is paying for the reduction, I highly doubt that they will go along with having an implant placed at the same time. Good luck with your surgery.

Hi there,
Depending on the details of the technique used for your breast reduction (which always includes a lift), placing implants should be possible and safe. I don't think that you should think, however, that it is not possible to have a breast reduction without ending up looking deflated and flat. A well done breast reduction can absolutely result simultaneously in breasts that are smaller, lighter, round, and well-shaped.
If your goals can be achieved without an implant, it would definitely simplify your future needs. Search carefully for a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with a particular interest in breast surgery.

Based on the severity and complexity of the case, a breast lift/reduction may be done to help improve the shape and size of the breasts followed by an augmentation as well to provide fullness and volume. It doesn't necessarily have to be a large implant. A smaller implant can provide roundness and fullness while still looking natural and not affectting the weight and heaviness which causes back and shoulder pain. The procedures may be done at one time or may be done at seperate stages. I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss the best and safest possible options for your particular case. It is important that you emphazise the look you want to achieve to your surgeon. Finding photos of what you would like to look like can help your surgeon determine whehter implants would be benficial for you. Good luck!

probably not enough.  Newer breast reduction techniques use the breast tissue you currently have and reshape it into an aesthetically pleasing shape.  If you are symptomatic from your breast size, then you should have enough tissue to avoid the need for an implant.  Good luck!

Breast lift and breast reduction can share many things in common. In both the nipple is lifted and the breast shaped through a short scar pattern refered to by some of my patients as a "lollipop" incision, or around the nipple and down to the breast fold.
Differences lie in how the volume of the breast is altered. If you are happy with your current breast size reduction is not called for and the gland of the breast can be shaped within the lift pattern. Sometimes in lift or mastopexy there is insufficient volume, particluarly in the upper portion of the breast and this is where the addition of an implant for fullness or projection and upper fill produces a very nice result. There is no need to wait or consider a second operation if the current breast size or anticipated shape will not measure up to your expectation.
If reduction of breast size is needed there should be no reason to consider an implant, and breast lift is the "bonus" of a well executed breast reduction. Take your time and make sure you address corrrect what bothers you.
Best of luck.

Breast reduction and lifts together accomplish the main goal of decreasing the overall volume of the breast and lifting them to a more natural position. They help to relieve back pain and encourage more physical activity. However, it is true that the upper portion of the breast (upper pole) does not appear full. This is what you are noticing.
It is NOT common to place implants at the same time as a reduction/lift. However, there are many surgeons who have done a few of these procedures (not many). The ideal approach is to have the reduction/lift performed first. Then you should heal from this procedure and see what you think of the new shape and positioning of your breasts. If at that time you feel that an augmentation is necessary, then your surgeon can indeed do a second procedure to place breast implants to improve the upper pole. Good luck with your decision.