Breast Implants: Q&A

Ask a Question

Can Behind the Muscle Implants Help Lift Breasts?

I am 47 years old. I am currently a 34D size. My nipples are not completely displaced downward, only slightly. Can breast augmentation behind the muscle help fill in and lift without the breast lift procedure? If this can help, will it change my breast size?

Tags:

age 45-54 breasts nipples D cup female under muscle breast size lift

Comment on this

21 Doctor Answers | Asked by tbrayerpharmd in California

Doctor Answers (21)
Community Comments (0)

Achieving a breast lift with implants

Breast implants do not lift breasts. They may appear to lift the breasts if the breasts are deflated, but they are actually only filling up the skin envelope. If the distance from the sternal notch to the nipple is too long, and the nipple is at or below the lower fold of the breast, no type of implant will correct the drooping. It may camouflage it, by moving the breasts more onto the stomach, but patients who have LARGE saggy breasts and put an implant in to correct the problem usually... more

Breast lift with behind the muscle implants

A breast lift can only be accomlished with a breast lift. An augmentation in any position in a 47 year-old, 34 D patient will only produce a larger breast, which will soon sag even MORE. If the prosthesis is completely behind the muscle the breast will have a long shape or a "double bubble."

Implants don't lift the breast above or below the muscle

There is an urban myth among plastic surgeons that implants above the muscle can mildly lift the breasts. In my opinion, seeing many patients whom other doctors have tried this on, the look they get is more of a ball in sock rather than a nice lifted breast. Nobody believes behind the muscle implants will lift the breasts. If you are a D cup, the weight of your breasts will cause you to need a lift if you want the best look. The implant will give you upper pole fullness.

Breast Implants "Lift" Breasts

Thank you for the question. Breast implants do not allow for breast lifting; however, for the right patient the breast implants may fill the skin envelope such that an "illusion" of breast lifting is achieved. Nevertheless, if a woman's breasts' anatomy is such that breast lifting is necessary, breast implants alone will not be sufficient. I hope this helps.

Breast lift and implants

Implants behind the muscle or above the muscle increase the volume but do not lift the breasts. A formal lift is usually required.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast aug/lift

I would like to see a picture. However, most women in my experience need a formal breast lift. Generally speaking, breast augmentation does not lift the breast or the nipple. Unfortunately, many women are still told that it does.

Breast Lift also needed for sagging breasts with low lying nipples

Hello, If things are as you describe, you need breast lift surgery added. It is, of course, difficult to say anything with certainty without having examined you first.

Augmentation alone will not correct sagging breasts

Breast augmentation in your particular situation will not help in fact it will make the condition worse. Not only will you not get any lift from the implant you will have an unusual shape to the breast as well. This is called a snoopy dog nose breast. The implant will be held in a high position and your breast will sag and droop off of the implant. Your best option is with a breast lift.

Correction of mild breast ptosis

What you describe is ptosis or sagging of the breasts that can be defined in a variety of ways: amount of breast tissue sitting below the inframammary fold, the length of the breast skin from the clavicle to the nipple, the relative position of the nipple on the breast mound, the direction the nipple appears to point relative to the breast. An implant behind the muscle will usually not help, and often exacerbates, each of these situations. Sometimes a certain type or size of implant on top... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Will Breast Implants Lift my Breasts?

Hi there- Breast implants are never a good substitute for patients who need a breast lift.... In the sub-glandular position (above the muscle), or with a well-done dual plane technique, an implant may camouflage breast sagging a bit, but possibly at the expense of longevity and the overall outcome... If your goal for shape requires a re-shaping of your breasts, I would strongly recommend you find a surgeon who can perform a breast lift you would be happy with. When done well, breast lit scars us more

Breast Implants do not really lift the breasts

Implants CAN fill the upper part of the breast if it is hollow, and provide more roundness and fullness. If you feel you nipple is too low, or the fold of skin under the breast is too long (i.e. you can hold a pencil or two under your breast) then you would benefit from a lift. Placing implants in a breast that is already a bit long will make it longer over time.

Breast implants OVER the muscle will correct slight sagging.

Hi! 1) Breast implants will make your breasts significantly larger. If you are already a D cup, that is not a good idea. Very large breasts age poorly. So I don't recommend implants in any position for you. 2) Breast aumentation over the muscle, or with a dual plane approach, will correct mild sagging, and is a good idea for women with smaller breasts. Breast implants behind the muscle do not give women with sagging a good shape. 3) I know you are afraid of a breast lift, but it is... more

Small degree of lifting possible with breast implants

There is a SMALL degree of lifting that can be acheived with an implant, but this is only useful for patients that have excess lower breast skin, not patients who have low nipples. If your nipple is below the level of the fold of the breast behind, then only surgical elevation of the nipple will give an acceptable result. Also, as you mention, any implant used to fill up the breast will also increase your size. When it comes to decisions like this the best answer is to have a face to face... more

Lift by breast implants

Although there is no actual lift, a deflated breast will look better and more youthful with added volume. That can be accomplished with breast implants. Sometimes they can be placed under the muscle, sometimes they need to be on top on the muscle. This depends on a number of factors. Overall if your breasts are not too droopy you may be pleasantly surprised with breast implants.

Lifting the breast with implants

As you probably can tell, there are very different opinions on this question depending upon who you are talking with. If you really have sagging breasts, with the nipples pointed down, or below the level of the imframammary crease, you will need a breast lift -- plain and simple. If you attempt to treat with this situation with an implant alone, you will end up with larger, sagging breasts. In your situation, with some minimal sagging or inferior displacement of the nipple, it is possible... more

Behind the muscle implants for lifting breasts

In my opinion without photos I can not give an accurate assessment of your issues with the breasts. I recommend getting an evaluation from a boarded plastic surgeon. In the mean time, you could use a very large implant to lift your breasts about a centimeter or so. Otherwise you will need some type of lifting. So please call your plastic surgeon to set up a consultation.

Breast Lift with Implants

Implants can provide only a very little lift sometimes and a mastopexy of some sort is required for any significant breast lift. There are certainly advantages to placement of implants behind the muscle, but achieving a lift is not one of them. Implants placed beneath the muscle do usually lead to a "more natually-appearing" breast..

Breast Implants for a lift

There is some confusion about implants and lifting for a couple of reasons. One of these is that breasts that are "deflated" after childbearing, weight loss, or menopause appear saggy and replacing the volume with implants looks like it also lifted the breasts. If that is your situation then implants might be all you need, but it won't make a difference if they are behind or in front of the muscle. That is a separate decision based on different considerations. Everyone wants to... more

Lift from behind the muscle placement depends on sagging of your breasts

The question you ask all depends on how much sagging your breasts have. If it is only slight a breast augmentation behind the muscle with a high profile implant can look very good if the nipples point to the ground then it needs a mastopexy. It there is some skin below the nipple areolar complex and the nipples point up some there is a chance that the augmentation behind the muscle will look good and there is a chance a lift will be adequate.

Lifting a breast with augmentation using implants

This is a matter of opinion, but in my experience, the best method to lift a breast and specifically the nipple and areola complex is to use a high profile implant placed over the muscle. Please realize that this tends to create the more "fake"look. However, it is the best technique to "inflate" a deflated breast and allow upward rotation of the nipple. Over time, however, this enlarged breast is more prone to recurrent ptosis (sag). see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants for lifting mildly sagging breasts

Since you did NOT state otherwise, I would ASSUME that you are happy with the size of your breast and how they fill your favorite bra or blouse. If this is the case, I would not assume the potential cost and complications of a breast Augmentation if all you would want is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy). In this case, I would recommend that you just undergo the latter procedure which will replace the nipple areolar complexes in their rightful, attractive location on your breasts with the least... more