Breast Lift: Q&A

Ask a Question

I Had a Breast Lift, but Can I Get a Fuller Firmer Look W/o an Implant? (photo)

I had a breast lift 9 months ago and would like a fuller, firmer look on the upper part of my breasts to be able to wear the kind of tops that you can never find the right bra for. Is it possible to achieve that look with out an implant?

Tags:

9 months post-op fullness without implants

Comment on this

16 Doctor Answers | Asked by nataly123

Doctor Answers (16)
Community Comments (0)

Can I Get a Fuller Firmer Look W/o an Implant?

What you seek can best be achieved with an implant, not without. Right now there is too much breast tissue below the nipples, and an increased distance from the lower part of the areola to the breast fold. That appearance can be improved with another lift, with the vertical incision and a horizontal incision in the fold. Since the areolar position is ok, that incision would remain as is. Without an implant the upper pole may appear fuller for a while, but within months... more

Breast Lift for a Fuller Look

A full breast lift revision can both take skin from below the nipple areola complex to reduce that distance and elevate tissue to the superior pole of the breast. In addition, tissue can be moved from lateral to medial to create fullness.

Breast Lift Revision

Your breasts show what we call pseudoptosis. WHile you will never get the firm, perky breasts that you may want, you can get improvement. It looks like you would benefit from a revision because there is too much breast tissue below the nipples, making the nipples appear too high on side profile. You can have some skin removed from the lower part of the breast and this should improve the lift.

Breast fullness without implants following breast lift

The short answer in my opinion is no. Most breast lifts look great for a few months but then the upper fullness goes away. Really the breast lift is a nipple lift. The problem is the sagging breast by definition lacks elasticity. The best solution in many cases is a reduction/ lift followed a few months later by a breast augmentation with implants.

Breast lift and implant for fullness

I have a bit of a complicated answer for you, but I think it will help. Your pictures reveal a nipple and areola that sits at a high enough position to give the appearance of a lift, but the volume of the breast is hanging low. This results in a drooping of the breast - just what you didn't want. Also, the low hanging volume forces the nipple to face upward instead of straight ahead. An implant will only make you bigger. What you need is more lift of the volume... more

I Had a Breast Lift, but Can I Get a Fuller Firmer Look W/o an Implant?

Patients who are considering breast lift (or mastopexy) will often push up their breasts in front of the mirror. This produces a good deal of upper fullness. It is important they understand that the surgery will absolutely not increase upper pole fullness longer than a month or two, after which they will be as empty as they were preoperatively. This is despite claims by some surgeons that they can move breast tissue from the lower to the upper breast - I have never seen convincing... more

Upper pole fullness

If you want upper pole fullness, you may need implants. It is best to go for a consultation to determine if this would be necessary.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implants help Upper Pole Fullness

More upper pole fullness is best achieved by an implant. Unfortunately when a breast lift is done initially there is upper pole fullness but as the the tissues relax and swelling subsides this fullness decreases. Dr. ES

Unrealistic Expectations?

You're asking one of the most common questions I get with breast lifts and reductions...everyone wants upper pole fullness, unfortunately real breasts have weight to them and as they settle and gravity continues to pull them down, patients have less and less upper pole fullness. If you're adamant about having your breasts "higher" then you have to make your breasts significantly smaller and probably use an anchor-shaped scar so that they are not as susceptible to the effects of gravity... more

More Fullness

There are techniques to achieve more upper pole fullness without implants; however, a subpectoral implant with additional skin tightening is also an option. Hope this helps.

Getting upper pole fullness without implant

Based on your photos, you still have generous amount of breast tissues but they are not where you like them to be. You also have quite a bit of lower pole breast skin which gives you a "bottomed out" appearance. It's definitely easier to achieve a fuller upper pole appearance with addition of breast implant but you will end up with even larger and heavier breasts than what you already currently have. A redo breast lift is not easy either but in hands of experienced plastic surgeon, you can... more

Lasting upper pole fullness with a lift hard to acheive without an implant

It is very difficult to achieve lasting upper pole fullness without an implant placed under the muscle. Even then, it is critical that the operation be done correctly by your surgeon to achieve lasting upper pole fullness. You should ask the surgeon you choose to see long lasting results such as patient 10 in the breast lift with implants section on our website - this is a five year result. Too often, the implant just bottoms out and the patients is left with no upper pole... more

Better upper pole fullness.

Thanks for sharing and your photos. The breast results look very reasonable, but you do not have a full upper pole. A silicone breast implant placed under the muscle is probably your best option to achieve a nicer upper pole and a balanced look. Best wishes, Aldo.

Aldo Guerra, MD

55 reviews

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Fuller Firmer look without implants?

Based on your photos, you could have a breast lift revision and breast augmentation at the same time. To acheive the fullness that you desire, you should talk to your Plastic Surgeon about implants. At the same time, he could take out a little more skin to lift the breast.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD

4 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

I Had a Breast Lift, but Can I Get a Fuller Firmer Look W/o an Implant? (photo)

Sagging of the breast after breast lift surgery is very common Revisional surgery can re elevate the breast giving more upper pole fulness I commonly use mesh to help support the breast tissue internally

Achieving Fuller/Firmer Breasts?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Your goals are understandable and a commonly requested outcome after breast surgery. In my practice, the only predictable way to achieve a “fuller, firmer look” would be to use breast implants. You will likely benefit from further skin excision as well ( tightening up of the breast skin envelope). I hope this helps.