Can I get breast implants without a lift? (photos)

Hi there, thanks for your question. Based on photos, yes you are a canidate for breast implants without a lift. It would give you the upper fullness and volume you are looking for, and when you put an implant in it does give a natural bit of a lift to the areala as well.

Hi & thanks for your question!
It may be possible to have a breast augmentation with out having a lift. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

In my practice, I strive for perfection, symmetry, and balance. Your breasts are asymmetric with the left one being slightly more ptotic, slightly smaller, and lower than the right. Without a mastopexy (most likely only circumareolar would be required) there is virtually no way to get your nipple position exactly symmetric. If you underwent strictly a breast augmentation, you definitely would have beautiful cleavage, a nice full and natural look, however, your nipples would still be asymmetric, and your left breast would likely still be lower than your right side. If you can live with this asymmetry and don’t expect perfection, you might be perfectly happy with just a breast augmentation alone. Additionally, you can always undergo a secondary mastopexy 6 months later if you are not fully satisfied with your outcome initially.

Thank you for sharing your pictures and question. Yes, you can definitely choose to have breast implants without undergoing a lift. It's important to understand that this option will provide increased volume and fullness to your breasts, but the position of your nipples will remain unchanged. If you're comfortable with that and prefer a more natural, lower-sitting look, breast implants alone could be the right choice for you. I encourage you to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess your individual anatomy and discuss your personal goals.

I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Mildly Sagging Breasts: If your breasts are mildly droopy, a saline or silicone gel implant placed behind the pectoral muscle might help create the illusion of perkiness. That’s because as the implant fills out the top of the breast, it also fills out the bottom, making it look as if the nipple has moved higher. It hasn’t. You can always get a lift later if you feel you are not perky enough when fully settled and healed. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Dear Sensible238222,
determining whether you need simply a breast augmentation versus a breast lift can be somewhat complicated. It depends on a number of factors including skin laxity and current nipple position. Generally speaking, if the nipples are lower than the inframammary line the patient will most likely need a breast lift. If the nipples are at or above the inframammary line we can generally get by with just a breast augmentation depending on the size of the implant the patient wants. I often still using implant when I perform a breast lift because it provides more upper breast fullness after the lift. To be sure a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help determine what the patient actually needs.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Yes, based on your photos you look like a very reasonable candidate for a breast augmentation without a lift. Lifts usually come into play when the nipple-areola complex is significantly lower than the fold underneath the breast--yours looks to be slightly above the level of the fold.

Yes, I think you can have breast augmentation without a lift. There are tradeoffs to having the lift - the scars. And there are tradeoffs to not having the lift - your nipples will not be elevated much. But if you choose a moderate or small size implant, then it can still look very nice and natural. Talk to your surgeon in person so he/she can really give you a better idea of what to expect with each size. Best of luck!

Thanks for your inquiry and pictures, if you pick a smaller more modest implant without too much height, I believe you can avoid a lift and have a more natural look, best of luck.

In general, it appears that a lift would be required for the implants to sit directly behind the breast tissue. However, if you utilize a bit larger and more projecting implants, this can lift the nipples substantially and decrease the need for a lift. The problem with this is that it does not provide a "natural" look due to the size of the implants. In my clinical practice, I have found it more beneficial to perform a combination augmentation and mastopexy for a more natural look.