Am I a good candidate for a crescent lift with implants? (Photos)

Hello and thank you for your question.
Based on your photographs, you do have mild ptosis of the nipple areolar complexes along with glandular ptosis ( breast tissue hanging below the inframammary fold). A crescentic lift does very little to correct glandular ptosis. In my opinion, you would likely need at least a lollipop mastopexy to provide you with an optimal aesthetic outcome. Good luck. I hope this helps.

If you are going to get a large implant, you may not even need a crescent lift because the augmentation will give a mild elevation of the nipple areolar complex. That way you could avoid the scar around the areola. Good luck!

Crescent lift will not make you happy. MAstopexy and lift is you needed. You will have a vertical scar and short horizontal scar.

I completely understand where you’re coming from. Many women who want to go larger hope to keep their results full and beautiful without extra scars, especially if they don’t mind a little natural softness or droop.
A crescent lift is the most minimal type of lift, using a tiny incision along the upper edge of the areola. It gives just a touch of lift, perfect when the nipples are only slightly lower than the breast crease. But if there’s more sagging or stretched skin, that small lift may not be quite enough to center the nipple and shape the breast properly around a larger implant.
When you go significantly bigger, the extra volume can make the breasts look heavier if the nipple sits too low, which is why some patients benefit from a short-scar (lollipop) lift. It’s a delicate technique that reshapes and supports the breast while keeping scars fine and discreet.
If your skin still has good elasticity and your nipples are in a good position, though, a crescent lift with implants might absolutely work, creating that round, full, and softly natural look you love. The secret is in balancing implant size, projection, and tissue support so your result looks voluptuous yet elegant, not overdone.
With the right plan, you can go beautifully larger, full, feminine, and confident, while still keeping everything soft, natural, and harmonious.
Dr. Sibel Atalay, MDBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon & Destination Doctor

Hello and thank you for your question. It is hard to say for sure without an in-person exam or a lateral view, but your nipple-areola complexes (NACs) appear to be 2-3 fingerbreadths below the level of your IMFs (breast folds). I would typically caution my patients that the implant will mainly be centered on the chest at/above the breast fold and that someone with your level of sagging/ptosis would benefit from a small vertical lift at the time of the augmentation. Without doing the lift, your breast tissue and nipples would look "off center" and lower from where the implant is sitting. Doing a crescent lift in my experience is good for when there is only 1 fingerbreadth or so of lift that we want to achieve in the NACs. Your next best step is to have a in-person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to do a physical exam, take some measurements and discuss the best approach for your anatomy - thank you!

As per the title, often times crescent mastopexies are a little underwhelming. I have found that if you look at these patients pre-and postoperative photographs after several months, the lift is usually minimal. I think it is worth trying if you are having your implants placed through your nipples, but don't count on anything to robust. Unfortunately with larger silicone implants the nipple approach may not be possible. The good news is that your desire for a large breast implant is the best route for a nice outcome without more aggressive scarring. I would simply start with a large augmentation and allow everything to settle before committing to any additional scar.

hello ,
thank you for you question
Thank you for your photo and question. Given your current degree of breast ptosis and your goal of going significantly larger, a crescent lift alone is likely insufficient. Crescent lifts offer minimal lift and are best for very mild sagging; in your case, a more comprehensive lift (like a periareolar or vertical mastopexy) may be needed to properly position the nipple and avoid a bottom-heavy look. Larger implants without adequate lift can worsen sagging over time.

Hello, the crescent lift typically provides a subtle lift. Whether you would be satisfied depends on your expectations and desired implant size, plus several anatomical factors that would be assessed during an in-person consult (such as degree of sagging (ptosis), sternal notch-to-nipple distance, skin tone, etc). Your plastic surgeon should be able to give you a good idea of the results that might be achieved. Thank you for your question.

Essentially because nobody is a good candidate for a crescent lift, it is a technical scam! Not a lift, but a bad oval elongation of areolas which end distorted egg-shaped and the breasts in the same droopy position.

Neither a periareolar or donut lift, a no-go.

Either get a normal lift (lollipop or anchor) or just go on with your life.

Thank you for your question. A crescent lift can be helpful for very mild cases of nipple droop, but it does not correct significant nipple descent, nor does it lift or reshape the breast tissue that hangs lower on the chest. In your case, the sagging results from both the nipple position and the downward shift of the breast tissue, so a crescent lift would offer minimal improvement and would not address the overall drooping shape. To achieve a more balanced and lifted appearance, especially if you’re considering going as large as possible with implants, a full breast lift combined with augmentation would provide the best results. If you prefer to minimize scarring initially, one option is to place the implants first, allow them to settle over a few months, and then reassess whether a lift is still needed. However, with this staged approach, you should expect more sagging at first, and in some cases, the added implant weight can make the ptosis more noticeable. Ultimately, the decision depends on your comfort with scarring, your desired breast size, and how important a lifted shape is to you from the beginning.

A crescentic lift is reserved for those with minimal sagging/ptosis. It accomplishes a lift by radially drawing in skin around the areola.

Based upon your photos, it is difficult to say with certainty that a crescentic lift would be appropriate. You appear to have mild ptosis/pseudoptosis which may respond to a more limited approach. That being said, if the droop is mild and you are willing to tolerate a small degree of post op ptosis you may be able to avoid a lift entirely.

As always discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).