Breast lift with no implants - what can I do to get upper pole fullness? (Photos)

Thank you for your question. Your upper-pole deflation after a lift isn’t something you failed to do. It’s normal tissue settling as post-op edema resolves and skin and ligament elasticity reassert. To reliably restore and maintain upper-pole fullness, the most predictable solution is a lift revision with a small implant, sized conservatively to prevent bottoming out, with optional absorbable internal support. Non-surgical options such as bras, exercises, and energy devices won’t provide lasting volume, and fat grafting alone can help but usually offers less-stable upper-pole fullness than an implant. During your consultation, your board-certified surgeon will evaluate skin quality, tissue thickness, nipple position, and plan implant size and placement, as well as whether additional lift adjustments or internal support are needed.

Now that your breasts have been lifted, you can proceed with augmentation to help with upper pole foulness as you mentioned. Either an appropriately sized saline or silicone implant will suffice; or fat transfer is another great option. I hope this helps, thank you for the inquiry!

A lift does not deliver upper pole fullness. It tightens the skin envelope and repositions the NAC. The fullness initially noted was likely a function of swelling.

The hollowing which is noted as we age is not a function of sagging of the breast tissue but rather involution. The tissue is not drooping it is gone. Thus the solution is to replace it via augmentation (or less reliably fat transfer).

Based on your photos, you are a reasonable candidate for augmentation.

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

Thanks for your question. From your pictures and since you want upper pole fullness, it seems like you would be a good candidate for a breast lift with implants. I recommend scheduling a consult for a proper evaluation. Please always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Dr. Moises Salama, board certified plastic surgeon.

Thank you for your photos. You have an excellent result from your breast lift. Numerous techniques have been used to retain the upper pole fullness after breast lift, and the results don’t hold up well. This is because of the gravitational effects on the breast tissue as well as the stretching of the skin of the lower breast overtime due to skin relaxation. The most reliable way to get upper pole fullness after a breast lift is to have an implant placed. The implant result is predictable and reliable. Another possible option is fat grafting to the upper pole of the breast, however, fat grafting results are not predictable nor reliable. You should have a detailed discussion with your Plastic surgeon about this. Best wishes.

Hello,Thank you for sharing your pictures. After evaluating your photos, I agree with you. You have glandular ptosis and a loss of upper pole fullness. I would like to point out that after surgery it is normal to experience some sagging and loss of fullness over time. Based on my experience, a breast implant would address both concerns. It will restore the lost volume and correct the mild sagging at the same time. I am confident that the results will make you happy and improve your self-confidence.

Based on your desired look you can consider a lift with autoaugmentation. This method uses your own tissue to give more upper pole fullness. It is different than fat transfer. You could also consider adding an implant. There are no nonsurgical procedures that could help you achieve what you are wanting. I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

Considering the amount of sagging that was present initially, you have had a good aesthetic outcome. You can still achieve more upper pole fullness with either fat transfers or more likely implants.

Dear Modest553432,

upper pole fullness is achieved with appropriate implant selection but more importantly, submuscular placement, and precise pocket dissection. The submuscular placement allows the muscle to cover the top part of the implant which allows the upper pole to appear more full. Keeping away from the lateral chest during pocket dissection allows the implant to remain higher and prevents it from falling off to the side.


Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your inquiry! We would love to meet with you to discuss your goals. It sounds like you are looking for volume to fill the space. A fat transfer or some Alloclae would be an option for you. Schedule a consult with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.