Separate Breast Lift and Augmentation Procedures Due to Multiple Issues?

These procedures are often performed together. Much is often said about a surgeon's experience and if he is 'comfortable' doing it at the same time. My feeling is more along the lines that many surgeons are experienced enough to know that a patient will leave if they are told two surgeries is in their best interest.
CAN it be done all at once? Of course, we do it all the time. SHOULD it be done all at once? Of course, we do it all the time. I think the most relevant question is directed towards do you have favorable anatomy for it to be done all at once (All bets are off if you smoke). There is a group of patients with difficult anatomy for this to work out. Some of my best results are from staged surgeries that simply could not have been done in one. The most often is to do both surgeries in one operation but be sure that your surgeon does stage them if it is necessary.
Best Wishes,
DoctorMeade

Thanks for the question. Without viewing photos (of yourself as well as your goals) it will be difficult to give you accurate advice. Generally speaking, whether or not breast augmentation/lifting should be gone in a single  operation or staged fashion  is not a question agreed-upon by all plastic surgeons. There are good plastic surgeons who will insist on doing the procedures separately and there are good plastic surgeons who can produce excellent outcomes in a single stage.The combination breast augmentation / mastopexy surgery differs from breast augmentation surgery alone in that it carries increased risk compared to either breast augmentation or mastopexy surgery performed separately. Furthermore, the potential need for revisionary surgery is increase with breast augmentation / mastopexy surgery done at the same time.In my opinion, the decision to do the operation in a single or two staged fashion becomes a judgment call made by a surgeon after direct examination of the patient. For me, if I see a patient who needs a great degree of lifting, who has lost a lot of skin elasticity, or whose goal is a very large augmentation then I think it is best to do the procedures in 2 stages (in order to avoid serious complications). However, doing the procedure one stage does increase the risks of complications in general and the potential need for further surgery. This increased risk must be weighed against the practical benefits of a single stage procedure (which most patients would prefer).Conversely, if I see a patient who requires minimal to moderate lifting along with a small to moderate size augmentation (and has good skin quality), then doing the procedure one stage is much safer. Nevertheless, the potential risks are greater with a one stage procedure and the patient does have a higher likelihood of needing revisionary surgery.I hope this, and the attached link helps.

Although I have always performed breast lifts with implants in a single stage with very low revision rates over the past 25 years and I have not experienced more excessive scarring. Even if this did occur it could easily be taken care of as an office procedure later. I have no problems however with other plastic surgeons who feel the need to do this in two stages. It is becoming a trend to do breast lifts with implants in one stage however the important point is that surgeons should do what they do best. Usually their training determines what technique they will perform in the future.You should never "force" a surgeon to do a technique that they do not feel comfortable performing. Make sure you pick a board certified plastic surgeon.