Can I get implants without a breast lift?

You haven't shown us enough photos to be certain how much drooping you have, but it does appear to me you have some drooping (even if a little).  As long as you can live a little with some drooping, then it's reasonable for you to consider implants only.  Be sure to discuss your goals and concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon and consider the pros and the cons. Be certain your surgeon is properly certified.  I've attached a link where you can start your search. 

Thanks for your question. Breast implants will only address the issue of adding or restoring volume. If you were to only just have implants placed in without a lift or mastopexy the weight of them may cause the breasts to droop further, despite them being placed under the muscle. You may end up less than satisfied and most likely require an additional surgery. Based on your photos it appears you would benefit from a lift which would improve your nipple position, in conjunction with implants. There are a few different lift techniques benelli, lollipop or anchor incision. I recommend an in person consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to address a cosmetic treatment plan that suits your individual needs in order to achieve the best outcome.

Thank you for your question and photo,You do not need implants! All you need is a breast lift that will use your own tissue to fill the top of your breasts. The Bellesoma Method was not only designed to achieve upper pole fullness without implants, but it has also eliminated the dreaded vertical scar component. Breasts are beautifully reshaped and elevated with minimum scarring. Long term results are this technique's hallmark. An internal support is fashioned using a woman's own tissue to keep the newly shaped breast high for years to come. Nipple sensitivity along with the ability to breast feed is also preserved. Remember, implants are not stable devices and as such require maintenance in the form of costly revisions. I hope this helps. Best wishes and kind regards, Dr. Gary Horndeski

In addition to previous comments, you should carefully consider delaying any surgery until once you are done having children.  A great result from a breast lift (or augmentation) may be unravelled by the temporary breast enlargement you would experience with another pregnancy/lactation.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  With that
being said, based on your photographs, the best shape and contour could be
achieved with an implant and a breast lift. Your nipple sits below the
inframammary fold and without a lift in addition to the implant, this will not
have a natural shape.  A breast lift with an implant can result in a very
nice shape if good technique is used.  The size, profile, and shape of
the implant is based on your desired breast size/shape, your chest wall
measurements, and soft tissue quality.  This decision should
be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you
and your surgeon.  Your surgery should be performed under general anesthesia with a board-certified MD anesthesiologist administering anesthesia.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question and photograph. Unfortunately I think you will not obtain a satisfactory result with only implant placement. You have a moderate amount of breast sagging and excess skin to your breasts that will not correct itself with implants alone. A lift will correct both of these problems while also placing your nipple and areola into an elevated more youthful position and improving your shape and contour. If you are planning on having another child soon I would advise you to wait until after your family is complete to pursue surgery and in my practice all patients must have general anesthesia for the procedures.  Hope that this helps.

Somethings to consider:You have low seated heavy breasts which are uneven.  Implants alone will have to be large and will have the effect of a "rock in a sock."  They will drop quickly due to their weight and gravity and be lower than they are now.  No woman ever asked for huge breasts at waist level...right?If you are having more children- why do anything now??  Your breasts will change again making revision surgery likely sooner rather than later. And you will have wasted your $$.Implants with a lift (after kids) will make your breasts more even, LIFT them and make them more proportionate to your figure.It's important to look at both long and short terms goals and not make a decision today that will waste your investment and have short lived satisfaction.Yes the surgery is with anesthesia and this is for your safety and comfort.  It is our goal to perform the procedures with the highest standard of care to reduce complications and ensure the best outcome.In good heath,Ellen Mahony, MD

My best bet from your pictures would be to go with a lift.  He has, it may add some scar, but the overall shape and position of the breast is more important than the scar.  Implants can provide a very modest lift.Imagine a partially deflated balloon tacked against a wall.  Much like you see at a carnival dart toss.Now, imagine inflating the balloon.  You can imagine how it would lift off that wall somewhat.  So even though no specific maneuvers are being done to lift that balloon, it will rise slightly just due to the reinflation.The same thing happens with the breast implant.  The degree of lift is slight, usually only about 1-2 cm.  This may be all you need, it may not be.  That depends upon a visit with a board-certified plastic surgeon.  If you do need a lift, it is far better to accept the scars with the procedure, which will fade with time, rather than a poorly-shaped breast with the breast tissue hanging off the implant unnaturally.Best of luck!
Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Without examining you it's difficult to give specific advice but based on the photos it looks like you would probably require a lift to get an ideal result if you weren't planning on going with extremely large implants. I would not advise local anaesthetic for a breast augmentation, its unlikely that we'd be able to keep you completely comfortable. The only way to know for sure if you'll need a lift to achieve your goals is to book a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to see what your options are. Best of luck!  

Hi mybbljourney,

Determining whether you need simply a breast implant versus a breast lift or both 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 breast augmentation depending on the size of the implant the patient wants. I often use an implant when I perform a breast lift because it provides more upper breast fullness after the lift.

Also, breast implant selection is a complicated process and requires a detailed consultation that includes a discussion of your goals, a detailed examination, and a lengthy discussion.

You should discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon and make sure that your surgeon understands your goals.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery 

Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery