Breast Lift with Implants: Is Combined Mastopexy Augmentation Right for You?

Breast Lift with Implants in Upland CA: Is Combined Mastopexy Augmentation Right for You?

This comprehensive guide will walk you through what the procedure involves, who makes an ideal candidate, what recovery looks like, and how to decide between your options.

What Is Combined Mastopexy Augmentation?

A combined mastopexy augmentation is a single surgical procedure that addresses two distinct concerns at once:

• Augmentation: Adds volume and fullness through saline implants or silicone breast implants, helping restore upper-pole fullness that's often lost after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, or aging.

Why Choose a Lift and Implant Together?

For many women, neither a breast lift nor implants alone can achieve their desired result. Here's why the breast lift implant combination is often the better solution:

A Lift Alone May Not Restore Volume

A mastopexy repositions and reshapes existing breast tissue, but it doesn't add volume. If your breasts have lost significant fullness from pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss, a lift alone may leave you looking rejuvenated but still smaller than you'd like.

Implants Alone May Not Correct Sagging

Implants add volume and projection, but they can't reposition breast tissue that has already dropped. Placing an implant into a breast with significant sagging can sometimes make it more noticeable rather than less, which is why implants alone aren't the right fix for every patient.

Combining Procedures Means One Recovery

Doing both procedures together means one surgery, one anesthesia, and one recovery timeline — rather than going through the process twice.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

The best augmentation mastopexy candidates typically share several characteristics:

• Breasts that sag below the inframammary fold (the crease beneath the breast)
• Nipples that point downward or sit below the fold
• Loss of breast tissue volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
• Stretched or elongated breast shape
• Good overall health and realistic expectations
• Non-smoking status (or willingness to quit before and after surgery)

During your consultation, Dr. Frew will perform a thorough evaluation including measurements, skin elasticity assessment, and a detailed discussion of your aesthetic goals. Results vary by patient, and not every woman is a candidate for the combined procedure — some may benefit more from one or the other alone.

Choosing Your Implants

Implant Type

• Silicone breast implants: Known for a natural feel and softer movement; preferred by many women with thinner breast tissue.
• Saline implants: Filled after placement, allowing for smaller incisions; firmer feel compared to silicone.

Implant Profile Selection

Profile refers to how far the implant projects from the chest wall — low, moderate, or high — independent of volume. A higher profile creates more forward projection on a narrower base, while a lower profile spreads volume more broadly for a flatter, more natural slope. Dr. Frew helps you select the profile that best complements your chest width and desired outcome.

Size

Size is measured in cubic centimeters (cc), not cup size. Dr. Frew uses sizing techniques during your consultation to help you visualize potential outcomes.

What to Expect on Surgery Day

A combined mastopexy augmentation is typically performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. The general steps include:

1. Incision placement — Tailored to your anatomy and the degree of lift needed.

2. Implant placement — Positioned either above or beneath the chest muscle, depending on your tissue and goals.

4. Closure — Layered sutures help create the cleanest possible scar.

Most patients return home the same day with the help of a caregiver.

Recovery Timeline

Recovery from mastopexy with implants in the Inland Empire requires patience, but most patients are pleasantly surprised by how manageable it is.

• Week 1: Rest is essential. Soreness, swelling, and tightness are normal. Most patients take pain medication for several days and wear a supportive surgical bra.
• Weeks 2–3: Many return to desk work and light daily activities. Driving may resume once off pain medication.
• 3–6 months: Final shape continues to refine. Scars begin to fade, though full maturation can take up to a year or more.

Dr. Frew provides every patient with a personalized recovery plan and follow-up schedule to monitor healing.

Understanding Scars

Common incision patterns include:

• Periareolar (donut): Around the areola only — suitable for mild sagging.
• Lollipop (vertical): Around the areola and down to the breast crease — for moderate sagging.
• Anchor (inverted-T): Around the areola, vertically, and along the crease — for significant sagging.

Why Choose Opus Plastic Surgery?

At our practice, we believe that great results begin with great communication. Every consultation includes a thorough discussion of your goals, anatomy, and options — never a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

Making Your Decision

If you've been considering lift and implant surgery in California and want a thoughtful, customized consultation, Dr. Frew and the Opus Plastic Surgery team are here to help.

FAQ

Can I get a breast lift and implants in one surgery?

Yes, in many cases a combined mastopexy augmentation can be performed safely in a single surgery. This approach typically allows patients to undergo one anesthesia experience and one recovery period. However, candidacy depends on your tissue quality, health history, and goals — some patients may be advised to stage the procedures for the safest outcome.

Who is the ideal candidate for combined mastopexy augmentation?

Ideal candidates typically have breasts that sag below the inframammary fold with nipples pointing downward, combined with volume loss from pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss. Good overall health, realistic expectations, and non-smoking status round out candidacy. Dr. Frew confirms fit through a thorough evaluation during your consultation — some patients benefit more from one procedure alone.

What is the recovery like for a lift with implants?

The first week involves rest, with soreness, swelling, and tightness managed by pain medication and a supportive surgical bra. Many patients return to desk work and light activities by weeks 2–3, once off pain medication. Final shape continues to refine over 3–6 months, though full scar maturation can take up to a year or more.

Will I have visible scars after mastopexy augmentation?

Yes, all breast lift procedures involve some scarring, but incisions are carefully placed to be as discreet as possible. The pattern — periareolar, vertical, or anchor — depends on the degree of lift needed. Scars typically fade significantly over 12 to 18 months, and Dr. Frew provides personalized scar care guidance to support healing.

How do I choose between a lift, implants, or both?

It comes down to what's actually causing your concerns: a lift alone won't restore lost volume, and implants alone won't correct sagging — placing an implant in a breast that already droops can even make the sagging more noticeable. If you have both sagging and volume loss, combining the two addresses both in a single surgery and recovery. Dr. Frew can help you determine the right combination during your consultation.

Risks & Considerations

Overall Complications & Reoperation

Single-stage augmentation-mastopexy carries an overall complication rate of roughly 11–23% and a reoperation rate of roughly 9–23% across the major published series. The largest single-surgeon series (2,183 procedures, 43-month follow-up) reported an overall complication rate of 15.3% and a reoperation rate of 14.7%. A systematic review of 4,856 cases found pooled complications of 13.1% and reoperation of 10.7%. A 5-year series of 332 cases reported complications of 22.9% and reoperation of 23.2%. A national database analysis found 30-day reoperation did not differ significantly between augmentation-only, mastopexy-only, and combined procedures (1.2% vs 1.4% vs 1.5%; p=0.75) — suggesting the combined approach does not meaningfully raise near-term reoperation risk.

Recurrent Ptosis

Recurrent ptosis occurs in 2.1–5.2% of cases across series and is the most common indication for reoperation. Technique modifications — including septum-based parenchymal reduction and P4HB/GalaFLEX scaffold support — reduced this to as low as 1.3%, or zero, in specific series.

Capsular Contracture

Baker III/IV capsular contracture occurs in 2.8–3.9% of cases across series.

Modifiable Risk Factors

Smoking significantly increases both complications (26.1%) and reoperations (22.5%). Implant plane also matters: one series found a substantially higher complication rate with subglandular placement (63%) than dual-plane (47%) or modified dual-plane (23%) placement.

References

• Messa CA IV, Messa CA III. "One-Stage Augmentation Mastopexy: A Retrospective Ten-Year Review of 2183 Consecutive Procedures." Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2019.
• Khavanin N, Jordan SW, Rambachan A, Kim JYS. "A Systematic Review of Single-Stage Augmentation-Mastopexy." Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2014.
• Calobrace MB, Herdt K, Cothron WP. "Simultaneous Augmentation/Mastopexy: A Retrospective 5-Year Review of 332 Consecutive Cases." Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2013.
• Ali B, Choi EE, Barlas V, Nuzzi L, Morrell N, Labow B, Borah G, Taghinia A. "Perioperative Safety of Combined Augmentation-Mastopexy: An Evaluation of National Database." Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2021.
• Zucal I, Tremp M, Duscher D, et al. "Augmentation-Mastopexy: Analysis of 95 Consecutive Patients and Critical Appraisal of the Procedure." Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023.