For many women, a breast lift can do wonders to reclaim self-confidence. There’s just something delightful about high, round, perky breasts. This can be especially true during aging or after pregnancy and childbirth when breasts tend to sag and lose their youthful, plump shape. At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we offer breast lifts with and without implants. So if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Can I receive a breast lift without implants,” the answer is absolutely.

Of course, whether or not you will get your desired results without implants depends on many factors. But it is possible to see the benefits of a breast lift without implants. Certain women are better candidates than others, so Dr. Alan Larsen can give you your ideal surgery option after your consultation.

What is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift, also referred to as mastopexy, is a popular surgery for women who want to “put their breasts back on the shelf,” so to speak. When a breast lift is performed, the goal is to restore the breasts’ youthful appearance. Breast lift surgery removes excess skin and some breast tissue in order to raise and tighten sagging breasts. During the procedure, the breast tissue is reshaped into a more aesthetic appearance resulting in a perkier, rounder appearance. This also offers an enhanced cleavage, and many women notice firming of the breasts, even without implants.

There are a variety of techniques that can be used to achieve desired results. For some women, a breast lift can be performed by removing tissue (a small strip) from above the nipple and repositioning the nipple to a higher spot. For others, an incision around the areola and nipple is required to remove or tighten excess skin.

Why Do Women Get Breast Lifts?

At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we know women choose to have a breast lift for a variety of different reasons. Most of our clients who have breast lifts come to us after they are done having babies, after losing weight, or just because over time our skin loses elasticity and patients miss their lifted, perky breasts. It is often done with a Mommy Makeover where the patient just wants her pre-pregnancy, pre-breastfeeding figure back. 

We also have clients who have large breasts, seeking a breast lift to improve back aches and poor posture by easing the weight of the breasts. Breast lifts can also make stretched nipples appear smaller.

Click here to see more results from Dr. Larsen’s Breast Lift Patients in our Breast Aug Before & After Gallery

Reasons for a Breast Lift Without Implants

When receiving a breast lift without implants, it may be a more common option for firmer, more youthful breasts than some women realize. At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we love having the opportunity to educate women about all breast lift options, whether it includes implants or not. 

Since the native breast tissue can be molded and reshaped during a breast lift, the desired results can be achieved without implants.

Why Women Choose Not to Receive Implants:

Breast Size

If a patient is happy with the size of their breasts while wearing a bra, a breast lift without implants may be the best route. Lifting the existing breast tissue and reforming it with a breast lift can give desired results without implants. 

Breast Volume

For women struggling with the look of a flattened, long breast shape, the tissue can be reshaped during a breast lift. The improved shape and position of the nipple gives the ideal round, perky shape without needing implants.

Saggy Breasts

Similar to volume, if the main concern is sagging breasts, a breast lift without implants can be achieved by tightening existing breast tissue unless the sagging is too severe (ptosis).

Removal of Implants

If existing implants are being removed, a breast lift may be required to address stretched-out skin from the implants. For women who want to size down, but still have full, natural-looking breasts, a breast lift without implants may be the best option.

Weight Loss

For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight or who are in the process of losing weight, receiving implants at the time of a breast lift may not be ideal. These patients may not be good candidates for an implant during a mastopexy.

Cost of Surgery

Simply put, breast lifts without implants cost less. The difference between a mastopexy and a mastopexy with breast augmentation (implants) can be thousands of dollars.

Recovery Time

The less invasive the surgery, the quicker the recovery, so some women want a breast lift without implants for the minimal amount of recovery time.

Future Stress 

Since even the safest, most technologically advanced breast implants will need to be replaced at some point in the future, women do not need to worry about changing out a breast implant if they just get a breast lift.

Click here to see more results from Dr. Larsen’s Breast Lift Patients in our Breast Aug Before & After Gallery

The Pros of a Breast Lift With Implants

While it is possible to get fuller, more youthful breasts without implants, there are a lot of pros to doing a breast lift procedure with implants. The main reasons are guaranteed results and results over time.

Small Implants

Some women equate breast implants with size, fearing that implants will be way too big. The truth is that small, almost tiny implants are often used with beautiful results.

Upper Volume

At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, even though we can do breast lifts without implants, the result may look much more natural with a small implant for upper volume. Over time, everyone gets a little bit of a slope to their breast, and a small implant will help make everything look more natural.

Results Over Time

A breast lift without implants may provide desired results for a while, but down the road, women may wish they had the long-term guaranteed benefits of implants after all. Receiving implants with a breast lift initially may save time, money, and additional scarring down the road.

Sexy Cleavage

If a woman’s breast aesthetic goal includes enhanced cleavage, the best way to accomplish this is with breast implants. Using implants during a breast lift provides excellent lift, fullness, and symmetry, with gorgeous separation between the breasts.

Fat Transfer

One breast lift technique involves a fat transfer for the fullness. While it may work for some women, it is not a guaranteed solution. A breast lift with implants is the best way to ensure those desired results.  

What is a breast lift?

A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a cosmetic surgery that lifts the breasts by removing excess skin. This process tightens the surrounding tissue to create a more youthful breast shape. This procedure is a cosmetic surgery that improves the perkiness of your breasts. It’s common for women to experience sagging after childbirth, weight loss, genetics, or the normal aging process. Many women choose a breast lift because they prefer a more youthful silhouette. 

Sometimes patients opt to resize their areolas or reposition their nipples to improve breast projection. These subtle changes can boose a patients’ esteem and enhance their confidence. The results are a perkier rounded breast whether you’re wearing a bra. 

Although many women choose to schedule a breast lift for cosmetic reasons, there are many medical benefits to receiving a breast lift. In this post, we’re going to explore those benefits so you can determine if a breast lift might be the right procedure for you! 

Better posture

Better posture is one of the most reported benefits of a breast lift. This is because the weight of your breasts can cause women to slouch or cause the shoulders to roll forward and in slightly. Over time this bad posture can have repercussions on your entire body and ultimately affect your quality of life! 

By repositioning the breasts higher on your torso and closer to your chest, less pulling happens on your back. Many patients find they stand up straighter after this procedure. Multiple studies have shown that having good posture can lead to fewer headaches, less tension in your shoulders and neck, and decreased joint wear. Good posture has also been shown to leave you with greater energy levels, better circulation, digestion, and even rising self-esteem.

Increased Comfort

When breasts begin to sag, they weigh heavily into your bra; these results are uncomfortable bra straps digging into your shoulders or behind your back. Many women feel that they can’t wear the bras they want because it will be too painful. Breasts that sag can also lead to skin rubbing against skin. Over time, that friction can lead to chafing or infections in the worst-case scenario. Outside of these external issues, there is also internal discomfort; sagging breasts pull against the muscles that support the neck and back, leading to chronic pain over time. All of these issues can be resolved with a breast lift. This surgery can alleviate the discomfort of a bra, ease skin irritations and improve body pain. Many women love they no longer need a support bra after their surgery.

Click here to see more results from Dr. Larsen’s Breast Lift Patients in our Breast Aug Before & After Gallery

Improved mobility

Having large breasts that sag can restrict your range of motion. Many women complain that daily tasks such as cleaning or working out are impossible because of the restricted range of motion. Swimming and other aerobic activities can also be affected. This is especially problematic because moving is essential to living a healthy lifestyle. If your breasts keep you from living the life you want to lead, a breast lift can help. 

Many of our patients have reported enjoying exercise again after a breast lift. With their breasts placed higher on their chest, their posture improved, their discomfort lessened, and their range of motion increased. Women feel free to move and live a life they could not before. In addition, without so much weight and movement on the chest, women can partake of a wider variety of physical activities such as running and weight lifting that they might have avoided before their lift surgery. 

More confidence

Of course, we all take pride in our appearance. However, many women experience a boost to their self-esteem and body confidence after a breast lift. Although sagging breasts are a normal part of aging, many women become distressed and even face depression because of the discomfort brought on by sagging breasts. A breast lift can help you relieve this stress and make you feel more confident about your body. Confidence is necessary for health and longevity, and more confident people tend to be more optimistic. This has been linked to a higher quality of life and can also help guard your body against stress and depression. 

Live from the OR with Dr. Larsen!

In our latest surgery video, Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Alan N. Larsen, MD, performs part 1 of a two stage breast augmentation procedure at the Chastain Surgery Center. Dr Larsen’s patient, a 47 year old mother of two was ready for a big change. When trying on sizers at her consultation, she liked the look of larger implants best, so Dr. Larsen’s recommended a Breast Aug with a Breast Lift to achieve his patient’s goals. And for his patient’s ultimate safety, Dr. Larsen scheduled his patient’s procedures in 2 stages to preserve her blood supply. Watch stage one here! Breast Lift to come!