Should You Combine a Breast Lift with Implants?

When it comes to breast lifts and implants, the question of whether or not you should get implants with your breast lift has an answer that’s not so cut-and-dry. We’re talking about shape, position, and proportion. Dr. Stephan Baker says it best in his recent Instagram reel: it all depends on your goals and anatomy.

That’s the heart of the conversation around combining a breast lift with implants, a question many women ask when they’re considering breast enhancement surgery. Can you address sagging breasts and increase breast volume at the same time? The short answer is yes. The real question is, should you?

Let’s break down when this combination procedure makes sense, what it involves, and what kind of recovery period to expect.

Understanding the Difference

A breast lift (mastopexy) and breast augmentation are two separate procedures, but they often complement one another beautifully.

A breast lift procedure focuses on repositioning the breasts higher on the chest wall, removing excess skin, and tightening sagging tissue for a more youthful contour. It’s a reshaping surgery. It doesn’t add volume but corrects breast ptosis (the technical term for drooping).

Breast implants, on the other hand, are used to restore or increase volume. They can enhance breast shape and fullness, balance asymmetry, or replace volume lost after weight loss, pregnancy, or aging.

When performed together, the lift with implants can elevate the breasts, reshape them, and add volume all in one surgery and one recovery period.

When to Consider Combining a Breast Lift and Implants

Many women come in unsure whether they need one procedure or both. Dr. Baker often starts by assessing three things: the position of the nipple, the amount of breast tissue you naturally have, and how much excess skin or sagging is present.

If your nipples sit below the breast crease, that’s usually a sign that a breast lift will help restore a natural, youthful contour. If the breasts also feel deflated or lack fullness in the upper pole, adding breast implants can refine the shape and volume simultaneously.

Patients with significant breast sagging but good breast volume may only need a lift. Those with minimal sagging and loss of volume may only need implants. But for women dealing with both, especially after weight loss or childbirth, combining a breast lift with implants often creates the most balanced, natural-looking results.

The Benefits of a Combined Procedure

Opting for a breast lift with implants means achieving comprehensive results in one surgery. That means one recovery period, one anesthesia event, and a single set of follow-up appointments.

Many patients appreciate how efficient that feels. Rather than undergoing two separate surgeries months apart, the combined approach saves time while also ensuring that the lift and implant placement work together for improved breast shape and symmetry.

A few additional benefits include:

• Improved breast shape and position: The lift raises the breast while the implant restores volume.
• Better proportions: A balanced shape between the upper and lower breast creates a more youthful contour.
• Comprehensive results: Addressing both breast sagging and volume loss creates lasting improvement in both look and feel.

Dr. Baker’s approach prioritizes natural breast tissue and proportion. His goal is to deliver subtle, youthful-looking breasts that still move and feel natural.

What the Surgery Involves

A breast lift mastopexy usually involves removing excess skin, reshaping the breast tissue, and repositioning the nipple-areola complex higher on the chest. Dr. Baker often uses the inverted-T incision, which circles the areola, and extends down to the breast crease. This technique allows better lifting, especially when combined with implant placement. During the same breast surgery, the chosen implants (silicone or saline) are inserted into a carefully created breast pocket, either above or below the pectoral muscle, depending on your anatomy and goals.

Dr. Baker works meticulously to balance both elements, ensuring the implant size complements your frame and the breast lift procedure enhances your natural shape. The result? Breasts that look youthful, lifted, and naturally proportioned.

Choosing the Right Implants

When it comes to breast augmentation, the type of implant makes a difference.

• Saline implants are filled with sterile saline solution and inserted empty, then filled once they’re in place. They can be adjusted for symmetry and are a great option for patients who prefer smaller incisions.
• Silicone implants come pre-filled with a cohesive silicone shell that mimics the feel of natural breast tissue.

Dr. Baker helps each patient select the right implant size and type for their body and goals. The objective is harmony between breast size, shape, and position.

The Recovery Process

A combination procedure generally has a recovery timeline similar to either surgery performed alone, though the early stages can feel a bit more noticeable because both the skin and internal tissues are healing.

Most patients experience mild swelling and tightness for the first week or two. Wearing a compression garment supports healing and helps minimize swelling. Keeping activity gentle (no vigorous exercise or heavy lifting) is important for at least the first few weeks.

As with any plastic surgery, following your surgeon’s post-operative plan closely helps ensure a smooth healing process and a safe, predictable outcome. Dr. Baker schedules follow-up appointments to check incision lines, monitor surrounding tissue, and make sure your breasts settle evenly as they heal.

Because both the breast lift and implant surgery occur in one session, patients enjoy the convenience of one recovery period and can usually return to light activity within two weeks. Full recovery varies, but most patients are back to normal activities within four to six weeks.

Things to Keep in Mind

Like any cosmetic procedure, a breast lift with implants requires a realistic mindset and a healthy body going into surgery. Good candidates are non-smokers, maintain a stable weight, and have no significant medical concerns that could interfere with healing.

Your board-certified plastic surgeon will also discuss things like:

• Skin quality and elasticity: Determines how well your skin supports the new shape.
• Breast symmetry: Helps guide implant selection and incision placement.
• Pre-existing implants or revision surgery: If you have existing implants, Dr. Baker may adjust the breast pocket or remove excess tissue to improve your outcome.
• Future changes: Breasts continue to age naturally. Even with the best techniques, gravity and time can alter results slightly over the years.

A healthy lifestyle after surgery with balanced nutrition, hydration, and avoiding major weight fluctuations helps preserve your results long-term.

The Role of Experience

Combining breast augmentation and a breast lift requires both technical expertise and an artistic eye. Dr. Baker’s years of experience in plastic surgery and his deep understanding of breast tissue, implant placement, and proportion help him create outcomes that look balanced and natural.

He often reminds patients that the goal is to restore harmony between volume, contour, and position. Every detail, from the nipple-areola complex to the breast crease, contributes to that final, natural-looking result.

A Balanced Approach

Still wondering if you should combine a breast lift with implants? The answer depends on your anatomy, goals, and comfort level. Many women find that combining a breast augmentation and lift delivers more comprehensive results than either procedure alone. For others, focusing on one concern at a time feels right.

Either way, the key is working with a board-certified plastic surgeon who prioritizes your safety, proportion, and long-term satisfaction. Dr. Baker’s philosophy (careful, minimal, always natural) ensures that your breast enhancement surgery feels refined, elegant, and uniquely yours.

Your Next Steps

Thinking about breast surgery can raise a lot of questions, especially about recovery, scarring, and how results will age over time. Having an open, honest conversation with a trusted surgeon can bring clarity and confidence. If you’re curious about whether a lift with implants is right for you, Dr. Baker’s measured, realistic approach is a good place to start.

Sometimes, it’s not about choosing the biggest change. It’s about choosing the one that feels balanced, natural, and right for your body.