Is Breast Augmentation or a Breast Lift Right for You?
These procedures are designed for patients who would like to change the volume, shape, or position of their breasts. You may be a good candidate if several of the following feel familiar:
- You would like more fullness or volume, or your breasts have always felt small for your frame.
- Your breasts have lost volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight changes.
- Your breasts sit lower than they once did, or the nipples point downward or rest below the breast fold.
- Your breasts differ noticeably from one another in size or shape.
- You are in good general health, do not smoke, or are willing to stop well before and after surgery.
- You are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding, and you have realistic expectations for a natural, proportionate result.
Breast implants alone cannot correct significant sagging, and a breast lift alone does not add meaningful volume. Part of every consultation is understanding which concern matters most to you and deciding honestly whether surgery, and which kind, is warranted.
What the Procedure Involves
Every breast procedure is planned around your individual anatomy, including your chest width, skin quality, and breast tissue. Surgery usually takes one to a few hours, depending on whether augmentation, a breast lift, or both are performed.
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation uses breast implants to add volume and shape. The implant is placed through a discreet incision, most often in the fold beneath the breast, and positioned either beneath the breast tissue or partly beneath the chest muscle. Implant size, shape, and profile are chosen to suit your chest width, tissue, and goals rather than a number on a chart.
Breast lift (mastopexy)
A breast lift raises and reshapes breasts that have descended, removing excess skin and repositioning the nipple and areola higher on the breast. Depending on the degree of lift needed, incisions may circle the areola, extend vertically below it, or also follow the breast fold. A breast lift improves shape and position but does not, on its own, add significant volume.
When the two are combined
When the breasts have both lost volume and descended, a breast lift and breast implants may be combined. The lift restores position and shape, while the implant restores fullness, particularly in the upper breast. Depending on your anatomy, this may be performed in a single operation or in stages, which is discussed openly during your consultation.
Anesthesia and setting
Breast augmentation and breast lift procedures are typically performed under general anesthesia. The approach is chosen with your comfort and safety in mind, and the plan is reviewed with you in advance.
Recovery Timeline
Healing is individual, and the timeline below is a general guide rather than a promise. You will receive specific instructions and be seen regularly during your recovery.
In the early days, wearing your surgical bra, sleeping on your back, and avoiding lifting and strenuous activity all help the tissues heal. Upper body exercise is reintroduced gradually once cleared. Any questions between visits can be directed to the practice at any time.
Day 1
Rest at home in a supportive surgical bra. Expect tightness, soreness, and swelling across the chest. A responsible adult should stay with you.
Week 1
Discomfort is usually greatest in the first few days, then steadily eases. You will be seen for follow-up and should avoid lifting, pushing, or reaching overhead.
Week 2
Many patients feel comfortable returning to desk work and light daily activities. Continue wearing your support garment as directed.
Month 1
Most swelling has eased and light exercise usually resumes once cleared. Upper body exercise is reintroduced gradually.
Month 3
Breast implants continue to settle into a softer, more natural position, and the shape after a breast lift becomes more defined. Incisions continue to fade.
Month 6
The result is close to its settled form, and scars continue to mature over the following months.
What Breast Augmentation & Lift Costs
Because every breast procedure is tailored, the cost is set after a consultation, once your anatomy and goals are understood. The overall fee typically reflects:
- Whether you are having breast augmentation, a breast lift, or both together.
- The type of breast implants chosen, when implants are part of the plan.
- The extent of the lift and the incision pattern required.
- Anesthesia fees and the surgical facility if indicated.
- The surgeon’s training and the time devoted to planning and follow-up care.
Cosmetic breast surgery is generally not covered by insurance. You will receive a detailed, written quote after your consultation, so there are no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between breast augmentation and a breast lift?
Breast augmentation uses breast implants to add volume, while a breast lift raises and reshapes breasts that have descended. Many patients need one or the other, and some benefit from both.
Do I need a breast lift, implants, or both?
It depends on whether your main concern is volume, position, or a combination of the two. Your consultation includes an examination and an honest recommendation based on your anatomy and goals.
How do I choose the right implant size?
Implant size is chosen by considering your chest width, the quality of your breast tissue, and the look you would like to achieve. The goal is a result that is proportionate to your frame and looks natural on you.
Where are the scars?
For breast augmentation, the incision is most often placed in the fold beneath the breast. A breast lift requires incisions around the areola and, depending on the degree of lift, below it or along the breast fold, all of which fade over time.
Can I breastfeed after surgery?
Many patients are able to breastfeed after breast augmentation or a breast lift, but this cannot be guaranteed. If future breastfeeding is important to you, it should be discussed during your consultation.
Do breast implants last forever?
Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices, and some patients will need additional surgery in the future. Ongoing monitoring and what to expect over time are reviewed during your consultation.
Where are consultations and surgery performed?
Consultations take place at the Della Forma office in Venice, Florida. Surgery is performed at a surgical center in Sarasota, Florida.
What are the risks?
As with any surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, changes in sensation, scarring, asymmetry, implant-related complications, and reactions to anesthesia, among others. These are reviewed in detail during your consultation so you can make an informed decision.
Medically reviewed by Carissa Patete, MD, plastic surgeon. Last reviewed: October 2026.