A breast lift with implants, or augmentation-mastopexy, combines two procedures in one surgery: an implant adds volume, and a lift raises the breast, removes excess skin, and repositions the nipple. At Santa Barbara Face & Body in Santa Barbara, California, a board-certified plastic surgeon plans both together for breasts that have both dropped and deflated, since an implant alone would not correct the sag.
A breast lift with implants, or augmentation-mastopexy, is a single-stage operation that places a breast implant to restore volume while performing a mastopexy to raise the breast, remove stretched skin, and reposition the nipple-areolar complex higher. It is designed for breasts that have both sagged and lost fullness, typically after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging, where augmentation alone would add volume without correcting position.
What it does
The combination solves two problems that often occur together but need different fixes.
- Adds volume. An implant restores the fullness a sagging, deflated breast has lost, including upper fullness.
- Raises and reshapes. A lift removes excess skin, tightens the tissue, and moves the nipple to a natural height.
- Does both in one recovery. One surgery and one healing period rather than two separate operations.
The reason to combine them is simple: adding an implant to a sagging breast without a lift only weighs it down further, so the two are planned together.
How it works
The procedure is performed under anesthesia, usually as an outpatient surgery. The surgeon creates the implant pocket and places the implant to restore volume, then removes excess skin, reshapes the breast, and repositions the nipple and areola, with the incision pattern scaled to the degree of sag. Because two forces are being balanced, adding volume while tightening skin, it is a more intricate operation than either alone, which is why planning and judgment matter.
Recovery is broadly similar to a lift or augmentation on its own, with most people back to desk work within a week or two and full activity later on the surgeon’s guidance.
One stage or two, and why it is a real choice
Most patients have the combination in one surgery, but the plan is individualized, and sometimes staging is safer.
| Approach | What it involves | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Combined, one stage | Implant and lift in the same surgery | Most patients wanting both corrected |
| Staged (lift, then implant) | Two surgeries months apart | Significant sag, or to protect blood supply |
| Lift alone | Reshape and raise, no implant | You do not want more volume |
| Implant alone | Volume only, minimal sag | The breast has not truly dropped |
Combining is efficient and works well for most people, but a very ptotic breast or specific tissue concerns can make staging the safer route. A board-certified surgeon recommends one or two stages based on your anatomy.
What the combination works with
This is what the consultation assesses, because volume and position are judged together.
| What you have | What it means | The plan |
|---|---|---|
| Deflated and dropped breasts | Volume loss plus sag | Implant plus a lift, one stage |
| Very significant sag | High-grade ptosis | Possibly staged for safety |
| Sag with enough natural volume | Position, not volume | A lift alone may be enough |
| Full but dropped breasts | Position only | A lift alone |
| Uneven size and position | Asymmetry | Different volume and lift per side |
The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon reads volume and position together and decides whether to combine or stage, so the result is balanced and safe.
Why Santa Barbara Face & Body
The lift-with-implants is one of the more demanding breast operations, because the surgeon is balancing two opposing forces, adding volume while tightening skin, in a single plan. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he plans the volume and the lift together for a balanced, proportionate result, and is candid when staging the two would be safer for your tissue. A natural, lasting result is the standard here.
- Have breasts that have both dropped and lost volume
- Want to be fuller and lifted in one surgery and recovery
- Are at a stable weight and in good general health
- Understand it is more involved than a lift or implant alone
- Have very significant sag, where staging may be safer
- Are planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, which can undo the result
- Want only volume or only a lift, where a single procedure fits
- Smoke or have conditions that affect healing
What to expect
Dr. Polynice examines your breasts for both position and volume, asks what fullness and shape you want, and explains how the implant and lift work together. He walks through the incision pattern your sag calls for, whether to combine or stage the two for safety, and the scars and recovery honestly. You leave with a single plan that balances volume and position around your anatomy.
What it costs
A lift with implants is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on the implant, the incision pattern your sag needs, and whether it is done in one stage or two. You will have that number in writing at your consultation, before anything is scheduled.
- What it is
- Augmentation-mastopexy, implant plus a lift
- What it treats
- Breasts that have both dropped and deflated
- Why combined
- An implant alone would weigh a sagging breast down
- Recovery
- Outpatient, desk work in one to two weeks
- Performed by
- Dr. Alain Polynice, board-certified plastic surgeon
Breast Lift with Implants in Santa Barbara, CA
Combining a lift with implants can restore both position and fullness in a single, thoughtfully planned procedure. Here in Santa Barbara, Dr. Polynice balances shape, size, and placement to create a result that looks natural and holds up beautifully over time. If you’re weighing your options, a consultation is the clearest place to start. Fill out the form below or call us at (805) 764-9074. We’d love to meet you.