Breast lift

Can I have a mastopexy after breast augmentation?

10 June, 2024 · Updated on 7th October 2026

Updated on 7th October 2026 • Reviewed by Dr. Gustavo Sordo, plastic surgeon

Sometimes, after undergoing breast augmentation surgery , the results aren't what we hoped for, and we ask ourselves: Can I have a mastopexy (breast lift) to achieve the breast shape I want? This question can also arise when time has passed since the breast augmentation surgery and the breasts no longer look the same as before due to skin aging, pregnancy, etc.

Want to get an idea of ​​how your breasts would look? In the breast augmentation simulator , you choose the breast type most similar to yours and see real cases operated on in the clinic.

Mastopexy is a surgical procedure used to correct sagging breasts in women. To perform it, plastic surgeons operate in the center of the chest, reshaping the breasts by rounding them, repositioning them higher than before, and correcting the shape of the nipples and areolas.

To perform a mastopexy , the surgeon makes several incisions in the breast , always in areas where they are barely noticeable or hidden. The most common technique is an inverted T incision , reshaping the entire breast. The inverted T mastopexy is by far the most powerful tool a plastic surgeon has for changing the shape of the breast.

Underusing this tool for marketing reasons (offering the patient the smallest possible scar regardless of their needs) generates second interventions, touch-ups, dissatisfaction and frustration in many patients.

Those considering this procedure after breast augmentation should consult with a healthcare professional. Depending on the time elapsed since the previous surgery and the individual circumstances of each patient, the appropriate course of action will vary. In any case, it's important to note that the procedure is generally possible.

Common situations requiring mastopexy after breast augmentation

The situation we usually encounter is a patient who already has an implant in place and needs a second intervention because:

• The implants have contracted: : When the areola becomes contracted, it is often necessary to adjust and elevate it in addition to resolving the capsular contracture itself. Periareolar mastopexy is frequently used in this context.
• La The patient needed a mastopexy + augmentation from the start and for whatever reason sonly an increase was performed, so the result is not satisfactory.
• The patient had a breast augmentation years ago and over time the breasts have sagging over the implants. An implant replacement plus a breast lift is usually necessary.
• The patient wanted a natural result and an implant size that suited her body, but larger implants were placed. than what I wanted and without the shape I wanted.

For all these situations, it may be necessary to perform a mastopexy on the previous breast augmentation. Although it is absolutely exceptional for us to use drains in a breast augmentation or primary mastopexy, in a secondary surgery they may be necessary. The case must be analyzed and studied in detail during consultation.

For more information about the possibility of having a mastopexy after breast augmentation , request a no-obligation appointment.

Yes, it's possible, and it's a fairly common question as women get older, especially after pregnancy or significant weight loss. The key is deciding whether it's best to do it in one or two stages . Combining a mastopexy and implant replacement in the same surgery is possible, and we do it frequently, but when there's significant sagging and the areola-nipple complex needs to be repositioned extensively, separating the procedures is safer for blood flow.

The scar pattern is chosen based on the degree of elevation required: periareolar for mild ptosis, vertical or inverted T for greater elevation—forcing a small scar on a large sagging widens the scar and deforms the areola. In patients who also have their implants removed, we create an autologous prosthesis using the Ribeiro technique and a prepectoral Vicryl mesh, with lipofilling for the upper pole. In all cases, the inframammary fold is reconstructed to resemble an internal bra.