Breast Lift with Augmentation
Conveniently located to serve Seattle and Bellevue
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The breast implants may be saline or silicone based and placed above or below the muscle. The reason to add an implant with the implant is to achieve more upper pole fullness in those patients that do not have a enough natural breast tissue or desire a larger cup size from the get go. The procedure can be performed as a single stage or in two stages. The benefits of the added volume of the implant result are a breast shape that is generally more aesthetic in the upper pole and perkiness. The combination of a lift with implants can result in a very attractive look and dramatically change the shape of the breast overall. Breast lift with implants can also be combined with tummy tucks in a procedure called “mommy makeover” in effort to rejuvenate the body to its pre-pregnancy state.
Candidates for Breast Lift with Implants
Breast Lift with implant candidates are generally healthy and nonsmokers. Active smoking increases the risks of failure of wounds to heal and loss of nipple or skin. A patient that has quit smoking for at least 4 weeks prior to surgery may be a candidate. Patients that have droopy breasts or low nipple position meaning the nipple is at or below the inframmamary (IMF) crease are candidates for a lifting procedure. These patients also want more volume or a bigger breast and more upper pole fullness. Grades of drooping or ptosis are 1 to 3. With grade 3 being the most severe. There is also pseudoptosis or false ptosis. This is where the nipple is in good position but much of the breast tissue has descended down make the lower pole with full and no upper pole fullness.
Breast Lift with Implant Techniques and Scars
There are many different techniques used to lift the breast or nipple position. Some of these include periareolar lifts, vertical lifts or wise pattern lifts. These techniques result in different scar patterns. The type of lift you need depends on your surgeon and how much breast ptosis or sagging there is. This ptosis can be graded 1 to 3. Grade 1 being the lowest to 3 being large amount of ptosis. If a large amount of extra skin is present a wise pattern or anchor type scar is usually necessary to achieve the tighter envelope needed for a more aesthetic looking breast. Small lifts may require only a periareolar incision which is a scar around the nipple 360 degrees. Nipple movement can be based on different pedicale which include superior, superomedial, inferior, medial and lateral. This choice is dependant on your plastic surgeon and amount of distance the nipple may need to go up.
Reviews
Dr. Parikh has done a wonderful job on my breast augmentation! I explained to him that I was going for a natural look and that is exactly what he gave me. He recommended the anatomical shaped silicone implants which looks more natural and fits my body type, and I couldn’t be any happier! I would definitely recommend him to any one of my friends or family anytime! Thank you Dr. Parikh for helping me look fabulous!
J.Y.
The breast implant may be placed above or below the pecotralis muscle. After implant placement the amount of lifting of the breast will be reduced vs doing a breast lift without implants. This is because the implant will cause a certain amount of lift on its own. Projection of the implant also contributes to the amount of lift generated by the implant alone. Dr. Parikh is very fascile and can use any kind of implant with your lift round or shaped “ gummy bear”. At the time of your consultation the approach will be tailored to your goals and safety.
Breast Augmentation with Lift Cost
The cost of a breast augmentation with lift varies, because it is a highly individualized surgery tailored for each patient. The overall price may include anesthesia, operating room facilities, new breast implants, and other related expenses. Additional tests and imaging may also add to your total. Contact us for additional information.
FAQS about Breast Lift with Augmentation
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Do I need a breast lift, implants, or both?
It depends on what you want to change. A breast lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes sagging breasts, but it won’t give you much more size or fullness up top. Implants are the opposite: more size and fullness, but they won’t fix sagging. If you want the lift and the fullness, that’s the combination. The quick test: without a bra, if your nipples sit below the crease under your breasts or point downward, you probably need a lift. Dr. Parikh does lifts with and without implants, so you can see the two options side by side.
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Can I have a breast lift and implants in one surgery?
Often, yes. Doing both at once (augmentation mastopexy) is common and means one recovery instead of two, though some patients need another surgery later to fine-tune the result. How much sagging you have, your skin quality, and the implant size all play into whether it’s safer to split it into two operations. Dr. Parikh does it both ways, and he’ll tell you which he’d choose for you and why.
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What is recovery like, and how painful is it?
Expect soreness, swelling, and bruising for the first couple of weeks, and your skin may feel tight. Many people go back to desk work in about a week. Hold off on heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for 4 to 6 weeks. Your final breast shape develops over several months as swelling settles. You’ll get a recovery plan for your specific surgery, including when you can go back to a regular bra.
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Will I have visible scars?
Yes. Depending on how much lift you need, scars may go around the areola (the darker skin around the nipple), straight down the front of the breast, and along the crease underneath. Dr. Parikh will show you which pattern your lift needs before surgery. Scars are permanent, but they fade a lot, and you can help them along. Once the incisions have healed, you’ll start a medical-grade silicone gel or sheeting and keep sunscreen on the scars. If a scar stays red or raised, treatments like steroid injections or laser can improve it.
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Will I keep nipple sensation and be able to breastfeed?
Nipple sensation can change after a lift. Sometimes it comes back and sometimes it doesn’t, and there’s no way to promise either. Breastfeeding can be affected too, since a lift always involves an incision around the areola, the kind most likely to affect milk supply. If either one matters to you, say so at your consultation, because it can change how Dr. Parikh plans the surgery.
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Should I wait until I’m done having children?
If you can, yes. Changes in your breasts during pregnancy can lessen or undo the improvement a breast lift provides. If you’re not sure whether you’re done, say so. Sometimes the right answer is to wait, and sometimes it’s to go ahead knowing a pregnancy could undo some of the result.
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How long will my results last? Will my breasts sag again?
Results last for many years, but your breasts will keep changing with age, gravity, and weight changes, so some sagging can return over time. Your implants also aren’t lifetime devices, so another surgery may be needed down the road. Keeping a steady weight helps your results hold up.
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Will I need a mammogram before surgery?
Sometimes, yes. A mammogram before surgery and another afterward gives a baseline, so anything that changes later is easier to spot. If you have silicone implants, the FDA also recommends rupture screening: an ultrasound or MRI 5 to 6 years after surgery, then every 2 to 3 years.
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I live in Seattle. How many trips to Bellevue will a breast lift with implants take?
Usually three or four over the first couple of months. A consultation can start by phone, video, or photos, followed by an in-person visit with Dr. Parikh, where he’ll show you which lift pattern you need and you’ll try implant sizes. The pre-op appointment is mostly handled remotely. Then it’s surgery day and a first follow-up visit, with later check-ins in person or by phone and photos. The office is at 301 116th Ave SE in Bellevue, just off I-405, about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle outside rush hour. You’ll need a ride home on surgery day, and you can drive again once you’ve been off pain medication for 24 hours and can wear a seat belt comfortably. If you’re coming from farther away, the travel and stay page covers hotels and timing.
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How much does a breast lift with implants cost?
More than a lift or an augmentation on its own, since it’s two procedures in one surgery. If your plan is done in two stages, ask how each stage is priced. Insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic breast surgery. Financing is available for qualified patients.
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What are Dr. Parikh’s qualifications?
Dr. Parikh is double board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He completed his plastic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University and a research fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, and he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
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Does Dr. Parikh have hospital privileges?
Yes, at Overlake and Swedish. Dr. Parikh holds surgical privileges at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue and two locations for Swedish Medical Center one at the First Hill Campus location in Seattle and the other at the Issaquah Campus. Privileges mean a hospital has reviewed a surgeon’s training, board certification, and record and allows him to operate there. Your surgery is done at RP Surgery Center, the practice’s state-accredited surgery center; the privileges are an outside check on his credentials.
This FAQ is general information and doesn’t replace the personal instructions Dr. Parikh will give you.
Schedule a Consultation
Contact Dr. Parikh today to schedule a consultation for your breast lift with augmentation in Bellevue. We will take the time to guide you through the entire process, ensuring results that fully satisfy your aesthetic needs. Contact us today!