When the breasts have both lost volume and begun to sag, a single procedure rarely delivers a complete result. A breast lift alone restores position and shape but leaves volume unchanged. An augmentation alone adds size but cannot correct sagging tissue or low-sitting nipples. For many patients — especially those who have been through pregnancy, breastfeeding, significant weight fluctuation, or the gradual changes that come with age — the breasts need both things at once. Augmentation mastopexy, commonly called a breast lift with implants, is the combined procedure that repositions, reshapes, and refills the breast in a single surgery.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs augmentation mastopexy at his Athens, Greece practice with a level of breast surgery expertise built across two decades and multiple academic platforms. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), he has presented at Cedars-Sinai Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds on medial pedicle techniques in mastopexy and breast reconstruction, and published research on cell-assisted lipotransfer with breast augmentation — the kind of dual expertise that informs how an implant and lift are planned together rather than sequentially. He has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World, and his practice has been honored among the Top 10 Cosmetic Clinics globally. Media recognition spans Reuters, the Boston Globe, Yahoo, ABC, NBC, FOX News, LA Confidential, and Vogue Greece, along with his appearance on the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck. Patients from across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States travel to his dual practice in Beverly Hills and Athens for the combination of American board-certified training and refined European aesthetic sensibility.

Understanding Augmentation Mastopexy

Augmentation mastopexy is a single procedure that does the work of two. The breast is first lifted and reshaped: excess skin is removed, the breast tissue is repositioned higher on the chest wall, and the nipple-areolar complex is moved into a more youthful position. The areola is often reduced to match the new breast proportions. Once the lift is complete, an implant is placed to restore volume — either under the chest muscle or under the breast tissue, depending on anatomy and desired outcome.

Combining the procedures in one surgery requires careful planning because the lift and the implant influence each other. The implant adds upper-pole fullness that changes how much skin can safely be removed, and the lift changes how the implant sits against the chest wall. Dr. Anastasatos plans both elements together from the first consultation, ensuring the two components work in harmony rather than against each other — which is the single most important factor in a natural, long-lasting result.

Why Patients Choose a Breast Lift With Implants

Patients arrive at augmentation mastopexy for reasons that almost always blend shape and volume concerns at once. Common motivations include:

• Post-Pregnancy Changes: Breastfeeding and pregnancy often leave breasts both smaller and lower than they were before, a combination that only a combined procedure can fully address.
• Post-Weight-Loss Deflation: Significant weight reduction typically produces a deflated, elongated breast shape that needs both repositioning and volume restoration.
• Age-Related Volume Loss: Thinning glandular tissue and loss of skin elasticity over time produce breasts that sag and feel emptier than they once did.
• Nipple Position Correction: When the nipple sits at or below the inframammary fold, only a lift can restore proper position — an augmentation alone will not correct this.
• Proportion and Symmetry: Patients wanting a more balanced relationship between the breasts and the rest of the torso benefit from simultaneous lift and volume change.
• Clothing Fit: Bras, fitted tops, and evening wear that once fit well may stop fitting as the breasts change in both size and position.

Breast Lift Techniques Used in Augmentation Mastopexy

The lift portion of the procedure is tailored to the degree of sagging and the amount of skin that needs to be removed. Dr. Anastasatos selects the technique based on each patient’s specific anatomy rather than applying a single default approach.

Crescent Lift

A minor lift using a small crescent-shaped incision along the upper edge of the areola. Appropriate only for very mild sagging, typically in combination with implants.

Peri-Areolar (Benelli) Lift

A circular incision around the areola, suitable for mild-to-moderate sagging. This technique limits scarring to the areolar border and can also reduce areolar size.

Vertical (Lollipop) Lift

Combines a peri-areolar incision with a vertical incision extending downward to the breast crease. Used for moderate sagging and offers excellent reshaping without the horizontal scar.

Anchor (Wise Pattern) Lift

A peri-areolar incision combined with vertical and horizontal incisions forming an anchor shape. Reserved for significant sagging where maximum skin removal and reshaping are needed.

Implant Selection and Placement

Implant choice is equally personalized. Options include silicone and saline implants in a range of profiles — moderate, moderate plus, high, and extra-high — each producing a different combination of projection and upper-pole fullness. Placement can be submuscular (beneath the pectoral muscle), subglandular (beneath the breast tissue only), or dual-plane (a hybrid approach). Dr. Anastasatos walks patients through each option at consultation, demonstrating how different combinations affect the final shape, feel, and long-term appearance.

“When I plan an augmentation mastopexy, I am solving two problems at once, and the two solutions have to fit each other. I choose the implant that complements the lift and the lift that supports the implant — not as separate decisions, but as one integrated plan. That is what separates a natural result from one that looks engineered.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

What to Expect From Your Procedure

Augmentation mastopexy is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes three to four hours. Most patients return home the same day, though some prefer overnight observation. A surgical bra supports the breasts during the first four to six weeks, and sleeping on the back is required during early healing. Bruising and swelling peak during the first week and resolve progressively over four to six weeks. Most patients return to desk-based work within seven to ten days, resume light activity at two to three weeks, and are cleared for full exercise — including chest-focused workouts — at approximately six weeks. Final shape continues to refine over three to six months as the tissues settle around the implants and the scars mature.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift With Implants

Should I have a lift and augmentation at the same time, or separately?

For most patients, combining the procedures produces the best result, a single recovery, and lower overall cost. Some cases benefit from a staged approach — particularly when significant size change is planned — which Dr. Anastasatos will discuss in detail during consultation based on your specific anatomy.

How visible will the scars be?

Scar placement depends on the lift technique selected. All scars fade significantly over twelve to eighteen months with proper care, and most patients find them well-concealed by bras, swimwear, and clothing. Dr. Anastasatos uses refined closure techniques and offers scar care guidance to optimize final appearance.

Can I still breastfeed after augmentation mastopexy?

Many patients retain the ability to breastfeed, though the combined procedure carries a slightly higher chance of affecting milk production than either surgery alone. If future breastfeeding is a priority, this factors into timing and technique decisions during consultation.

How long do the results last?

The implant portion of the result is long-lasting, though implants may eventually need replacement. The lift itself provides a dramatic improvement that lasts many years, although gravity, weight changes, and natural aging continue over time. Maintaining a stable weight and wearing supportive bras helps preserve the result.

What if I am planning to have more children?

Pregnancy can significantly alter breast shape and volume, potentially undoing some of the lift and augmentation result. Dr. Anastasatos generally recommends postponing augmentation mastopexy until after childbearing is complete to protect the long-term outcome.

Will the implants feel natural?

Modern cohesive silicone gel implants, when properly sized and placed, feel remarkably natural — particularly with submuscular or dual-plane placement that provides additional tissue coverage. Most patients report that the implants feel like part of their body within a few months as tissues settle.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Augmentation Mastopexy

• Published Breast Surgery Expertise: Research publications on cell-assisted lipotransfer with breast augmentation and Cedars-Sinai Grand Rounds presentations on mastopexy techniques.
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons reflect rigorous, verified training.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World, with Los Angeles Plastic Surgery recognized among the Top 10 Cosmetic Clinics globally.
• Integrated Planning Approach: Lift technique and implant selection are planned together rather than as separate decisions, producing results that look cohesive rather than assembled.
• Dual-Continent Practice: Offices in Beverly Hills and Athens allow patients to choose the location that fits their travel, recovery, and lifestyle needs.
• Extensive Media Recognition: Featured in Reuters, the Boston Globe, Yahoo, FOX News, Vogue Greece, LA Confidential, and the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck.

Schedule Your Breast Lift With Implants Consultation in Athens, Greece

If you are considering a breast lift with implants and want a plastic surgeon who will plan both elements together from the first consultation — choosing the implant that complements the lift and the lift that supports the implant — Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes you to the Athens, Greece office at Palas Kefalari, Kolokotroni 23, Kifisia. Contact the practice to arrange a private consultation and design a plan tailored to your body and goals.