Medically reviewed by Mark D. Epstein, MD, FACS. Last updated: July 20, 2026.
Many women want two things at once: more fullness and a higher, more youthful position. The good news is that a breast lift can be combined with Preserve breast augmentation in a single procedure, and in my experience it does not add to your pain or your recovery. This page explains when a lift is needed, how the combination works, and what to expect.
Do I need a lift, or just implants?
The simple guide is nipple position. If your nipples sit at or below the crease under your breast, or your breasts have lost shape after pregnancy, weight change, or time, an implant alone will add volume but will not raise the breast. A lift (mastopexy) removes excess skin and repositions the breast and nipple higher on the chest. Adding a Preserve implant at the same time restores the upper fullness that is often lost. At your consultation I use 3D imaging to show you the difference between an implant alone and an implant with a lift.
How the combination works with Preserve
Preserve creates the implant space above the muscle with gentle blunt dissection, preserving the breast’s natural supporting ligaments. The lift is performed in the same procedure to reshape the breast and reposition the nipple. Because the augmentation portion is so gentle, combining it with a lift does not produce the longer, harder recovery patients often expect from a two-part operation.
Recovery when a lift is added
This surprises many patients: it has been my observation that adding a lift to a Preserve breast augmentation does not increase pain or downtime compared with the augmentation alone. Most patients still return to normal daily activity quickly, with athletic restrictions easing over the following weeks, the same Same-Day Recovery pattern as Preserve without a lift. A meaningful share of my Preserve patients, roughly one in four, have had a lift at the same time, and their recovery has tracked with everyone else’s.
Can revision patients combine a lift too?
Yes. Patients replacing older implants often benefit from a lift at the same time to address skin that has stretched over the years. You can learn more on my page about Preserve implant revision.
What does Preserve with a lift cost?
Because a lift adds surgical time and complexity, a combined procedure is priced above augmentation alone, and the exact figure depends on the type of lift you need. The most accurate quote comes from a consultation and examination. Our patient coordinator can then review the fee and financing options such as Cherry with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclosure: Dr. Epstein is a paid investigator in the Motiva U.S. FDA clinical trial and is compensated by Establishment Labs to train surgeons on the Preservé technique.
Sections - Preserve Breast Augmentation
- Preservé™ Breast Augmentation – A New Era!
- Why choose Dr Epstein for Preservé?
- Same-Day Recovery Breast Augmentation
- Wide Awake Preservé
- Awake Preservé Breast Augmentation: No General Anesthesia
- Dr Epstein training other Preservé surgeons
- New innovation: Epstein Preservé Channel Dilator
- Preservé Breast Augmentation Cost (2026): What Determines the Price
- Is Preservé Breast Augmentation Worth It? Pros, Cons and Limits
Prev Chapter: Intro to Breast Augmentation »
Next Chapter: Motiva Implants – What You Need to Know »
Chapters – Breast Augmentation Guide
- Intro to Breast Augmentation
- Preservation Breast Augmentation – A New Era!
- Motiva Implants – What You Need to Know
- Five key decisions you need to make
- One-Day Recovery Breast Augmentation
- Anesthesia – General, Sedation or Local?
- Breast Lift (Mastopexy) with/without Implants or Fat
- What else should I know about breast augmentation?
- Important Things to Consider When You Decide to Move Forward With Breast Augmentation
- Revision of breast augmentation
- ALCL and Breast Implant Illness
