Expertly WRITTEN By
Dr. Rocco Piazza, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon & Austin's Breast and Body Specialist.
The Case at a Glance
Patient: Mother of two, Age 63
Desired Goal: Lifted breasts and higher nipples, staying a natural C cup
Implant: Motiva Ergonomix® Mini
Size: 185cc
Technique: Augmentation mastopexy with Motiva Preservé™ (lift plus a small implant)
Recovery: Back to desk work in about 1 week, full activity by about 6 weeks
Size Note: At 185cc, the implant was chosen to replace lost upper fullness, not to add cup sizes. The lift did the reshaping; the implant kept the result from deflating again.
Augmentation mastopexy is a breast lift and a breast implant done in the same surgery. The lift corrects sagging and raises the nipple; the implant restores the upper fullness a lift alone cannot bring back. For this 63-year-old mother of two, a small 185cc implant was enough, and she stayed a natural C cup.
She told us exactly what she did not want: bigger breasts. Her size was fine. What bothered her was where everything sat. After two children and decades of gravity, her breasts had dropped, the skin had stretched, and her nipples had moved low and pointed down.
What Is Augmentation Mastopexy?
It is the clinical name for a breast lift combined with an implant. "Mastopexy" means lift. "Augmentation" means implant. Patients often search for it as a breast lift with implants, and those are the same operation.
Each half solves a different problem:
- The lift removes stretched skin, reshapes the breast and moves the nipple and areola back up to the center of the breast
- The implant rebuilds the upper half of the breast, where volume is usually lost first after pregnancy and with age
Why Stretched, Low Nipples Usually Mean You Need a Lift
The single clearest sign is nipple position. When the nipple sits at or below the fold under the breast, or points toward the floor, an implant alone cannot fix it. An implant fills the breast from behind; it does not move skin or the nipple upward. Placed without a lift, it can sit high while the breast tissue hangs below it.
That was her situation. Her nipples had stretched and descended, so the lift was the core of her surgery. If your nipple position is still good and you mainly lost volume, the answer can be different, as in our case of restoring fullness with 230cc of Motiva and no lift.
Why Only 185cc?
A lift on its own would have raised her breasts, but much of her upper-pole volume was gone. Without it, a lifted breast can look flat on top and settle again over time.
The Motiva Ergonomix® Mini range is designed for exactly this kind of patient: someone who wants shape and support back without a size change anyone would notice. At 185cc on a 5'2" frame, the implant restored a soft, rounded upper breast while she kept the C cup she had asked for. If you are comparing implant styles and sizes, our guide to Motiva implants in Austin walks through the options.
Where Preservé Fits In
Motiva Preservé™ is a tissue-preserving technique for placing the implant. Paired with a lift, it lets us restore volume while disturbing as little of her own breast tissue as possible. Her surgery, lift and implant together, took about two hours.
Clinical Results: Before and After
Tap any image below to reveal this patient's actual result. See more breast lift cases in our gallery.
"She did not want to be bigger. She wanted to look like herself again. The lift gave her the shape, and a small implant made sure it lasted." — Dr. Rocco Piazza
Is 63 Too Old for a Breast Lift With Implants?
No. Age by itself is not the deciding factor. Overall health, skin quality, a stable weight and clear goals matter far more. For women in their 60s, a modest implant paired with a lift is often the most natural-looking option, because it restores what time took without changing their size. You can read another age-60 restoration in our 60-year-old Motiva Preservé case study.
Breast Lift With Implants FAQ
What is the difference between a breast lift and augmentation mastopexy?
A breast lift (mastopexy) reshapes the breast and raises the nipple. Augmentation mastopexy adds an implant during the same surgery to restore upper fullness. If you have both sagging and lost volume, you likely need both.
Can I get a breast lift with implants and not go bigger?
Yes. A small implant, like the 185cc Motiva Mini used here, restores fullness lost with age or after children without a noticeable cup-size change. This patient stayed a natural C cup.
Will a breast lift fix low or stretched nipples?
Yes. Repositioning the nipple and areola is a core part of a breast lift. An implant on its own cannot raise the nipple.
How long does augmentation mastopexy take?
In this case the lift and implant together took about two hours. Your surgical time depends on how much lifting and reshaping you need.
How long is recovery after a breast lift with implants?
Most patients return to desk work in about a week and to full activity, including lifting and exercise, by about six weeks. A supportive surgical bra is worn during early healing.
Individual results vary. Photographs are of an actual patient of The Piazza Center, published with consent. This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your individual situation.
Lifted, Not Bigger
Dr. Rocco Piazza plans every breast lift with implants around your frame and the size you want to keep.
Dr. Rocco Piazza II
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Piazza is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Austin, TX. He specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery with a focus on natural results.
