Recovery from Tuberous Breast Correction | What to expect from this kind of plastic surgery

Breast Augmentation with a Breast Uplift (Augmentation Mastopexy)

Medically reviewed by Mrs Elena Prousskaia, Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register. Last updated 18 September 2026.

In this guide

This guide is part of our complete guide to breast augmentation in Bristol. You are welcome to return to the main overview for procedure details, our Bristol facilities and recovery timelines.

Treatment at a glance
Do you need an uplift as well as implants?
What the procedure involves
About the scars
One stage or two
Recovery
Augmentation alone or with an uplift
Breast uplift before and after
A note on the mummy makeover
Why choose Elena
Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

An augmentation with an uplift (augmentation mastopexy) adds fullness and lifts the breast in one operation.
It suits breasts that sit low or have dropped, where implants alone would not lift them.
It involves a little more scarring than augmentation alone, placed as discreetly as possible.
Recovery is usually six to eight weeks, and Elena advises whether one or two stages is safest for you.

When volume alone is not enough

For many patients, particularly after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss, the change is not only a loss of volume but also a loss of shape, with the breasts sitting lower than they used to. In these cases implants alone can add fullness, but they will not lift the breast, and adding a large implant to try to fill loose skin often gives a heavy, unnatural result that does not last well.

Combining a breast augmentation with an uplift, a procedure known as augmentation mastopexy, addresses both concerns at once. It restores fullness with an implant while lifting and reshaping the breast to a higher, more youthful position, all in a single operation. Whether it is right for you is exactly the kind of thing Elena will assess gently and honestly at your consultation.

Treatment at a glance

Detail	Information
Surgical time	2 to 4 hours
Hospital stay	One night
Initial recovery	6 to 8 weeks
Anaesthetic	General anaesthetic
Full recovery	6 to 12 months
Follow up	1, 4 and 12 weeks, and 1 year

Do you need an uplift as well as implants?

A helpful guide is where the nipple sits in relation to the crease beneath your breast. If your nipple points forward and rests above that crease, an implant alone may be enough to restore volume and improve shape. If the nipple has dropped to or below the crease, or points downwards, an uplift is usually needed to reposition the breast tissue and nipple, with an implant added to restore fullness at the top.

breast-uplift-nipple-position

This situation commonly follows pregnancy and breastfeeding, significant weight loss, or the natural loss of skin elasticity that comes with age, and it also applies to breasts that have always sat a little lower. Elena will look at your breast position, skin quality and tissue, explain clearly what she sees, and give you her honest recommendation, including telling you if an uplift is not needed.

What the procedure involves

Augmentation mastopexy is a more involved operation than either procedure alone, because Elena is both adding volume and reshaping the breast. She removes a small amount of excess skin, lifts and reshapes the breast tissue to a higher position, and repositions the nipple and areola to a more youthful height. An implant is then placed to add fullness, usually towards the upper part of the breast, and the incisions are closed with great care to keep scarring as discreet as possible.

Balancing the lift and the implant is a matter of judgement and experience, which is why it is important to choose a surgeon who performs this combination regularly. The reward for a little more scarring is a result that is both fuller and lifted, and that sits well over time.

About the scars

Because an uplift needs longer incisions than an augmentation alone, there is more scarring, and Elena is always honest with you about this. Depending on how much lift is needed, the scar may sit only around the areola, run vertically from the areola down to the crease, giving the shape often described as a lollipop, or follow an anchor pattern that also runs along the crease.

breast-uplift-scar-patterns

Elena uses the least extensive pattern that will achieve a good result, places the incisions as discreetly as possible, and closes them meticulously. Scars typically fade over twelve to eighteen months to become much less noticeable, and the scar care advice in our recovery guide applies here too.

One stage or two

In many patients the two procedures are safely combined in a single operation, which means one anaesthetic and one recovery. Occasionally, where a very large change is planned or the blood supply to the nipple would be under strain, Elena may recommend staging the surgery, performing the uplift first and adding the implant later, for the safest and most predictable result. She will always explain honestly which approach she recommends for you and why.

Recovery

Recovery from a combined procedure is usually a little longer than from a breast augmentation in Bristol alone. The first week is for rest, with limited arm movement and a supportive surgical bra worn continuously. Most patients return to lighter activities over two to four weeks and to work by four to six weeks, depending on their job, with exercise reintroduced gradually from around six to eight weeks. The breasts settle into their new shape over three to six months, and the scars continue to fade over the following year. Elena will guide you at every stage and see you at one, four and twelve weeks and at one year.

Augmentation alone or with an uplift

	Augmentation alone	Augmentation with uplift
What it does	Adds volume	Adds volume and lifts the breast
Best suited to	Good breast position, wanting more fullness	Lower or sagging breasts, wanting fullness and lift
Surgical time	Around 60 to 90 minutes	2 to 4 hours
Scarring	Minimal, usually one hidden incision	More extensive, a lollipop or anchor pattern
Recovery	4 to 8 weeks	6 to 8 weeks

Breast uplift before and after

Seeing real results often helps more than any description. The example below shows one of Elena’s own Bristol patients before and after a breast augmentation combined with an uplift, restoring both fullness and a higher, more youthful position in a single operation. Every patient is different, and the images are shared with kind permission.

Breast uplift before and after

Results vary from patient to patient and cannot be guaranteed. Photographs show real patients of Mrs Elena Prousskaia and are published with their written consent.

You can see more results in our breast uplift before and after gallery, and Elena will show you examples relevant to your own frame and goals at your consultation. You can also read more on our breast uplift and augmentation treatment page.

A note on the mummy makeover

A combined uplift and augmentation is often a key part of a mummy makeover, alongside a tummy tuck, for patients restoring their figure after pregnancy. If that is your aim, Elena can talk you through combining procedures safely and what a realistic recovery looks like when more than one area is treated at once.
Elena performs breast augmentation and uplift in Bristol at North Bristol Private Hospital. You can read the full overview on our breast augmentation Bristol page, or our breast uplift treatment page.

Why choose Elena Prousskaia for your breast uplift?

Mrs Elena Prousskaia, consultant breast surgeon in Bristol

A breast uplift with augmentation is a more involved procedure that rewards genuine specialist experience, balancing a lift with an implant for a result that looks natural and sits well over time. Elena Prousskaia is a consultant plastic surgeon with extensive breast surgery expertise, combining advanced training with a gentle, patient-centred approach.

With over 20 years of aesthetic and reconstructive experience, Elena has completed advanced microsurgical breast fellowships in Italy, Spain, Belgium, India, Japan and London, sits on the GMC Specialist Register, and is a member of BAPRAS and EBOPRAS. In Bristol she operates at North Bristol Private Hospital.

The best next step is to arrange a consultation, where Elena will assess whether an uplift, an implant, or both together will give you the result you would like.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I need an uplift as well as implants?

If your nipple has dropped to or below the breast crease, an uplift is usually needed for a good, lasting result. Elena will assess this carefully at your consultation and tell you honestly.

Is the combined procedure safe?

Yes, in experienced hands. Where a very large change is planned, Elena may recommend staging the surgery for the safest result.

Will I have more scarring than with an augmentation alone?

Yes, an uplift needs longer incisions. Elena uses the least extensive pattern that will work, places them discreetly, and they fade over time.

Can I have just an uplift without an implant?

Yes, if you are happy with your volume but would like a higher, firmer position. This is a mastopexy on its own, and Elena will advise whether it would give you the result you want.

How long does recovery take?

Typically four to eight weeks to return to normal activities, with the final result over six to twelve months. It is a little longer than an augmentation alone.

Is this the same as a mummy makeover?

It is often part of one. A mummy makeover usually combines a breast uplift and augmentation with a tummy tuck.

Book a consultation in Bristol

North Bristol Private Hospital, the Bristol base of plastic surgeon Mrs Elena Prousskaia

When you choose Mrs Elena Prousskaia for your breast surgery in Bristol, you are in expert hands. Elena operates at North Bristol Private Hospital, an accredited facility offering the highest standards of care in calm, private surroundings.

From your first consultation through to your recovery, you will have a treatment plan tailored to you and clear, compassionate support at every step, with your follow up appointments included in your care.
To discuss whether you would benefit from implants alone or a combined uplift, and to arrange a consultation in Bristol with Elena, please book online, call 0800 8021 886, or use our contact form. In Bristol, Elena performs breast surgery at North Bristol Private Hospital.