Patients are asking for lifts with a little more volume, without an implant behind it, at increasing frequency. The auto augmentation breast lift is Dr. Frank Agullo’s answer to that request, one he reaches for especially often in patients after major weight loss.

Using What Is Already There

This lift uses the breast tissue the patient already has, and chest wall tissue along the side when there is enough of it, to add upper pole volume during a standard lift. He reinforces the new shape with a mesh, holding it up and rounded at the front, much the way an implant would, without being an implant at all. His mesh of choice for this procedure is GalaFLEX, used as an internal bra to hold the shape and keep the volume sitting high.

Who Benefits Most

Dr. Agullo finds this procedure works best in patients who want a lift with more volume and do not want an implant, especially patients after massive weight loss, where there is enough tissue left to reshape but not enough support left in the natural breast tissue to hold it up.

This technique suits patients looking for a natural look rather than an implant look. Patients expecting round, implant-like results with heavy upper pole cleavage are not good candidates: results are more natural, a tapered upper pole rather than dramatic cleavage, since soft tissue on its own tends to soften and flatten with time.

What the Surgery Involves

The incision follows the same pattern as a mastopexy, periareolar, vertical, and anchor, extended laterally when there is chest wall tissue to use. Dr. Agullo lifts the skin and reshapes the breast tissue using internal sutures, placing the GalaFLEX mesh slightly higher to keep the volume lifted and rounded at the top.

This technique cannot be combined with an implant in the same surgery. It comes down to choosing one of two paths, a mastopexy with an implant, or a mastopexy with auto augmentation, and both options are talked through candidly with patients at Southwest Plastic Surgery from start to finish.

Recovery

Patients are cleared for light, easygoing activity after about a week, and full exercise clearance comes at four weeks, no restrictions. A drain remains on each side for about a week, and a non-underwire, non-pushup bra, two of which are provided for rotating through laundry, for about a month. After that, patients can go buy new bras that fit the result.

Results That Still Hold, With One Caveat

Results last long term, like any breast surgical choice including implants, as long as weight stays more or less stable. Weight change and pregnancy can disrupt the shape the surgery created, the same way it would with any lift.

The full technical breakdown, incisions and all, is on the practice’s surgical site: the complete auto augmentation guide from Dr. Agullo.

Ready to Talk?

If a lift with a little more volume, and no implant, sounds like what you are looking for, come talk with Dr. Agullo about whether you are a candidate.

Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at agulloplasticsurgery.com/appointments.

@RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.

Cross-links

• Full surgical guide on agulloplasticsurgery.com: “Auto Augmentation Breast Lift: A Fuller Lift Without an Implant” (canonical)
• Editorial version on drworldwide.com: “The Lift That Borrows From Itself: An Auto Augmentation Read” (link once live)