The simple test
Stand side-on to a mirror without a bra and look at where your nipple sits compared with the crease under your breast.
- At or above the crease, but the breast looks empty at the top: implants alone may be enough.
- Below the crease: a lift is usually needed, because an implant on its own would sit behind a breast that still hangs.
- Below the crease and empty: a lift with implants.
It's only a guide. A surgeon examines the skin, the tissue and where everything sits.
Side by side
| Breast lift | Augmentation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it changes | Shape and height | Size and fullness |
| Typical cost in Ireland | €6,000 to €8,100 | €5,000 to €6,800 |
| Scars | Around the areola, usually down to the crease, sometimes along it | One shorter cut, usually in the crease |
| Time off work | At least two weeks | One to two weeks |
| Parts to replace | None | Implants may need replacing, some after about ten years |
| Breastfeeding after | Usually possible, sometimes less milk | Usually possible, sometimes slightly less milk |
What implants can't do
Implants fill the breast out, but they don't lift a nipple that points down or tighten stretched skin. Put a large implant in a breast that has dropped a lot and the breast can slide down over it. That's why many women asking for implants after children are told they need a lift too.
Breast augmentation in Ireland
Augmentation costs €5,000 to €6,800 in Ireland, with the implants. It's usually done under a general anaesthetic in 60 to 90 minutes, sometimes as a day case. Most people take a week or two off work, don't drive for at least a week and avoid heavy lifting for a month. Revenue gives no tax relief on it. Read a lift with implants for implant upkeep and risks.
Fat transfer
Some surgeons add volume with your own fat, taken by liposuction and injected into the breast. Some of the injected fat is reabsorbed over the first months, so the result takes up to six months to show, and a bigger change may need two or more sessions. It suits a modest increase.
Questions people ask
Is a breast lift better than implants?
They do different jobs: a lift fixes drooping, implants add volume. Which suits you depends on where your nipple sits and how full you'd like to be.
How much is breast augmentation in Ireland?
€5,000 to €6,800, with the implants, depending on the surgeon and the hospital.
Can implants lift sagging breasts?
Only a little, when the drop is slight. Below the crease, a lift is usually needed.
Which has the longer recovery?
A lift, slightly: at least two weeks off work against one to two weeks for implants alone.