Join Our 2nd Annual Art, Science & Beauty Event on October 24!

Details & RSVP Here
Contact
Give Dr. Anu Antony a phone call at (919) 296-0256

Reshaping With Your Own Tissue, Guided by Reconstructive Expertise

Dr. Antony built her career in advanced breast reconstruction, where reshaping a patient's own tissue is a core skill. She brings that same expertise to cosmetic breast lifts. At the Antony Institute of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, auto-augmentation gives women a fuller, lifted result without a device to maintain or replace.

What Is an Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift?

An auto-augmentation breast lift, also called auto-augmentation mastopexy, is a breast lift that repositions your existing breast tissue to create upper-pole fullness. Instead of removing the tissue in the lower breast, Dr. Antony reshapes it into a flap and moves it higher on the chest. This tissue acts like a natural, internal implant.

The idea has been part of plastic surgery since the 1970s. In a study published in Gland Surgery, surgeons used a lower breast tissue flap secured to the chest wall in 184 patients. They reported no major complications, high satisfaction scores, and lasting upper-pole fullness over an average follow-up of more than three years.

Background media

How Auto-Augmentation Differs From a Standard Breast Lift

A standard breast lift removes excess skin and raises the nipple, which improves sagging. However, it does not always add fullness to the top of the breast. Auto-augmentation adds an extra step: repositioning your own tissue to fill the upper pole and improve projection.

Benefits of an Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift

Women choose auto-augmentation for several reasons:

  • Improve fullness without an implant, using only your own breast tissue
  • No implant maintenance, exchanges, or rupture screening in the future
  • A soft, natural feel, since the result is made entirely of your own tissue
  • Improved projection and shape, not just a higher nipple position
  • An option after implant removal, helping restore shape once implants come out
Banner media

Are You a Candidate for an Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift?

Dr. Antony confirms candidacy during a private consultation. You may be a good fit if you:

  • Have sagging breasts, often after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
  • Have enough breast tissue to reshape and are happy with your overall size
  • Want more upper fullness but prefer not to have implants
  • Are planning breast implant removal and want to restore shape
  • Are in good health, do not smoke, and are at a stable weight

Women who want a noticeable size increase may be better suited to a lift with an implant or fat grafting. Dr. Antony will help you compare your options.

Background media

Why Choose Dr. Antony for an Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift in Cary?

Auto-augmentation calls for a surgeon who is comfortable reshaping breast tissue in detail. Dr. Anu Antony brings:

  • Advanced reconstructive training, including a reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons
  • More than 20 years of experience, with training at Stanford and Harvard
  • Oncoplastic surgery experience, which relies on rearranging breast tissue for a balanced shape
  • Fine arts training in Florence that informs her eye for proportion

Women from Cary, Raleigh, and across the Triangle trust Dr. Antony to create lifted results that suit their body.

What to Expect With an Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift

Consultation and Cost

  • Dr. Antony evaluates your breast shape, skin quality, and how much tissue is available to reshape.
  • She explains your incision options and whether fat grafting could enhance your result.
  • Your quote reflects surgical time, anesthesia, facility fees, and any combined procedures.
  • Our team reviews financing options before you schedule.

The Procedure

  • The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
  • Dr. Antony uses lift incisions, often around the areola and down the lower breast.
  • She shapes a flap of your lower breast tissue, moves it up beneath the breast, and secures it in place.
  • She then tightens the skin and repositions the nipple for a lifted, balanced shape.

Recovery and Results Timeline

  • Expect soreness, swelling, and tightness for the first one to two weeks.
  • Many patients return to desk work in about one to two weeks.
  • Wear your surgical bra as directed and avoid lifting and strenuous exercise until cleared.
  • Your shape settles over about three to six months, and scars continue to fade over the first year.
Background media

Alternatives and Related Breast Procedures

Dr. Antony may suggest one of these options instead of, or along with, auto-augmentation:

  • Breast lift: Lifts sagging breasts without repositioning tissue for added fullness.
  • Breast fat grafting: Adds soft volume with your own fat and pairs well with auto-augmentation.
  • Breast lift with augmentation: Combines a lift with an implant for a larger size change.
  • Breast implant removal: Auto-augmentation can restore shape after explant surgery.
  • Breast reduction: Reduces size and lifts in one procedure for women with very large breasts.

Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift FAQs

Will an auto-augmentation lift make my breasts bigger?

How long do results last?

Can I have auto-augmentation after implant removal?

Can I breastfeed after an auto-augmentation lift?

What are the risks of an auto-augmentation breast lift?

Will an auto-augmentation lift make my breasts bigger?

An auto-augmentation lift mainly improves shape and upper fullness rather than cup size. Because it uses your existing tissue, your overall volume stays about the same. For more size, Dr. Antony may add fat grafting or recommend an implant.

How long do results last?

Results are long-lasting, but no lift stops natural aging, gravity, pregnancy, or weight changes. Maintaining a stable weight and wearing a supportive bra help protect your result.

Can I have auto-augmentation after implant removal?

Yes. Auto-augmentation is often a good option for women removing implants who want to restore a lifted shape. According to the ASPS, breasts can look flatter or droopier after explant surgery. Repositioning your own tissue can help restore that lost shape.

Can I breastfeed after an auto-augmentation lift?

Many women can still breastfeed after a breast lift, though it is not guaranteed. If you plan to have children, discuss this with Dr. Antony during your consultation.

What are the risks of an auto-augmentation breast lift?

An auto-augmentation lift is a safe procedure when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. As with any surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, changes in nipple sensation, asymmetry, and scarring. In the Gland Surgery study of 184 patients, complications such as hematoma and infection each occurred in about 1% of breasts or fewer. Dr. Antony reviews every risk with you and takes careful steps to minimize them.

Schedule Your Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift Consultation in Raleigh

If you want a lifted, fuller shape without implants, Dr. Anu Antony can help. Her auto-augmentation breast lift in Raleigh and Cary uses your own tissue for natural, balanced results. Schedule your consultation at the Antony Institute today.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.

Sources

Schedule a Consultation

This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
Submit Contact Form

Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions

Background media
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (919) 296-0256.
Contact Us