Yes, and the best outcomes depend on working with a surgeon who understands why. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, MD, MSc, FACS, brings over two decades of experience in breast surgery to every consultation at Cosmoplastic Surgery. As a Professor of Clinical Surgery at New York Medical College and a clinical trial investigator for the FDA, Dr. Alizadeh tailors each breast augmentation in NYC and Long Island to the patient's anatomy, age, and aesthetic goals.
In this blog, we will discuss how breast augmentation differs for women in their 40s, what surgical adjustments your surgeon should consider, whether you may benefit from a combined breast lift, how implants affect mammogram screenings, and why this decade is often an ideal time for the procedure.
How Does Breast Tissue Change in Your 40s?
The breasts you have today are not the same ones you had in your 20s, and that is completely normal. Hormonal shifts, pregnancies, breastfeeding, and the natural aging process all contribute to gradual changes in breast volume, shape, and skin quality over time.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the primary concern for women over 40 seeking breast augmentation is volume loss combined with excess skin. These changes directly influence how Dr. Alizadeh approaches implant selection, placement, and whether additional procedures may be warranted.
Common changes that affect surgical planning include:
- Loss of upper pole fullness: The upper portion of the breast often deflates first, creating a bottom-heavy or flattened appearance.
- Reduced skin elasticity: Skin that has stretched from pregnancy or weight fluctuation may not conform tightly around an implant on its own.
- Nipple descent: The nipple-areola complex may have shifted below the natural breast crease, a sign that a lift could be beneficial.
- Tissue thinning: Breast glandular tissue is gradually replaced by fatty tissue, which can influence how implants look and feel beneath the skin.
Do You Need a Breast Lift Along With Augmentation?
One of the most important distinctions between breast augmentation in your 40s versus your 20s is the potential need for a combined mastopexy (breast lift). Implants restore volume, but they do not correct sagging, a point that many patients are surprised to learn during their consultation.
Dr. Alizadeh developed his signature NaturaBra® Breast Lift technique to address exactly this.
Factors that may point toward a combined approach include:
- Moderate to significant ptosis: Sagging that places the nipple at or below the breast crease typically calls for surgical correction beyond augmentation alone.
- Excess skin after weight loss or breastfeeding: Stretched skin may not retract sufficiently around an implant, compromising the final shape.
- Desire for a lifted, youthful profile: Augmentation paired with a lift restores both volume and position in a single procedure.
What Implant Considerations Are Unique to This Age Group?
Choosing the right implant in your 40s involves a more nuanced conversation than it might for a younger patient.
Key implant considerations for patients over 40 include:
- Size and proportion: Overly large implants can accelerate sagging over time, particularly when skin elasticity is already reduced.
- Implant profile and shape: A moderate or moderate-plus profile often complements the natural chest width of women in their 40s without appearing overdone.
- Submuscular vs. subglandular placement: Submuscular placement offers stronger long-term support and may reduce the risk of visible implant edges in patients with thinner tissue.
- Implant material: Both silicone and saline remain safe options, though cohesive silicone gel implants tend to provide a more natural feel, especially for patients with less native breast tissue.
How Will Breast Implants Affect Mammogram Screenings?
Routine breast cancer screening becomes especially important starting in your 40s, and many women understandably want to know whether implants will interfere with their mammograms.
The American Cancer Society confirms that women with breast implants should continue receiving regular screening mammograms on the same schedule as women without implants.
What you should know includes:
- Implants do not eliminate the need for screening: Regular mammograms remain essential, and you should inform your technologist about your implants before every appointment.
- Submuscular placement supports imaging: Implants placed beneath the muscle sit farther from the breast gland, allowing for clearer visualization of the tissue.
- Additional views are standard: Women with implants typically receive four extra images (two per breast) beyond the standard screening views.
Why Your 40s May Be the Ideal Time for Breast Augmentation
There are several practical and personal reasons why many women find their 40s to be the right moment to move forward with breast augmentation.
Advantages include:
- Completed childbearing: Breast changes from pregnancy and breastfeeding are behind you, making results more predictable and long-lasting.
- Greater lifestyle stability: Career and personal schedules may offer more flexibility for surgery and recovery.
- Refined aesthetic goals: Patients in their 40s tend to seek natural, proportionate enhancement rather than dramatic volume increases.
- Opportunity to combine procedures: Pairing breast augmentation with a lift or body contouring through a mommy makeover can address multiple concerns in a single surgical plan.
Schedule a Breast Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Alizadeh
Breast augmentation in your 40s absolutely calls for a different surgical perspective, one that accounts for tissue changes, implant longevity, and long-term breast health. Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, MD, MSc, FACS, brings the precision of a clinical researcher and the artistry of an internationally recognized plastic surgeon to every procedure he performs.
Contact Cosmoplastic Surgery today to book your consultation.