Erin Lichy is getting real about a decision many women think about but don’t always talk about. The Real Housewives of New York City star recently shared that after four pregnancies and years of breastfeeding, she chose to undergo a breast augmentation with New York plastic surgeon Ira Savetsky, MD, not for a dramatic change, but to feel like herself again.
“After four pregnancies and years of breastfeeding, I felt proud of my body but also a little disconnected from it,” Lichy says. “You’re so busy taking care of everyone else that you don’t always take the time to process how much you’ve changed, emotionally and physically. Now that chapter of having babies is over, which is bittersweet, but I feel like I’m entering a new era of my life and with that means reinvesting in myself.”
Choosing the Procedure
When Lichy first started exploring her options, implants weren’t necessarily part of the plan. “I didn’t originally consider implants, but after sharing my aesthetic goals with Dr. Ira Savetsky, he explained that I had lost so much breast tissue that without implants I’d be totally deflated and wouldn’t get the look I was hoping for,” she says. “So, we spent time discussing the various components to consider, like projection, profile, how they would look on my frame and of course, the safety of the implant.”
She ultimately chose Natrelle 190cc low-profile, smooth silicone implants designed to restore fullness in a subtle way. “At the end of the day, I wanted something that felt authentic to me—not a dramatic change, just a version of myself that felt more balanced,” she adds.
According to Dr. Savetsky, that approach reflects what more patients are asking for right now. “Achieving a natural result starts with a thoughtful, individualized plan,” he says. “In cases like Erin’s, it’s not just about adding volume; it’s about restoring what was lost in a way that looks seamless.”
A More Natural Approach
For post-pregnancy patients, that often means addressing more than one concern at a time. “That often means combining an implant with a lift to address both volume loss and changes in breast position,” Dr. Savetsky tells us. He also emphasizes technique, including the use of a dual-plane approach, which allows the implant to sit partially beneath the muscle and partially under the breast tissue for a softer, more natural contour. “Everything I do is guided by proportion and balance,” he adds. “A well-executed result shouldn’t stand out as ‘surgical.’ It should feel harmonious.”
Loving the Results
Now that she’s on the other side of the procedure, Lichy says the impact goes beyond how she looks. “Restoring the fullness and shape has helped me feel more like myself again as I step into this new era,” she says.
She’s also choosing to share the experience openly, something she feels is still missing from the conversation around cosmetic procedures. “I want to share my entire breast augmentation journey because it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she says. “It’s actually one of the most common cosmetic procedures, yet there’s still a lot of stigma around talking about it.”
For Lichy, the decision ultimately came down to something simple. “This wasn’t about perfection or vanity; it was about reclaiming a piece of myself and making a decision that felt right for me,” she says.
