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Do I Need a Full Breast Lift?

I want to get breast implants, nothing to big but maybe a full c cup right now i am a b cup. I was told i need a full breat lift. Is this my only option?

Asked 31 months ago by Aricka1984 in California
Sort 23 expert answers by:
+2

Breast Lift for Symmetry

Your photo shows a difference in nipple position and orientation: the right nipple appears lower and pointing downward. It is tempting to consider a limited incision left for the right nipple-areola complex, such as the "crescent" mastopexy. My experience, however is that this very limited approach in combination with breast implants would not produce a nice result. A "full" lift gives your surgeon maximal control of breast shape and position to... more
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
+2

No one "needs" a Breast Lift

Hello, You need to decide what kind of result is adequate for you. Without a breast lift of some kind, you will have two very different looking breasts. Focus upon what your goal might be and the choice of a lift and it's type will be easier to figure. Does the scarring of a full lift concern you? Then look into reduced scar lifts understanding that they correct the difference between your breasts to a lesser degree. That is the trade off for less prominent scars in some cases. Have a good... more
John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast lift

As mentioned by my colleagues earlier, you have marked breast asymmetry with mild constriction of the right breast. Simply putting in two breast implants would still leave your right breast droopy and asymmetrical. You clearly need a lifting procedure on the right breast. This can be done at the same time as the breast augmentation, but this becomes tricky and the chance of revisional surgery being required goes up. If you were my patient, I would recommend staging the procedure by first... more
Elan B. Singer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Do I Need A Breast Lift

Your pictures show marked breast asymmetry (different breast shape and size). As a result, a patient has to decide what kind of result they are looking for. The right breast has more ptosis or droopiness than the left breast. A breast lift would give the best aesthetic results. Because the right breast is more droopy, a vertical mastopexy may be indicated. On the left breast, a donut or periareolar mastopexy may give excellent results. I have had patients who do not want extra scars on... more
Robert M. Wald, Jr., MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Lifting Options?

Thank you for the question. I think you will have a very nice and result with breast augmentation and breast lifting surgery. This operation will serve to increase the size of the breast to your liking and will undoubtedly improve the breast symmetry. I would suggest that you do your due diligence and located a plastic surgeon with extensive experience. once you feel comparable with the plastic surgeons experience/skill/previous surgical outcomes ask him/her to do what ever... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

AUGMENTATION MASTOPEXY

Looking at your photos, the most important clinical fact is the asymmetry. This means that there is the need to make a mastopexy. Mastopexy can be associated with augmentation mamoplasty. The aesthetic result of an augmentation mamoplasty alone, would be too poor.
Enrique Etxeberria, MD
Spain Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sometimes ptotic (droopy) breasts can be fixed with implants alone.

Not all droopy breasts require a breast lift if the patient wants larger breasts by way of implant.  This is a judgment call and needs to be worked out with the surgeon.  Occasionally, the patient is dissatisfied with the result but the breast lift can then be done by a secondary procedure.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

There are several types of breast lifts.

There are several main types of lifts with a few modifications of each. These are increasingly more invasive with greater scarring as you go down the list. crescent (scar only above areola) periareolar (circular scar all the way around areola) vertical (also called lollipop because of circular scar around areola and vertically descending scar) anchor (same as vertical scar PLUS a horizontal scar across the bottom) Unfortunately it is not as easy as just deciding... more
Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Different breasts need different types of lifts

Breast sag severity will determine what kind of lift you need.  Not every breast needs a full lift (typically associated with an "anchor" scar pattern).  You may do quite well with something les than a full lift on your right side, especially if an implant is placed as well.  Based on his or her exam, your surgeon will determine which techniques to use to give you the best shape and symmetry.  The link below is for a post I wrote on the topic of... more
Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full breast lift procedure for best cosmetic result

Without question- you need a full breast lift. You've got moderate to severe nipple ptosis on your right side. Your nipple position is assymetric. I suspect that you have minimal upper pole volume. You don't appear to have enough legnth to your breasts to do an effective auto-augmentation mastopexy procedure. I would recommend a vertical mastopexy and small implant to improve upper breast volume.
Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do you need a breast lift for best results? YES

You have asymmetry and will definitely need a lift on your right breast for a nice result.  You may get away without a lift on the left side.  Implants do not lift the breast--if you need a lift, you need a lift, regardless of implant choice.
Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Indications for breast lift

Asymmetry in breast shape and nipple position, such as is evident in your photograph, is very difficult to correct with an implant alone, and a breast lift would allow repositioning of the nipple and improvement of symmetry between the breasts. The scars are different than for a breast augmentation, and you need to discuss your wishes and expectations with your plastic surgeon before undergoing any surgery.
Olivia Hutchinson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Many factors are important when performing breast augmentation

There are many factors that go into a surgeon's decision when it comes to breast augmentation and breast lifting.  Although it appears that you will need some type of lifting operation for your breasts, the amount of lift that your breast will require depends on the size and shape of implant that is placed. In general, the larger a placed implant is, the less amount of lift the breast will require. However, there are limitations to the amount of lift that any implant can provide... more
Kevin Brenner, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tubular breasts breast lifts

I am surprised that many of the other doctors did not mention that you appear to have a little tubular breast shape to the right breast. A tubular breast is typically saggy, assymetrical and has a tight lower fold. You may also have a larger areola on the affected side. The best way to treat this is with a lift. Do you need a lift on the other side, perhaps, but an exam with be needed for confirmation.
Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift and implants for asymmetry

Since you are looking for a modest enlargement, an augmentation alone will only work on your left breast, but you will need a matching lift of the right breast to achieve symmetry. Without a right breast lift you will end up with bigger and uneven breasts. Lifting the left breast does not seem to be required based on this one picture, so a right breast areolar incision lift with implant combined with a left implant would be the way to go.
Antoine A. Hallak, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift with implants

  It is common for a woman to receive a breast lift at the same time as their breast augmentation. Breast lift surgery can complement the breast after implants have been placed. It is an excellent technique to reiterate the tissue around the new volume provided by the new implants. Discuss with your plastic surgeon the various options for you. In our practice, we, we perform a breast lift in this situation by using a incision around the areola or using the periareolar incision... more
B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift with implants

Raising your hands to take a photo lifts the breasts a bit. You may be able to have an implant and a circumareola lift which would only place an incision around the periphery of the areola.  But, it is difficult to say without examining you.
Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift with breast implants for best result.

Hi. You have significant breast asymmetry.  Your right breast is quite a bit more sagging than the left.  You absolutely do not need a breast lift on the left.  Probably best plan is bilateral breast implants and a little lift on the right with a circular scar around the nipple. 
George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

For the best result, you need a mastopexy

You have significant right-sided ptosis and marked asymmetry. Without some type of mastopexy on the right side, you will be left with residual asymmetry. If you are willing to accept asymmetry and a droopy right-sided nipple-areola complex, then no, you don't need a mastopexy. If you would like closer symmetry, then a peri-areolar mastopexy at the time of breast implantation would likely give you a very nice result. I would perform this at the same timeas your breast augmentation, given... more
Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, you need a lift for the best result

With your assymetry and breast ptosis on your right side, you would need at least a periareolar lift with an implant.  I would personally do this at the same time.  Without the lift, your right side would not look at all to your liking. 
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Depends on your goals

Several factors would go into out conversation about you options - your age, tolerance of continued assymetry after surgery, type of implants desired, etc., but I would give you several options, one of which would be to place implants above the muscle and avoid a lift altogether. If you understand that this would result in continued assymetry of the nipples, but correct a lot of the other assymetries of the breasts, this might be a good option for you. Good luck.
W. Tracy Hankins, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

No

You have very uneven breast and your right nipple is lower and bigger. You will need cirumaerolar breast lift and implant. I do not recommend implant and mastopexy at the same time. Doing lift and implant at the same time will increase risk of the surgery . You may try augmentation with the understanding that you will need lift later on. Bottom line you will need lift but full lift will be too much surgery for your case.
Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

May not need breast lift

Without the beneift of examining you, I don't believe you would require a lift on the left side, but I believe a circumareolar mastopexy (incision around the areola only) would be necessary to lift the right nipple slightly. At most, a "lollipop" incision (meaning around the areola and then straight down) would be necessary on the right. I don't think you would require a "full" mastopexy (meaning an "anchor" shaped incision pattern). I typically warn patients... more
Jeffrey Horowitz, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
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