Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Can I Get a Breast Augementation Without a Lift?

Hi, I'm 5'4" and recently won a competition to get a breast augmentation. Unfortunely I was told by the dr. that i have ptosis. I feel like my breasts definately do sag espcially after nursing 3 children. But i don't feel like they are bad enough that i wouldn't be able to get implants without a crescent lift (nipple lift). Is he just being more cautions or is my ptosis bad enough that i would be likely to get double bubble? I feel that implants would naturally correct some of this. Thanks.

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26 Doctor Answers | Asked by svdk in tampa, FL

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Breast augmentation

I have two comments: 1. You say you won a competition to have breast augmentation. If your surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon, he/she should know that raffling surgical procedures is against the code of ethics of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and shows poor judgment. I would be concerned that you might be going to a plastic surgeon who is either not a member of these... more

Be Careful When Choosing Your Breast Surgery and Breast Surgeon

I have been a plastic surgeon in Sarasota for 17 years and have heard about the contest you won on the radio. The surgeon involved is an Oral Surgeon who did one extra year of training in cosmetic surgery at a non-approved fellowship. Your surgeon is in no way, shape, or form a board certified plastic surgeon and is not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In fact, he is not board certified by any ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties) recognized board.... more

Augmentation and lifting - are implants enough?

First of all, raffling off a breast augmentation is against the ethical code of conduct of the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Before you agree to this procedure, please check the credentials of your chosen surgeon. On the topic of breast lifting and augmentation, only minor elevation of the nipple is seen with an augmentation. If the nipple is below of level of the breast fold, or there is significant laxity in the breast skin, a lift is recommended to improve the outcome of the... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

You do not "win" breast augmentation surgery! You need expert advice from a real plastic surgeon!

I'm not even going to answer the surgical questions first, as no reputable American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified plastic surgeon would participate in such a "raffle" or "surgery as a prize" situation, AND YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER! Even if you were a "perfect" candidate for breast implant placement, this doctor is using you as a marketing tool, an advertisement, or self-promotion, all the while deceiving anyone within listening range of his... more

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It looks like you do need a lift-without one you will have a snoopi-looking breast which I am sure you will not be happy with.

You Can Have An Augmentation Without A Lift... But It May Not Look Great

Anyone can certainly get an augmentation without a lift, including yourself. However, your nipple position looks to be fairly low, anytime it drops below the breast fold you need to consider if a lift is an appropriate adjunct treatment option. You can go with just the implants, but it may not look great. Implants above the muscle may "correct" some of the nipple malposition better than implants under the muscle may, but you run the risk of greater capsular... more

Breast lift with augmentation

It really boils down to what you want your breasts to look like. If you desire a higher, more athletic looking breast then a lift alone would partially achieve that. If you want fullness at the top part of the breast then you will need an implant with the lift. If you want a lower breast that appears heavy with the nipples still at the bottom part of the breast then implants alone. My preference with your type of breasts is to do a vertical lift with an implant but it's... more

Definitely need a lift

Absolutely you would need a lift if you choose to get implants as you have more then mild ptosis on your anterior and lateral view. I would suggest that you would be very unsatisfied with any result otherwise. Based on your photos, I would suggest that you actually possess a good deal of breast tissue such that a mastoepxy (breast lift) alone would give you a good result with a significant improvement in size and shape post-op.

Breast Implants - Do I Need A Lift, Too?

Hi svdk in tampa, FL, It's hard to tell 100% from the photos and, of course, the ultimate decision has to be made by you in consultation with your surgeon. However, increasingly, women are willing to accept the result with implants alone, or with a superior crescent lift, in order to avoid the scars and morbidity of a more traditional lift. It's often a question of which of the issues you're more comfortable with: you can get a better overall shape with a... more

Breast Augmentation

Implants can correct some breast ptosis, but sometimes you have to go to a very large implant to get the correction and then wind up with a look you did not plan on. Listen to your surgeon an if a lift is recommended by the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, then I would follow the advice. They are giving advice based on many cases similar to yours and saving you unnecessary procedures.

What to do if you "win" a breast augmentation

There are 2 issues to discuss regarding your question. First, from your photos, it is clear that you have breast ptosis and require a breast lift if you have a breast augmentation. Anything less will give a poor result, and I credit your surgeon for pointing this out. Next, any board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and who gives away surgery in a contest is in severe violation of the ASPS code of ethics and could be... more

Can I Get a Breast Augementation Without a Lift?

After reading you written question many times and all 20 of the expert answers, I believe you can have just the augmentation first. If after 3 months of healing you are not satisfied than under local anesthesia have either a crescent lift or donut lift.

Needing a breast lift?

A huge red flag is associated with "winning" a breast augmentation. You probably are not working with a real Board Certified ASPS plastic surgeon but a "cosmetic" surgeon who has no real plastic surgery training. Be ware!! Also, for increased size and fullness, an implant alone will do but for better shape and higher more youthful nipples, a lift would be needed in my opinion. Implants don't lift you, they just make you bigger! more

Breast lift if you want them perky

Based on your photos I would highly recommend a breast lift in order to avoid a "double bubble" or the creation of larger but still ptotic (sagging) breasts. Breast implants alone never replace the need for a true mastopexy (breast lift). Best of luck...RAS

Breast lift and breast implants

Your statement that you won the surgery in a competition is a major red flag and I am flabergasted that only one surgeon answering your post commented on this. Your photos show drooping or ptosis as well as right left asymmetry. Just putting in breast implants will not fix either of these. You need a different operation than the one you won. That is precisely why the code ethics of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons specifically prohibit... more

Breast implants correct mild sagging without a lift.

Hi. 1) I never heard of a competition for breast augmentation. It does not sound legitimate. Be very careful about whom you are dealing with. 2) A "crescent" lift is not a real breast lift and doesn't do much except give you a scar. 3) It looks from your pictures as if your nipples are NOT lower than the folds under your breasts. In that case, breast implants alone will correct your mild sagging without the need for a formal... more

Breast augmentation and lift

From your photos( and they are not the best views) it looks like you need a lift at least. An implant can be helpful to add more volume but they will not lift your breasts significantly.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Augmentation Without Lift

Although I cannot be certain from your photos, I think you probably could have an augmentation without a lift or mastopexy if you are willing to accept some degree of ptosis. I also echo Dr. Abou-Sayed's comment about the competition. The physician is probably not a member of ASPS or ASAPS; if so, he/she may be censured or expelled.

Breast Implants and Breast Lifts

Hello SVDK, You couldn't be more wrong about the assessment of your own breasts. You are better off doing nothing at all or breast augmentation with no lift, rather than a breast augmentation with a crescent lift. You have a large, full breast with the nipple areolar complex entirely below the inframammary crease and pointing south. You would only benefit from a formal breast lift , and the results would be transformative and... more

Would breast augmentation be sufficient without a lift

I believe that when you decide to have breast surgery you would like to have the optimal resuly possible. In reviewing your photos you exhibit breast saggging with the nipples pointing downwards and located at or below the breast fold( inframammary fold). If you only had a breast augmentation you would have some aesthetic improvement but your breasts would still be sagging and the result would be significantly compromised. You should undergo a simultaneous lifting with scar confined to the... more

Breast implants without a lift, a personal choice

When the breast droops and the nipple position is below the breast fold, the breast implant will tens to push the nipple lower, projecting somewhat downward on the breast. The look is rather mature or very 'natural' and most would feel that the aesthetics would be better with a breast lift. By the way, the crescent lift is not worth the effort, and double bubble has nothing to do with breast droop. The choice is yours as will be the scar. If in doubt, choose the breast augmentation... more

Breast augmentation vs breast augmentation with a lift

The problem with having just a breast augmentation, when a lift is really required, is that you will end up with large saggy breasts. Most patients who take this course usually end up doing a lift later, at extra expense, when they should do the right procedure in the first place.

Augmentation and "lift"

Augmentation will help some of your lift by re-inflating the missing volume in your breast. But will not correct ptosis. Ptosis(droop) will be defined by the position of the nipple in reference to the inframammary fold or fold behind the breast. The nipple needs to be across from this crease. If as long as you understand that you may need a lift after your augmentation, it can be staged and done later. But if you like how it looks you stay with the aug without the lift. Staging the... more

Breast lifts don't have the problems of implants

You have a breast volume that is already proportionate to your body shape. I would discourage augmentation, which carries all the risks of implants and very little benefit in your case. Remember also that more breast weight--implants--will cause more sagging.. There is no reason to add those headaches without a justifiable benefit. Instead, have a periareolar mastopexy, which will lift the nipple without adding vertical or inframammary scars. Just don't overdo... more

You May Need A Breast Lift with a Breast Augmentation

In general, if your nipple position is at or below your breast fold, you will need a breast lift to get the best results. A breast augmentation will not be able to list your breasts "enough" to get an aesthetically pleasing look. You may or may not run the risk of "double bubble" after a breast augmentation only, but the bigger risk is probably that a breast augmentation only will make your breast heavier overall, resulting in even more rapid... more

Breast augmentation after having children: do you need a breast lift for best results?

Breast augmentation after having children is challenging but can be very satisfying! Your situation seems quite favorable because the amount of ptosis, or breast "droop," is mild. In mild cases, it's not crucial to have a nipple/breast lift if your nipple position doesn't bother you. Larger implants also can give an appearance of nipple lifting, depending in what "plane" the implants are placed ("plane" refers to whether the implants are above or below the pectoralis major muscle). In... more