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Can Breast Augmentation Be Used Instead of Breastlift for Small Sagging Breasts?

asked 1 year ago by Maria in Miami
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 3,236 times
Tags: areola, sagging, costs, implant, options

Basically there are two things that I don't like about my breasts. 1) I've always had very big areolas. 2) I've lost 66 pounds and my breasts are sagging. I was wondering if there is a way for me to avoid breastlift (e.g. by using implants that are large enough to fill the empty space). If breastlift is necessary, is there a way to avoid the vertical incision? What about the areolas? Please suggest an 'ideal' and an 'adequate' solution and include estimated prices. Many thanks!!!

25 answers to Can Breast Augmentation Be Used Instead of Breastlift for Small Sagging Breasts?

+4

Breast ilft or breast augmentation

A breast augmentation will do exactly what the term implies, it will augment the size of your breast in its present postion. If a large implant is used, it can fill in the skin for a relatively short period of time, but as time passes, you will go from small and saggy to large and saggy. The problem then is that if you decide to have the lift later, the scars will likely need to be longer as the large implant will stretch your skin out to a greater degree, necessitating longer scars to... more
Julio Garcia, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2

Saggy Breast Options

Thanks for the pictures, they are very helpful. A breast enlargement above the muscle could be considered an "adequate" option. You will see some improvement in your sagging but may need a bigger implant than you may want to give the modest lifting affect you will see. The implants will also be a bit lower going above the muscle and this will not address your areola size. This procedure costs between $5400-6000 in the Minneapolis area.The "ideal" procedure for you would be a full mastopexy... more
Douglas L. Gervais, MD

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

+1

Breast Lift

While a physical examination would be necessary to determine the best surgical plan for you, a breast lift probably may be required to get the lift that you desire. A scar is inevitable; however, the extent of the scar and the placement of the scars will be determined by the surgical approach determined after the physical examination
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift or breast implants

In your case, I would recommend an uplift, called a mastopexy. This will give you a pretty shape and smaller areolas. Implant will also be necessary to give you the fullness most desire. I would keep the implants a conservative size. Remember that more weight equals more sagging with time. All plastic surgery procedures are a trade-off of some sort. Here you are trading large areolas and sagging for scars with an attractive, youthful breast shape. Implants without a full mastopexy would make... more
E. Ronald Finger, MD

Savannah Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implants do not give much of a lift

Thank you for your question and photographs. Based on your pictures, a lift is your only real option to obtain a nice breast shape and lift. Breast implants will not help your condition and may make it worse if they are not combined with a lift at the same time. I believe that the improved shape that you get from a lift far out-weigh the scars in the majority of cases.
James McMahan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can I avoid a breast lift and have implants only?

The degree of sagging you have will require a breast lift. Breast implants do not lift breasts. Breast implants fill out breasts where they are, they do not lift them up. Bigger implants fill out the breast more, but they still do not lift the breast. If your breasts are hanging over too far, as does yours, they will hang off of the implant. The bottom of the implant is at the level of your inframammary fold, so you can see how your breast, hanging over the fold quite a ways,... more
Robert M. Grenley, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleplasticsurgery.com

+1

Yes,absolutely

In your case, a breast lift is absolutely necessary.  You just have to much sagging, too much extra skin, and too many stretch marks.  You need to consult a board certified plastic surgeon to have an evaluation. The areola can be reduced to the size that you desire.  The procedure will leave a scar around the areola, as well as a vertical scar from the areola to the fold of the breast and probably a horizontal scar in the fold of the breast.  It is the... more
E. Anthony Musarra II, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation and lift for sagging breasts

For sagging deflated breasts with large areola, I recommend augmenting and lift them. The implant will fill the breast up and reduce the amount of excess skin that must be removed. However, the nipples still have to be repositioned higher and this can be done by a "donut" lift that would result in a scar only around the nipples. This would also help reduce the size of the areola. Your other options would be to do the augmentation alone... more
Adam Hamawy, MD

Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants and Breast Lift - Can I Get By With Implants Alone? Avoid the Vertical Incision?

HI Maria in Miami, No - an augmentation is nothing more than that: it fills up the pocket. It may give the APPEARANCE of a lift, and it certainly makes the entire area look "better" - but it doesn't actually "lift" the breasts. Many people can get a good enough result with implants alone so that you can get away without the scars (and risks) of a lift, particularly when combined with implants. But there is a limit to what can be accomplished... more
Alan Engler, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation will fill up the breast skin envelope depending on the size of the augmentation. However there is a limit and the position of the nipple will determine if an augmentation or a lift is the best option for you.
David L. Abramson, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.drabramson.com

+1

Breast lift and augmentation

Maria, Thanks for posting your pictures. I think you need a "T" lift and augmentation for the following reasons: 1. Periareolar lifts are more likely to have spread of the scar, or widening of the areola (or both), and are unlikely to reposition your nipple adequately to take care of the redundant skin in the lower pole. When the nipple is more than 1-2 cm below its target position, I personally recommend adding at least a vertical component to control the skin better and... more
Tim Abou-Sayed, MD

Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Options for sagging breasts (lift + implant?)

In your case augmentation alone over time would not give you a result that you would be happy with. You are actually an excellent candidate for a periareolar augmentation in which I would use a dual plane approach to give muscle coverage superiorly and allow the inferior pole of the breast to rotate a bit upward. The Benelli component would diminish the nipple areola and place it in a slightly higher position which would be more attractive. We have leaned over time that large prostheses... more
William F. DeLuca Jr, MD

Albany Plastic Surgeon

www.delucaplasticsurgery.com

+1

Mastopexy vs Augmentation

From the degree of ptosis which you have on your photo, I do not think you will be happy with an augmentation alone.  The key is the location of the nipple relative to the inframammary crease.  If it is below the crease as in your situation, a lift is necessary and I think you will need a vertical scar of some length.  The cost varies widely geographically and will be higher in Miami than in other areas like the Midwest.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation and breast lift.

Breasts can be lifted a small amount by augmentation alone.  If a breast needs to be lifted more than that minimum amount, then you need a mastopexy.  Mastopexies can be through a circurareolar incision alone or a circuareolar incision combined with a vertical incision.  It would be best to have a consultation with a plastic surgeon familiar with these procedures to decide what would be best for you.
Sanjiv Kayastha, MD

Albany Plastic Surgeon

www.kplasticsurgery.com

+1

Can Breast Augmentation Be Used Instead of Breastlift for Small Sagging Breasts?

After reading the 10 answers you can see it is unanimous that a lift is the best option for you. From MIAMI 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do I need a breast lift?

To answer your question, it really depends on the degree of result that you are looking for and your willingness to accept scarring.  A straightforward breast augmentation below the muscle will definitely not give you a result that you would be happy with because your nipple position is too far below your breast fold.  The next option would be to place an implant above your muscle.  By doing this, the implant would most likely settle in a lower position than if it were... more
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.beautybybuford.com

+1

Breast augmentation

While you may stage this operation to see if an appropriately sized implant alone would give a result that is satisfactory, it may be unlikely that you will get the shape and size that you desire.  If in the chance that you are satisfied with the augmentation alone and your surgeon is there for you to do additional surgery if needed then you may consider this option. Ofcourse if you don't have the time or resources to undergo two operations if needed then staging this operation may... more
Shashidhar Kusuma, MD

Plantation Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation together with breast lift

From your posted photos it appears that the issues are large areolae and sagging breasts with insufficient tissue to fill the skin envelope. The side view shows the nipple lies just below the breast fold (a grade 2 ptosis). Grade 2 drooping can usually be corrected with just an implant. It is impossible to tell just from your photos if the implant alone will suffice to fill the skin envelope and elevate the nipple. That would depend on what size implant you get, whether it is placed above or... more
Aaron Stone, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Benelli breast lift with implants works great.

Hi. 1)  Breast implants alone will not give you a good result. You have a little too much sagging. And by all means avoid very large breast implants which stretch your tissues and age very badly. 2)  You do not need a vertical scar (lollipop) breast lift. 3)  Based on your pictures, you are a great candidate for a Benelli ("dough nut") breast lift together with moderate size breast implants.  This approach will both correct your sagging and make your... more
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implant and T lift

Hi Maria, Based on the your history of wight loss and wide areola your best option would be an aumentation witha T lift. Wide areola with normal nipple position or mild ptosis can be corrected with periareolar lift. In your case, there has been significant weight loss with excess skin and maked descent of the areola. To just place an implant may give  you short term satisfaction but the long term results may not be good especiall y if a big implant is used... more
Moneer Jaibaji, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift with implants

The question you ask is common. Many women don't want scars, but they will need to compromise on the appearance of the breasts after surgery without them. An implant alone will result in large sagging breasts. The large areala will remain unchanged. The areola can be reduced in size and lifted resulting in a scar around the nipple. It appears that your areola need to eleveted several centimeters, and this will result in areola that looks gathered on the skin... more
Beverly Friedlander, MD

Short Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can definitely avoid the vertical incision

A Circumareolar lift and implants would confine the scar to just around your areolae and reduce the size of both areolae. The implants would fill out the extra space. Cost with saline implants would be about $6300.
Mark Broudo, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

CORRECTION OF SAGGING BREASTS

Hi Maria, Thanks for the photos.  Unfortunately, you have too much sagging to achieve a nice result with implants alone.  I believe your best option would be a circumvertical mastopexy with an augmentation.  This approach would raise the nipple/areola complex to the appropriate position, reduce the size of the areola, tighten the loose skin and increase the volume.  With the size of your areola a periareolar lift would put too much tension on the closure and you would... more
Todd B. Koch, MD

Buffalo Plastic Surgeon

www.toddbkochmd.com

+1

Implants v. lift

To get what you want is quite difficult but your choices of procedures should be governed by your anatomy and what you desires. This includes identfying the characterisitcs of your breast you would accept and what you wouldn't.  The ideal solution would be to idealize the shape of the breast and the areola size. This would require a lollipop-type incision. Then you can ideally augment the ideal ly-shaped breast. Alternatively, a periarolar lift with implants can partially correct... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can breasts be lifted with implants? What about large areolas?

You can hove a decent result with an implant placed low enough to fill the breasts,  but the droopiness will be partially corrected. A better solution for you is to get a periareolar Mastopexy to reduce the areola sizes and give a lift. an implant could be placed through the same incision. The areolas will get smaller as well. I have pictures of both these options on my web site. In case of periareolar lift there are no vertical scars. You should find the best person to do this... more
Farhad Rafizadeh, MD

Morristown Plastic Surgeon

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