Breast Implants: Q&A

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Is Breast Lift the Only Option for Sagging Breasts?

I am considering a breast augmentation. I have always been a decent C cup, but in the last year, I have lost approx. 35 lbs, and it has left my breasts deflated and saggy. I have consulted 2 plastic surgeons who insist I need a lift as well. I really don't want the extra scarring. Is there any way to achieve a good look without doing a lift as well?

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by SLP Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI

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Lift vs. implant

It can be very tricky for the patient to judge beforehand if a lift is necessary. There are some women whose breasts appear terribly saggy, but an implant alone can help them. This is especially the case for patients who are thin and have had loss of breast tissue after breast feeding. There are many types of breast lifts with differing abilities to correct drooping vs. the amount of scarring produced vs. the ultimate shape of the breast. There is also the artistic style of the... more

Sounds like you will need a lift

If anatomically you need a lift, then there is really no other way to achieve a good cosmetic result without one. It is true that the cost of this is the scars, but in general they heal very well. If you simply have implants placed without a lift, it usually looks quite unnatural, with extra hanging skin, and the majority of patients would be very unhappy with this. In short, it's your body and if you don't want the incisions of a lift, don't have the procedure, but be prepared that... more

If unsure about breast lift, have implant surgery first and lift later

If your weight loss has simply deflated your breasts but the nipple complex remains above or at least on level with the breast fold, a lift may not be necessary. A breast implant alone would suffice to replace the volume lost. If your nipple complex is below the fold and points south, so to speak, then the breast lift will be needed. In this latter circumstance, an implant alone will create a bigger more droopy and less aesthetic version of your present breast. However if there is... more

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Breast lift

If you are experiencing volume loss without true sagging, the use of implants can achieve restoration of breast volume which creates the appearance of a full or lifted breast with minimal incisions.

Breast lift

It sounds like with a significant weight loss a breast lift is what you need. Unfortunately the only way to accomplish this is with incisions on your breast.

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mastopexy scars will not suit everyone

The mastopexy scar is the number one tradeoff to consider. After all, we have a goal to create a pert well shaped breast which is pleasing bare, or in the nude. The bra is the great equalizer though you may not always want the full cover of one, and the scar may make you feel uncomfortable without. Breast augmentation will provide the volume that you need and as I have indicated in my other responses about lift or mastopexy, augmentation may lift the nipple a degree if the nipple, the... more

Visual method to determine if you need a breast lift

I have a relatively simple system for determining if you need a lift. Breast sagging can be categorized into three groups stand in front of a mirror and see which group best describes yourself Group 1: I can see the bottom of my areola and a rim of non-pigmented breast skin from the front, my nipple is at the level of the crease behind my breast Group 2: I can not see the bottom of my areola but I can see a rim of non-pigmented breast skin from the front, my nipple is just below... more

A simple test will give you your answer

Dear SLP, Many women share your concerns regarding their breasts. The ideal situation would be to improve the shape and size without any scars. However, if you don't like the location of your nipple, the only way to move it to a better location would be to make an incision around it. The way to determine if you need a lift or not, is to imagine that your breast was bigger, but your nipples stayed in the same location. Would that look attractive to you? Based on your two previous... more

Get the lift if you care about your shape

Nobody wants to have scars but they DO want the best shape they can get. This only comes from having a lift done if your nipples have sagged down to the level of the crease below the breast or are below it or are pointing down. Unfortunately, there is just no way around what mother nature has dictated for you. Your's is such a common senario. Never yet have I seen a patient who would be happy without a lift if they needed one from an anatomical standpoint. I even have pictures of... more

You definitely need a lift, but it can be a minimal scar breast lift.

Hi! Some of the most common bad results that I see are in women who tried to get their sagging breasts corrected just with implants. So I urge you not to do that. 1) You probably need a "donut" lift that leaves you only with a circular scar around your nipples, together with implants. 2) If you have really bad sagging, you might need a "lollypop" scar. But you never need the "anchor" or "upside-down T" scar for a lift. 3) How the lift is done... more

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.