Breast Lift Q&A

84%

WORTH IT RATING

219 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Lift Cost: $7,800

Learn about Breast Lift

1,232 people and 670 doctors are talking about Breast Lift

Get Free Email Updates

Breast Implants or Mastopexy to Lift Areola?

asked 2 years ago by a_a_a in WA
Latest answer by Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Question viewed 7,128 times
Tags: areola, breasts, female, lift, scar

I've always disliked how low my areola on my breast. However, my actual breasts are not sagging, which makes me wonder if Breast implants would provide enough of a pseudo lift to raise my areola around 2 cm or so (in addition to rounding them out).

I'm really reluctant to have scars on my breast--while I've seen terrific results, I've also seen terrible ones. If you recommend implants, which kinds?

If you recommend Mastopexy, what kind of scarring is average? Ideally I would like my breasts to look "sexy" as opposed to the "cute" look I am currently working with. Thanks!

23 answers to Breast Implants or Mastopexy to Lift Areola?

Breast implants or mastopexy for low nipples

I would agree with many of the other doctors and recommend either nothing, or a periareolar lift given your slightly low nipples. If you wanted a larger volume, an implant would be required. It appears as though your lower pole is slightly tight as well. Cecause you currently have no scars on your breasts, having a new scar is a tradeoff that you will want to weight with your surgeon. I do not believe that an implant alone will result in your best appearance.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Implants won't lift your breasts

As Dr.s Placik and Aldea have said, you would not get the lift you want from an implant alone. A periareolar lift would help with a very acceptable scar just around the areolar border. Most all the time this is complimented by an implant but in your case you might be okay without one. I have many photos of these on my web site.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast IMplants can improve Nipple Areola postion hold off on lift

While I agree that Breast Augmentation with a Breast Implant cannot "lift" the Breast, a well placed Implant can certainly improve your Nipple Areola position. You can definitely benefit from increased fullness in the inferior pole of your Breast. An experienced surgeon can postition an Implant to achieve this for you. By increasing the fullness in the portion of your Breast below the Nipple Aerola, the Nipple Areola is pushed forward and up. I believe you can avoid the... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Try breast implants first then possibly Benelli lift

Your issue is you need an in person examination by 3 board certified plastic surgeons. At the office visit more photos can be done or computer imaging, measurements, and then a DETAILED discussion of your options. Over the internet with just OK photos, I would recommend (again this is a non examined recommendation) just a 250 cc implant NO lifting YET! If after 3 months you still desire some more elevation than under local anesthesia I would do a "donut" or Benilli lift. Yes,... more

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants vs. mastopexy to lift areolae

"Sexy "and "cute " are not terms found in the plastic surgery literature, rather we are trained to achieve balence, equilibrium, and harmony amongst parts (of the body). When that is achieved, by definition, there is beauty, and in my estimation you fullfil these criteria. As plastic surgeons we also learn that "if something isn't broken don't fix it' and "the enemy of the good is the perfect"

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

Implants alone do not raise nipples or areolae

Unfortunately breast implants do not raise the nipples. Many women think they do, even some plastic surgeons. It's a common fallacy that implants take up the slack and move the nipples up. But I've done the measurements. So if you want your nipples/areolae elevated, you need a lift. Breast implants also stretch the areolae and make them wider, which you might not want. The best type of lift is the vertical type with a lollipop scar. This... more

Eric Swanson MD
Leawood Plastic Surgeon

www.swansoncenter.com

Implants or Mastopexy to "Lift" Areola

As others have stated, an implant does little to truly "lift" your areola. However, the position of your nipple and areola are not so low that one would normally consider doing a lift on you. A periareolar lift could give you a modest lift but it comes at the expense of scars which are not always all that acceptable. In additiion, the periareolar lift tends to flatten your breast somewhat and I am not sure if that is something you want to do. It may be that what bothers... more

Braden Stridde, MD
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants or mastopexy?

Thank you for the question. Directs physical examination is really necessary to give you the best advice. However, based on your pictures and your description of your goals, I would suggest staying away from mastopexy surgery and achieving your goals (if possible) with breast augmentation alone. It is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants do not give a lift

In general,one can not lift breasts or move the areala much with implants alone. I would suggest that you consider doing a breast augmentation alone initially and see how much you like this as you dont want the scars associated with a true breast lift. I would use a below the breast incision -- inframammary fold incision using saline implants as you have enough breast tissue and also place it below the pectoralis muscle as well.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Lift the breast with implants

Your areolar is slightly lower and enlarged. A breast implant would help lift the lower portion of the breast and areolar. I do not think it would lift 2cm without a periareolar incision. You could undergo a breast augmentation and help round out the breast with a smooth round saline or silicone implant above the muscle. However the areolar may enlarge and require a periareolar reduction. This procedure would reduce the diameter of areolar and lift the breast and nipple complex. I would... more

Andrew Turk, MD
Naples Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants or a lift

The pictures are at an awkward angle, but if your nipples are truly low, it is best to have a lift around the areola. This can be nicely camouflaged around the border of the areola. I do it all the time.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants or Breast Lift

Okay we can all admit that we need better pictures but they're not bad. With that said I see some things the others are not talking about. First, I can see some constriction in the base of the left breast and a more tubular or "snoopy nose" appearance. The right breast is not constricted and has the normal breast fullness. In a typical tubular breast the breast tissue is herniated into the areola creating a larger areola. Your "deformity" is confined to the breast... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

www.hessplasticsurgery.com

Implant or Mastopexy

You do have slight ptosis to your NAC and would benefit from a lift. A periareolar lift, meaning an incision around the areola would provide the lift you need and make the areola slightly smaller. A small projecting implant would add a bit more volume and give an overall fuller look. Both can be done safely if done CORRECTLY. You can certainly stage the procedure but most patients desire one down time and one surgery and it can both be done together safely. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation alone and possible lift later

The combination of the lift and implant is a high risk procedure. You have large areola and it will get a bit larger with augmentation and you should be comfortable with idea of lift later on. Placement of implant in double pocket will give you little lift and you may delay lift .

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

What to do about cute breasts

Cute is hard to beat, so think about doing nothing. If you are wanting to do something, knowing that there are risks, here is what I would suggest. I would recommend that you have a breast augmentation first. If the breasts are still not to your liking, try a lift. This will minimize procedures if at all possible. There are some other things that you don't mention. Are you happy with the size? If you want smaller breasts, then a lift wil likely be a good resolution. If you want bigger, try... more

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants good for slightly low areolas.

Hi. 1) Of course, pictures are not like really examining you, but going by your pictures, I don't think you need a breast lift. It's a fine judgement call. 2) I recommend moderate size (about 250 cc's) cohesive silicone gel, round, smooth walled breast implants placed OVER the muscle. The folds under your breasts need to be lowered slightly. I think this will give you enough of a "pseudo lift", as you correctly call it.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You won't like breast implants alone

Breast augmentation with implants will not raise your areola position and in fact it will make it larger. Your areola to breast proprotion is already a bit too large. There are techniques to allow the implant to fall into the lower pole of the breast to create the illusion of lifting with more of the breast volume sitting lower on the chest. The look you describe is a full upper pole and an elevated nipple which will not be achieved with a dual plane technique. I believe a periareolar or... more

Robert W. Kessler, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants can provide a lift for the nipple-areola complex

Hi A_a-_a - With implants, you will get a small amount of lift of the nipple-areola complex. Silicone or saline implants are great for you as you have plenty of breast tissue to hide the implants. As far as incisions go, you can get a 3-5cm small incision at the base of your breasts that is well hidden and can allow good access to place the implants. Good luck!

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Implants vs Mastopexy

There are several ways to go with your situation: 1. Breast Implants alone - Obviously that would make you larger but it would also increase the distance between the nipple and the fold under the breast, thereby making the nipple more central on the breast mound. 2. Periareolar mastopexy - your areolas are large and can be made smaller and the position improved on the breast mound without implants. The scar would be around the areola but there may be some flattening of the breast and... more

John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift surgery

I think you are being too critical about your breasts. Also, I am not sure the anatomical difference between cute and sexy. My advice would be to put off any surgery for a long time. Don't mess with a good thing. Wait until the anatomical problems are more obvious.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

A Periareolar Lift might be best for you

I think you could have a periareolar (scar just around the nipple) breast lift. This would raise the areola, make it a bit smaller, and also rounder (which you stated you desired). It could be done as a lift alone, or with a small implant if you wanted more size increase.

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Breast Lift

You have attractive youthful breast and could get a great result with just a periareolar breast lift (Mastopexy). I do NOT see a need to complicate matters with a breast augmentation or an Augmentation Mastopexy. Dr. P. Aldea

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Options for breast lift

I beleive your breasts demonstrate excellent form and will look excellent in a bra. On reviewing your pictures you do demonstrate a lower left areola. As you have noted the areolae sit low on the breasts and both are somewhat large. I do not believe an implant will provide sufficient lift to achieve your goals. Furthermore it will enlarge your areolae even further. A crescent lift (periareolar) will lift the areolae but stretch the areolae. A donut lift (circumareolar) will lift and reduce... more