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Breast Lift or Breast Reduction Surgery for 21 Year Old?

asked 2 years ago by VirgoBlue88 in Lancaster Pennsylvania
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,784 times
Tags: age 18-24, breasts, female, breast feeding, sagging, pregnancy

Hello. I am a healthy 21 year old and had a two-part question. I am considering either Breast Lift or Breast Reduction surgery.

My breasts have always been saggy, but in recent times are getting worse and taking on a "teardrop" like shape/losing volume and really stetching at the beginning of my breast.

Which procedure may best suit my needs? Should I wait until after I have children? (I was considering pumping, instead of feeding (future) baby directly from me) Thanks!!

24 answers to Breast Lift or Breast Reduction Surgery for 21 Year Old?

+12

The Ultimate Breast Lift/Reduction is a new option

The Ultimate Breast Lift/Reduction was developed using engineering principles to elevate and support the breast other than just skin. This new technique reshapes a woman's own tissue to form an internal bra that is then attached permanently to the chest muscles. Standard techniques rely on skin to be the only means of support for the newly formed mound. And as every woman knows-this is simply not enough! With the Ultimate Breast Lift, the forces of gravity are opposed. Breasts are... more

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.horndeski.com

Breast lift and reduction are really the same operation

Yes, your description makes me think you would likely benefit from a breast lift/reduction. A reduction is also a lift. It turns out that a lift is also a reduction (it reduces the lower pole of your breasts). They are really the same operation. In a breast "reduction" we usually just take out more breast tissue. The optimal technique is the vertical technique. The inverted-T technique produces an unflattering boxy shape and excessive scars,... more

Eric Swanson MD
Leawood Plastic Surgeon

www.swansoncenter.com

Breast Lift or Reduction

Are you planning on children in the next five years? If so, I would wait before having breast surgery. Pregnancy will obviously change your breasts and this may result in needing an additional surgery following your pregnancies. I often perform a breast lift with tissue removal. It all depends on the size of your breasts. Upon consultation a board certified plastic surgeon will be able to determine which procedures would best address your concerns. Best if luck!

Christine Sullivan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lifting or Breast Reduction?

Thank you for the question. Breast lifting and breast reduction surgery are similar in that both operations will raise the position of the breasts on the chest wall; In other words, both operations do lift the breasts. If your goal is to decrease the size of the breasts as well, then breast reduction surgery is indicated. During breast reduction surgery breast skin, adipose tissue, and breast tissue is removed thereby reducing the overall size of the breasts... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift or reduction

Your question focuses on the shape of the breasts and not size. If the breasts are too large and this is the anatomic reason for sagging, then a breast reduction may be appropriate. Simply lifting breasts that are excessively large would be a short term solution, thanks to gravity. Reduction is covered by many insurance plans whereas lift is purely cosmetic. As to having children afterwards, the timing of surgery is a personal decision and depends on how much the current shape/size of the... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast uplift or reduction?

The first question, is at what age would you have children. If it is in the immediate future, it will be best to defer surgery until you have completed your pregnancies. There is no question that pregnancy is one of the great referral sources to my office. However, if the pregnancies in the future surgery may be indicated. A breast reduction always involves some type of breast lift. Often, most procedures are combination of both. It is difficult to evaluate and give a good answer without... more

John E. Sherman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.nyplasticsurg.com

Breast reduction

If your breasts are quite larger, a breast reduction will accomplish both a lift and a reduction at the same time.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

A breast reduction almost always includes a lift

Many times I do the procedure you are talking about for the problem you are describing by doing a breast lift with a very small amount of tissue reduction. The reduction is not to reduce the aide of the breast but to improve the shape. By removing some tissue I can get the breast to have a prettier rounder shape with less fullness in the outside part of the breast.

Dev Wali, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift vs Reduction

If you are happy with the size of your breasts in a bra, then a lift alone may be all you need. However, if you feel that they are too large, even with a bra, then a reduction and lift may be more appropriate. I do not think you are too young, and you can not diet and excercise your breasts to change the current shape.

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift

Dear VirgoBlue88, It is difficult to determine what you may need without pictures. Pictures help me view the breast tissue in its relationship with the crease and the nipple's relationship to the crease to name a few. Based on your description and without the history of back pain, neck pain, rashes beneath the breast which go along more with heavy saggy breast that would need reduction it sounds like a breast lift would benefit you. The only other point I will mention is that when a... more

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift or reduction before or after pregnancy

Pregnancy by itself even without nursing can cause quite prominent sagging of the breasts. It sounds as if you really need a lift more than a reduction but it truly depends on your timing. If you plan on having children in the near future (less than five years) I would probably do the...

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift or Reduction depends if you want smaller or higher breasts

The answer to your question lies in your desired results and the actual size of your breasts. If you are happy with the size of your breasts, but concerned about sagging, a breast lift should do the trick. If you are bothered by the size and weight of your breasts and have back or neck pain, then a breast reduction is the answer. Both the reduction and uplift (mastopexy) raise the nipple and elevate the breast. Some breasts are so large that a small reduction in size and weight must be... more

Richard L. Dolsky, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

Would Breast Lift or Breast Reduction Best Achieve my Goals?

Hi there- With regard to the procedure of choice, I think your question is best answered by helping you understand that a breast lift is a standard component of a breast reduction... In other words, all patients having a breast reduction are also getting a breast lift. The opposite is not true though- it is possible to do a breast lift without making the breasts smaller. So, the procedure that would make you happy would depend on your goal for size. If you are happy with the appearance and size more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Breast lift or reduction

Whether or not you need a lift or a reduction depends on whether or not the weight/size of your breast needs to be reduced. As for timing, as stated, pregnancy will change the result. Any patient who has breast reduction should expect she will be able to breast feed, whether with a pump or not. Patients will breast lift should be able to breastfeed. When considering whether to wait until after children for breast surgery, I work with my patient to figure out how much the problem... more

Tracy Pfeifer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

drpfeifer.com

Breast lift versus Breast Reduction - What's the Best Option

Hi, Let me answer your second question first. Pregnancy and subsequent lactation (regardless of whether you breast feed directly or pump) will likely change the appearance of your breasts considerably. Thus, if you are looking for long lasting results, you're better off waiting to have either procedure after you're done having children. However, if you can't simply bear the appearance of your breasts now, it is acceptable to have surgery now. You really didn't provide enough information... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift vs. Breast Reduction

These two procedure are done for completely different reasons. A breast reduction is a therapeutic procedure done for medical reason. If a person has enlarged breasts which cause neck and back pain and shoulder grooving from the bra straps. It helps make the breasts smaller and lifts them at the same time. A breast lift is lifting of the breast mound and nipple/areolar complex. This is purely for aesthetic reason. The scars are usually the same but the surgery is performed for different... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift or Breast Reduction

This type of surgery is in your age group based upon your chances of becoming pregnant. Do not do this operation if there is any chance of pregnancy within the next 5 years. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift vs. Breast Reduction

Breast reduction and breast lift are different procedures with some similarities. Both involve moving the nipple to a higher, more aesthetic position and the removal of extra skin. A reduction makes the breast volume smaller while a lift maintains the breast size you have while making the breast a more attractive shape. Which procedure you need depends on your goals for breast size. As to the other part of your question, pregnancy and nursing will definitely change the shape and size of... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Timing and Choice between Breast Lift VS Breast Reduction

Pregnancy(ies) will completely change the shape of your breasts and tummy. If you have the procedure first, the results would NOT last as long as if you waited until you completed your family. If you like the current fill of your bra and only wanted to restore the perkiness of the breasts - all you need is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy). On the other hand, if you were bothered by BOTH the large size of the breasts AND their sagging, then you would benefit from a breast Reduction. To read... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Depends on your breasts size

If you are happy with the size of your breasts, then you will need breast lift only. If you have large breasts and also not happy with the shape, then you will need reduction. If you plan to get pregnant any time soon, then wait till you are finishd with pregnancies.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Timing of breast reduction and or lifting

If you are not close to having children and if your breasts make you unhappy, then do a lift now and keep the reduction minimal. There might need to be revisions after children but occasionally not.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift better than breast reduction if you are not too big.

Hi. It sounds like you need a good internal breast lift. Lollipop scar and good long term shape. If you are planning to get pregnant in the next year or two, then wait. But if babies are in the distant future, go ahead and do it now.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift or Reduction for 21-year-old

In general, I feel that you should wait until having children before undergoing a breast lift, since pregnancy will likely undo a lot of the benefit. On the other hand, if your breasts are quite heavy with a lot of pain in your neck, back, and shoulders, it may make sense to have a reduction at your age, with the knowledge that pregnancy can again undo a lot of the benefits of your surgery.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Tough to answer

Without seeing you or at least knowing how tall you are, what you weigh, and what cup size you are now its tough to give you much insight. My recommendation regardless of what operation you select is to do it soon. I see too many women who have osteoporosis and back issues from large droopy breasts who are in their 50s and 60s. Many of these women would have been more comfortable (and confident) if they'd seen a doctor around your age.