Breast Reduction, Lift and Implants to Get C Cups from DD Breasts?

With large (DD) breasts that are pendulous (droopy), I would recommend a small breast reduction with a vertical incision technique.  I believe this will give a satisfactory result.  If you are unhappy with the appearance of your breasts after this procedure, you can always come back and place implants in a second operation.

It is possible to perform a breast reduction with implants. This is necessary when we not only want to remove the excess skin and tissue but want to create fullness and projection to the breast.
In all of breast surgery, this combination is the trickiest. For this reason it is essential that you work only with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience in breast reduction, breast lift, and breast implant surgery area. Their expertise and depth of experience is crucial to help you achieve a good result.
 

Experiencing significant drooping with larger breasts is very common. Reduction alone often isn’t enough to get the high, perky breasts that are the goal of most women who want breast reduction surgery, which is why we so often include a breast lift at the same time. If you have natural DD cups, I don’t think there’s any reason you would need additional implants after the reduction to end up with a final C cup. The breast lift reshapes and firms the breast tissue to meet your appearance goals. Bring in some photos of the look you want to achieve to share with your surgeon, and he or she should be able to get you there. As for expense, many health insurance companies will cover the cost of a reduction, so be sure to check with your provider and see if this is an option.

You may be a candidate for a short scar breast reduction which minimizes scars and improves contour of the breasts. Raffy Karamanoukian Los Angeles

Web reference: http://www.surgery90210.com/breasts/6/breast-reduction.aspx

When women with breast hypertrophy undergo breast reduction surgery they typically have multiple goals. These women are not only interested in reduction of their symptoms, but are also concerned about breast aesthetics.
In the vast majority of patients who undergo breast reduction the aesthetic results are excellent. The procedure reduces breast size, reduces areola size and lifts the breast into normal position.  In most patients, this results in alleviation of symptoms and improved breast aesthetics.
Most patients are happy with their upper breast fullness following breast reduction surgery, but over the course of time some patients note loss of fullness in this area. Under these circumstances placement of a breast implant may be necessary to correct this problem.
  Based on your history, I would recommend a breast reduction without breast implants. In most cases this would give an excellent aesthetic result with upper breast fullness. If inadequate upper breast fullness becomes a problem, a secondary breast augmentation can be performed at a later date.

My advice depends further on an in-person consultation, but judging from your description and photo, it looks like having this combination of procedures is not necessary.  You would probably do well with just a breast reduction operation, which will lift the breasts at the same time.  Implants shouldn't be necessary to get the results you are looking for. 

A great breast reduction technique for a woman with breasts of your size that will provide nice lift is the short-scar technique.  This will also reduce scarring and usually provides patients with a shorter recovery time.  In terms of cost, it varies depending on what you and your surgeon decide to do for your surgery, but we do have good success in getting insurance companies to cover breast reduction procedures, at least partially.  I hope this helps and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Thank you for the question and picture.

Based on the description of your goals,  I think you'll be better off undergoing breast reduction surgery only. It will be important to communicate your goals with your plastic surgeon;  I prefer the use of “goal pictures”.

If, after breast reduction surgery,  you decide that you wish to have more “superior pole fullness” then breast implants may be helpful.   Breast  augmentation can be much more safely done at a second stage.

Best wishes.

Web reference: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/Procedures/procedure_breastreduction.htm

There are rare indications for a combination of a reduction and augmentation of the breast, having said that, the two procedures should never be done at the same time. In simple terms, the expansion and weight of an implant work directly against the contraction of volume and elevation of the breast provided by the reduction. I can see significant problems with malpositioning, sagging, and poor scar healing as a result of adding an implant to breast reduction surgery.

In general, the vast majority of patients (99+% - never say never!) will get a great result from breast reduction (includes the lift) only. The immediate reduction of neck and back pain and improvement of posture is goal of the breast reduction. The procedure also improves the shape and, in many cases, sensitivity of the breast.

Adding implants will, as others have pointed out, increase cost and complications of the procedure. In the rare case of long term weight loss following breast reduction, there might be an indication to use implants to restore fullness to the upper pole of the breast, but again this would never be done as a primary procedure in addition to the reduction.

Best Regards,

KC