Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Im Confused Now? Do I Need a Lift? (photo)

I am 5.5, athletic 122pds. I had a consult online with a Dr from Mexico, he said I needed a periareolar skinset or donut lift with textured implants. Another PS from my city said, I didn't need a lift and saline. One told me saline implants. I really didn't want a lift, and I am now more confused. Do I really need the lift? If I don't get the lift will I eventually need ones anyway? Is a skinset ok? Textured, im a little worried about. Please provide your recommendations on what you think?

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5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in 110-129 lbs second opinion without lift

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26 Doctor Answers | Asked by bella100 in Canada

Doctor Answers (26)
Community Comments (1)

Im Confused Now? Do I Need a Lift?

You may be borderline for needing a lift, and as long as you are not determined to have a higher nipple position you may get by with augmentation alone. Avoid going for larger implants than you are comfortable with in order to "lift" the breast...implants fill the breasts out where they are, they do not lift them, and the larger and heavier the implants, the greater the risk of long term stretching. Some physicians may recommend putting the implants in over the muscle in order to... more

Do I Need a Lift?

If you were content with your breast size, I would say it is entirely your call. Although the nipple and areolar position could be improved, you might not feel the trade-off for the scars is a net positive outcome.; With implants, however, the amount of ptosis (sag) will likely result in an unsatisfactory appearance, with the breast seemingly hanging off the implants. Because of that, I would recommend a lift if you want larger breasts. When you are ready for an in person... more

Lift confusion

I typically do not recommend a lift for patients whose nipple-areolar complex is above their breast fold. From the photos posted, it is difficult to determine absolutely – I would not recommend this procedure for you. If you are wanting more volume & fullness, an implant would help you achieve that goal. As far as saline vs. silicone, that would be up to you. Most of my patients over 22 prefer silicone. Good luck!

George John Alexander, MD

3 reviews

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Lift

Your right nipple and areola look OK. The left one seems a little lower but there is no left lateral photograph. You may need a lift on the left side

To lift or not to lift

I feel you are borderline as far as needing the lift. What is more important to you, having perky breasts or avoiding the scars? If you have implants in Mexico and later feel you should have had the lift, are you going to go back to Mexico. Better to have the surgery done close to home in case you need revisions.

Do I need a lift

Hello. The answer to your question depends on the look you are going for. If you want the implants to sit higher on the chest wall the a mastopexy would be needed. You could get an augmentation without a lift with the dual plain technique and get a good result. This would be good if you would like your breasts to remain in the same place and just replace lost volume. Jaime Perez, MD Breast Augmentation Specialist Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa

Is breast lift needed?

Judging from your pictures, I think you would be fine without a lift. Based on how thin you are, I would recommend smooth walled silicone gel implants to avoid rippling and the possibility of feeling the edge of the implants.

Kenneth L. Stein, MD

5 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast Augmentation Alone

Due to the fullness you lost from fitness, augmentation alone will probably give you the result you want if you liked your breasts when they were fuller. As a bodybuilder, I operate on quite a few bodybuilders, trainers, fitness competitors, models, etc. Make sure the board certified plastic surgeon has ELITE credentials and performs hundreds of breast augmentations each year. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

The right surgery for you depends on what look you are going for

If you are comfortable with where your breasts are now, you do not need a lift - implants will just make them fuller. if you want them higher on your chest, you will need a lift to accomplish this - along with a submuscular implant, with the muscle attached to support your implant over time. I would ask your surgeon for pictures, especially of long term results - this is the best indication of the right surgeon for you.

Do I need a breast lift? #breastlift

I agree that you should try the implants first. From your pictures you would probably do well with dual plane implants, and long as you were ok being a fairly good size, meaning full C or Small D....If the implant is too small it will not be able to fill out your tissue enough...

Confused about breast surgery.

I agree with the other surgeon's on medical tourism. DO NOT do it. Try the implant alone with a dual plane technique. You can always have a lift later and may need to with further aging and drooping of the breasts. I prefer smooth saline implants under the muscle. They are less expensive, adjustable volumes, smaller incisions to place (3 cm), and you know if they leak and the saline to inflate them comes out of an IV bag, the same type that we drip directly into your blood stream... more

Confused about breast augmentation #breastimplants

Thank you for your question. You present a very difficult set of pictures. You appear to have very borderline breasts for what I would consider performing a breast lift with implants. The only way for me to know would be to perform an in person examination. Though different surgeons have different opinions what really matters is what your goals are. There could be situations in patients like yourself where a patient would be perfectly happy with implants only. Other patients would only be... more

Do I need a Lift?

There is no "correct" answer with regard to the perfect breast implant type or whether someone needs a breast lift along with their breast enlargement. A surgeon will make recommendations based on his/her experience and preference. I prefer silicone gel implants because I think that they feel more natural, show less wrinkling in thin patients, and last longer than saline implants. I think textured implants are useful in certain situations, but I generally do not recommend them for a... more

Implants won't lift

I think you are okay to have just implants. Your surgeon should be able to do a dual plane technique that will allow the gland to be separated from the muscle. The implants themselves will not lift the breast, they will just make it bigger. Performing a mastopexy (lift) at the same time certainly makes it more tricky. There is also more scar not to mention expense. You are not guaranteed you won't desire a lift in the future, but you won't burn any bridges by doing just an augmentation first... more

Im Confused Now? Do I Need a Lift? (photo)

You absolutely do not need a breast lift. You will obtain a good result with a breast augmentation alone. The responsible, experienced aesthetic breast surgeon will avoid lifts when possible due to the scarring, expense and need for revision. In my opinion the donut mastopexy is a poorly conceived procedure that flattens the breast and frequently leads to significant areolar distortion. Avoid it. I echo my colleagues' observations regarding medical tourism. Postop you will... more

Confused regarding a lift

First, I am not at all for medical tourism- I have treated too many sad outcomes of that scenario. Next, to simplify, the choice of smooth or textured has no bearing on if you need a lift or not. Further, Silicone vs. Saline will not determine the need for a lift. You appear to have adequate coverage so either should be OK (of course an exam will be needed to say for sure). If you don't need a lift now, will you in the future? Well the future isn't written so who knows... more

Try implants alone first

Try putting the implants in first then seeing if you need a lift after a few months You may be fine with just implants.

Breast Lift Needed?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Accurate advice would require in-person examination. The reason why you are receiving different points of views/advice, is that your breasts are in a somewhat “borderline” position on your chest wall. Because of this borderline position, I would be concerned about the presence of loose skin along the lower poles of the breasts ( upper abdominal wall areas). My best suggestion to you would be to select your plastic... more

Breast lift or not and surgery outside the US

Based upon the photos you have provided which certainly don't take the place of an in person exam I feel you would not have a result you are happy with without a breast lift combined with augmentation. The type of lift needs to be determined at your consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. I encourage you to carefully consider the short and long term considerations in going to Mexico for surgery. What I see not uncommonly are patients who have had surgery out of the country with... more

To Lift, or Not to Lift

Just from your pictures it appears that you could benefit from a lift. When we examine breasts it breaks down to size or shape or both size and shape. The patients goals are what counts. There are many people who get a lift alone and then regret not having a small implant placed at the same time. The scars from the different techniques of lifting can be significant especially in the smoking patient. It is very difficult to do an online consultation. It is... more

Breast Lift?

It appears from your photos that you will benefit from a periareolar of vertical lift. I would strongly recommend silicone gel implants, in your post-partum breast they will feel and look more natural.

SILICONE GEL IMPLANTS; NO LIFT

OUR RECOMMENDATION is to have a Mentor silicone gel implant slight bigger than you are at this moment. It will fill and lift at the same time.

Breast augmentation with or without the lift

Hi, Based on your pic, i would agree with most of the responses here. However, you haven't said what look / cup size you wanted. Some women are ok with a slight amount of sag. They tell me it looks more natural. In a bra with clothing you won't see any sagging. The issue arises when naked or while wearing a very revealing bikini. Also, the size / profile of the implants matters as well. A large high profile implant will give you more lift than a lower profile and smaller... more

Breast lift? with implants

Based solely on your posted photos, it looks like you could benefit from a small lift. It may be as simple as an areola lift with the implants, but an exam would be essential.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation - with or without lift

Thank you for the question! Looking at your photos, I would say that your best results would be obtained with a small lift along with your breast augmentation. The implants would serve to give you increased size and fullness, while the lift would bring your nipple-areolar complex (NAC) to a more appropriate position. It does appear that your NAC is just at your inframammary fold beneath your breast, where it should be at least a couple of centimeters higher and at the most... more

Minor lift with implants will correct minor sagging.

Hi. Based on your pictures, you will not get a good result without a minor lift, specially on your left breast, which is sagging more. see video

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Comments (1)

bella100 4 Feb 2013

Thank you, I have two consults in the US next month. We have only one in my city who only does saline implants. I have thought about it though, and if there is a need for a lift, I wont' get the proceedure done. To me a scar and the risks would be worse then the actual sag. I was a DD, when I started training in fitness events, I lost fullness and am currently at a C cup

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