Breast Augmentation Q&A

92%

WORTH IT RATING

774 Reviews

Ask a Question

Breast Augmentationbefore & after photos

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Augmentation Cost: $6,200

Learn about Breast Augmentation

3,424 people and 892 doctors are talking about Breast Augmentation

Get Free Email Updates

Do I Need a Lift? I Just Want Implants. (photo)

asked 3 months ago by missmia in worcester
Latest answer by Scott L. Replogle, MD
Question viewed 297 times
Tags: fake look, opinion, round, without lift

Hi i am terribly upset, i have had my consultation today and have been told i need a lift! i am only 20 and am not prepared to have the lollypop scars as i really feel i dont need a lift. I am after a small D cup hopefully (but would be content with a c) I just want a much rounder look. Round and fake looking but not set high up on my chest.

22 answers to Do I Need a Lift? I Just Want Implants. (photo)

Breast implants, lifts, and asymmetry

This is a difficult situation because of the asymmetry in volume and position of the breasts with the right breast low (ptotic) enough to lift even if the left one doesn't need it. You could augment both breast without the lift using different forward profiles but the same width and accept the marked difference in the right breast which you could lift later if you decided you wanted to improve the symmetry. You could also augment both breasts with different volume (same width) implants... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Need for unilateral lift

Based on your photos, you appear to need a right sided Mastopexy (lift) along with different size implants to try to provide better symmetry. Unfortunately, the trade off for the droopiness on the right side is the scar associated with the lift.

Todd C. Case, MD
Tucson Plastic Surgeon

I would recommend breast lift with implants

Given that you want "round and fake looking" breasts, you would need breast augmentation with lift. You have some asymmetry between your left and right; I think you will need different implant sizes as well as breast lift. The breast lift may be circumareolar (donut) or circumvetical (lollipop) lift. I think that it is better to have better shape than well-healed scars. However, if you cannot accept additional scar, you will be compromising the shape. more

Sugene Kim, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift with implants

Your pictures show significant asymmetry and low nipples. Each breast may actually need a slightly different modification to achieve an attractive result. I advise my patients that it is better to have no surgery at all than to have incorrect or incomplete surgery. If you need lifts but cannot accept the scars, perhaps you should put off surgery for now. And be careful shopping around to find the opinion you are hoping for. There will always be somebody who is... more

Bruce Genter, MD
Abington Plastic Surgeon

www.drgenter.com

Is a lift needed?

The need for a lift is completely dependent on what your goals are. Your nipples are low on your breasts. But, if it doesn't bother you now, maybe it won't bother you later. I have had plenty of patients who are happy with their "low" nipples. The important thing is for you to understand what your breasts will look like if you don't have a lift. If you are expecting the implant to make your nipples look more in the center of your breasts - you will be very... more

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants alone won't correct asymmetry but adjustments can be minor

Thank you for your question and the photo. A "donut" lift around the nipple is all that you would need at the time of implant placement to correct your asymmetry. I do not think that you need a lollipop lift but I may be mistaken because I haven't had the benefit of examining you. You will need some adjustments to correct the differences between your breasts, but this is straightforward for an experienced plastic surgeon. If you want other opinions, see two or more... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

Who Needs A Lift?

Women who have breast asymmetry, breast ptosis (sagging) or nipple asymmetry could potentially benefit from a breast lift procedure. Your photo appears to show all of these problems. Breast implants alone will make your breasts larger but based on the photo it appears you would obtain a much better overall result by adding a breast lift. Discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon.

David S. Motoki, MD
Draper Plastic Surgeon

Search for Truth- Not What Would be Easy to Hear

Hi there- If your goal is to have lovely, round breasts that look like each other, then yes, you nee a breast lift (at least on the right side). Be careful- I'm sure you could find someone willing to do whatever you want if you search hard enough or wave a bit of money in the air- but you will be the one paying the price after it's done. Not all surgeons are equal is skill, talent, ethics, and morals. Find one you like and feel you can trust, then listen carefully to... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Lift or no lift with augmentation?

I am unable to give a definitive answer without an examination and discussion, but based on the photograph that you provided, you should strongly consider a breast lift. Your nipples (especially the right nipple) are on the lower poles of your breasts. The photograph also shows significant asymmetry of your breasts. While the lift will cause some scarring, it will also improve your breast shape. You should meet again with your plastic surgeon and ask to review a... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

Do I Need a Lift? I Just Want Implants. (photo)

As most of the experts have stated you have asymmetry and possible mild tuberous deformity. Just adding a "large" implant will only worsen the defects. Best to listen to the in person surgeon you saw. Maybe get additional in person opinions. Follow up on what you decide to do please.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Fixing breast asymmetry

Your posted photos shows very asymmetric breasts with the right breast larger and drooping more than the left and the nipples in relatively different positions. If you are unhappy now just think how much more unhappy you will be if you get breast augmentation alone without adjustment of the nipple and breast tissue positions. Augmentation alone will only make the asymmetry more pronounced/visible. I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast asymmetry

Thanks for sending your photo. I think your plastic surgeon was correct that you need a breast lift because of the breast asymmetry you have. Your asymmetry will only worsen with implants. Good luck.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

tarrantplasticsurgery.com

Breast Lift Needed?

Thank you for the question at pictures. Your pictures demonstrate significant breast asymmetry. To improve the breast asymmetry, I would agree with the plastic surgeon who recommended breast lifting for you. If you are not prepared for the breast at this time, I would suggest that you wait on having any surgery until you are ready. Generally, is much better to do the right operation (one that will produce the optimal results than to do an operation that is not going to... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Breast implants with asymmetry

If the breast shape or envelope is very similar, and the size is the issue, breast asymmetry can be improved with breast implants alone. Your photo shows that the envelope and nipple positon and quite different right to left, and the best result will come from a lift on one side to adjust for the asymmetry. If the 'best' result for you is one without scars, then implants alone will do. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

You probably would benefit from a lift to one side

From you photograph, it appears that you have asymmetry of your breasts. The right side appears to be larger and somewhat droopy while the left side is smaller and does not appear to be drooping as much. I would recommend a modified type of lift to the right side, probably not a full vertical and horizontal ellipse mastopexy, and breast implants to either just the left side to make it match the right or bilateral implants if you want to be largery on both sides. However,... more

James Tang, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

What do you mean I need a breast lift?

From your photo it's clear that your right breast is a little larger and that the nipple hangs lower. To fix this and get a more symmetric result most plastic surgeons would reccomend a breast lift. It's quite possible that this lift could be accomplished with scars only around the areola but it's impossible tell for sure without examining you. Periareolar scars heal very well and should not really be something to be fearful of. The problem with just placing implants is that the... more

Mahlon Kerr, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

It's up to you

There is no question that you can achieve better symmetry if you lift the right breast. However, your symmetry is not as bad as many other patients. There is no harm in doing just an augmentation and letting things settle out. The worst thing that can happen is that if the resulting asymmetry is not acceptable, a small lift later on the right is still an option. But at least it gives you the chance to live with it before you accept permanent scars. These incisions usually heal well, so my... more

John Alexander II, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast Asymmetry and Implants

Getting a good size and shape with breasts that are quite different in size is more of a challenge than you might guerss. Using different size implants alone will not give you a result you are likely to be happy with. There are a variety of ways to address the differences and not all will require a vertical scar. You will need a lift on the right, possibly a periareolar lift that reduces the areolar size an allows for internal release of the breast. I recommend that... more

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Do I need a breast lift

Your breast shape will not be acceptable if you just try to have an augmentation done. In addition, you will not achieve your desired goal of a rounder look with just the augmentation. As most surgeons here have said, a lift is necessary due to your breast shape. I understand your reluctance as to the scarring, but I would either recommend a lift with an implant, or not having any surgery performed.

Donald Griffin, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Lift vs. implants

Your predominant issue is asymmetry of the natural shape of the breast and location of the nipple. That should be normalized prior to implant and that is the rationale for the scars of the lift. The left breast by itself does not need a lift but the right side does in order to correct the sagging. Robin Yuan, M.D.

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

If you want the best result

You do need something done to your right side to equalize the marked asymmetry you have. I've had several patients like you with this problem and a lift (limited reduction) can do wonders for providing improved symmetry after your procedure. You will find there are many approaches to your problem but I've found limited reductions to work well if one breast is larger than the other as it helps preserve your results longer. Best wishes in achieving what you desire and... more

Curtis Wong, MD
Redding Plastic Surgeon

What You WANT and what NEEDS TO BE DONE May not always match

I regret your disappointment but I agree with your surgeon. You have vastly asymmetric breasts. The one on the left side of the photograph is sagging with a relatively large areola. The one on the right side demonstrates a mild tuberous deformity, much smaller breast with mild sagging. To correct this appearancde would require a Breast augmentation with a lift, after reduction of the areola on the larger most sagging breast and an augmentation with a larger implant, after internal release,... more