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Mini Lift with Breast Implant Downsize to Correct Sag?

asked 2 years ago by knockoutskincare in PA
Latest answer by Lavinia Chong, MD
Question viewed 2,591 times
Tags: breasts, sagging

I had 350 cc breast implants about 3 years ago. Always felt they were too large. I have since had a baby and now I really hate them. They are too large and too saggy. Especially the left. I don't want major scars. My ps had recommended replacing the implants with 250 cc's with a mini lift through the areola. Do you think a mini lift will be enough or what do you feel needs to be done? Please help.

15 answers to Mini Lift with Breast Implant Downsize to Correct Sag?

Breast lifts and implants

It is important to understand and accept what lifts do and do not do and what implants do and do not do. They are two different procedures that do different things. Breast lifts (mastopexy), properly done, only lift or shift the breast up on the chest and do not fill in, fill out, tighten the skin or breast, or give it tone or perkiness. Mini-lifts are an attempt to lift the breast through limited incisions but do little to actually lift the breast and only seem to be beneficial in... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift Scars- focus on the QUALITY

Hi there- I understand your concerns for the appearance of breast lift scars... But rather than have an operation which will almost certainly result in breasts you hate, just so you can have a cute little scar, I would suggest you find a surgeon who can show you photos of breast lift scars (after the scar maturation process is complete- about a year after surgery) that would be acceptable to you. I always ask my patients- if you end up with breast that look funny, will you be happy because you a more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Mini-lift with downsizing of breast implants

Hi, Although mini-lifts are great operations in the right candidates, your photos suggest that you need more than a mini-lift. Not only do the areolas need to be lifted on the breast mound, but you have a significant excess of skin between the areola and the fold at the base of the breast - this usually requires a vertical incision to corect this. Nobody wants scars - I've never had a patient ask me to give them more scars than they require. That being said, not making the necessary... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Focus on your desired size and shape

Approximately 7 years ago, I noticed a trend in my practice: women requested smaller, perky, "yoga" size breasts. While it may be a case of self-selection, the "beautiful B" has remained in high demand. In your case, your nipples are large and laterally displaced, the volume of the breasts are low on the chest wall and the shape is elongated, rather than round. Given these conditions, I would definitely recommend downsizing the implant,... more

Lavinia Chong, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Result of Breast Augmentation and Subsequent Pregnancy

Your condition is seen several times a day in most plastic surgeons' offices. The same petite women who on the ill-educated advice of their friends insisted and received implants that were too large, often present a few years later with significant breast sagging (aided by gravity and time) asking for another ill-advised procedure to turn back the hands of time. Unfortunately, this is rarely possible. The shape of the breast depends on the interaction of several factors, most... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Mini vs full breast lifts with downsized implants

Downsizing your implants will make you smaller and less full superiorly but won't cause your breasts to lift themselves. Based on your photo, you need a full breast lift to get the best shape. Lifts are a trade-off of shape for scar and it is a rare patient who will be happy in the end with poor shape in order to have less scar.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift through areola with breast implants will give good result.

Hi. Of course, it is hard to be sure without examining you, but I think your plastic surgeon is right. Peri areolar breast lift with smaller breast implants. Also implant pockets need to be lowered some.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini lift and implant reduction

First, your photo is not ideal. It is difficult to say how much ptosis you have. Second, I am not sure what a mini breast lift is? Is it a areola lift, or a vertical lift?

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift with implant remove and replace.

From the appearance of your breasts in the photos, I would recommend a vertical lift as the shortest scar breast lift especially if downsizing your implants. This will allow you to reduce the size of the areolae, eliminated excess skin, and elevate the nipples to a satisfactory position.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Typical treatment for sagging breasts is a lift

It's best to have an examination by your plastic surgeon to determine which surgery would give you the best outcome. A mastopexy (breast lift) raises droopy breasts from one to several inches and excess skin is removed. If you're sagging or asymmetrical, and are looking for perkiness, you'll need a lift--or, if you also want more volume, a lift and implants. If you just want to go bigger, the only way to do that is with implants.

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and implants

It's hard to judge for sure based on your photos whether a peri-areolar lift or a vertical incision will be more appropriate for your breasts. Some of the information we need to determine this is based on your measurements which are taken at the time of an examination. If you are trying to avoid additional scars, then reducing the implants may not be your best option because of the potential for a vertical incision. I would discuss these concerns directly with your surgeon, who has the... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

You need skin removed

For the best results you will need a mastopexy which is removing skin around your nipple and underneath. You would have a scar from your nipple down but this will benefit you by giving you the best shape to your breast. When you have larger implants you have more skin that will need to be removed later on. That is why i try to do a more natural breast augmentation and not put in implants that women will be unhappy with years down the road. For the best results, i would put in smaller... more

Andrew T. Cohen, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Mastopexy with implant exchange

It appears from your photo that you will require a vertical or helium balloon mastopexy to correct the degree of ptosis that you demonstrate, especially with exchanging to a smaller implant. I feel that you will not be happy with a circumareolar mastopexy.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Mini Lift with Breast Implants

Based on your photos, I do not believe that a mini lift (just around the areola) will give you the best result. This is especially true for your left breast which has considerable ptosis (sagging). To get the best result, you will likely need a vertical lift at minimum. Please do not make the mistake of sacrificing your result just to have a smaller incision. Good luck with your procedure.