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Will a Periareolar Lift Plus Implants Give a Perky Look?

asked 2 years ago by Kelmees in Hartford, CT
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 5,592 times
Tags: periareolar, perky

I'm looking to get a full tummy tuck and breast augmentation. I'd really like to avoid a full mastectomy or or having a lollipop incision due to the scars. My question is, can I achieve a full/perky look by doing a periareolar lift then filling out the rest of my breast by getting an implant? If so, Exactly what kind of implant would you recommend and how big do you think I'd need to go to acheive the perky look? Also, as you can see my areolas are HUGE. I will be looking to reduce them as well.

29 answers to Will a Periareolar Lift Plus Implants Give a Perky Look?

+1

Types of incisions for mastopexy surgery

Based on the photo and information you provided, you would benefit significantly from a tummy tuck and breast lift with augmentation surgery. To answer your question, a periareolar incision alone may not provide the perky look you would like to achieve. Due to the amount of tissue you need tightened and removed, it may be more beneficial for you to have the "lollipop" incision which includes the vertical scar. Yes, the downside is the scar, however, the results will be longer... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar lift

I perfrom periareolar lifts with implants all the time. It is a great operation in the properly chosen patient.  You may very well be a candidate but it is hard to tell without an exam.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar mastopexy is recommended in our Practice

I would add the view of polite dissent to the discussion. I have been performing periareolar mastopexy in cases of increasing difficulty for many years wherein the nipple may be reduced and lifted significantly. In patients of color it is particularly well suited since there is but a circular skin repair, which in our series of 217 cases resulted in only a 4% scar revision rate. While the areola may dilate, it is rare to assume the preoperative size. I would recommend the periareolar... more
Donn Hickman, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar mastopexy will flatten the breast when combined with breast implants

Great question and the photo helps. I would caution against the periareolar mastopexy in your case as you do need a significant lift which a periareolar lift will not be able to accomplish, as well it places too much tension on the areola which can widen over time leaving you with even wider areola. As well the periareolar approach has a tendency to flatten the appearance of the breast. All combined, this plan will not achieve the result you are looking for. I would recommend at least a... more
Andrew P. Trussler, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.drtrussler.com

+1

What breast lifts and implants do and don't do

In deciding elective, cosmetic procedures it is important to understand what the procedures do or don't do based on real experience rather than hype and wishful thinking. Neither a lift (mastopexy) or breast implants give true perkiness in the sense of youthful tone and breast characteristics. Breast implants give the illusion of perkiness because they fill out the upper breast concavity and give projection to the center of the breast but the minimum size increase from the volume of an... more
Scott L. Replogle, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar lift with implants can give a perky look, but is not right operation for everyone

From your photo, you definitely need a lift. Traditional plastic surgical thinking would hold that you need more skin excised than can be done with only a periareolar lift. It some cases, reshaping of the breast tissue can make it easier to take out less skin and still have a lasting breast lift. Another important question though is whether you want your breasts to be larger than they are now, or just perkier. Implants will make your breasts bigger so if you are happy with the size, a lift... more
Elizabeth Lee, MD

Bay Area Plastic Surgeon
+1

May need more lift

Breast augmentation and lift can be performed. If you had a periareolar lift it would reduce the size of the areola but how perky they will be depends on what you are looking for. The "lollipop" incision is very powerful portion of a lift. This incision aids in the projection of the breasts (perkiness). I think if you had only the periareolar lift with implants you will have to accept a more mature look to the breasts. Visit with a couple of plastic surgeons to get a... more
Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar "lift" - limited utility

Dear Kelmees, After seeing your breasts, I strongly discourage you from considering the periareolar lift. In my opinion, the periareolar mastopexy is an operation that has very limited application. It is useful for reducing areola size and for slightly moving the areola position. It tends to flatten the breast rather than lifting it, and can result in very abnormal appearing areolas. Think about this: areola skin is thin and soft, similar to eyelid skin. Breast skin is thicker,... more
Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periariolar Breast Lift and Breast Implants

An augmentation mastopexy is one of the most common breast procedures that plastic surgeons do. The breast sagging or ptosis and the loss of volume, especially upper pole fullness, makes this a necessary combination. The periareolar or donut mastopexy is great to reduce extra skin and lift the nipple. However, the nipple can really only be lifted, at most, 5cm or around 2 inches. This can be less depending on the implants. Larger implants can, by themselves, lift the breasts 1-2cm. So... more
Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
+1

You need a full lift

A periareolar lift would not give you a nice shape as it would lead to a flat baggy breast even with large implants. You would get a much better shape with a full lift done by an expert surgeon.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Limitations of a periareolar breast lift

Kelmees, You ask a very common question. And we are able to answer better this, for you, because you included a photograph of our breast -- thank you for that! Breast lifting is about changing the shape of the breast. And, I think that all of us agree that the type of operation that will give you the best shape, should be the one to use, even if it means more scars (you knew that was coming). Unfortunately, the periareolar lift has a limited ability to reshape the breasts. And, although... more
David B. Reath, MD

Knoxville Plastic Surgeon

plasticsurgeryknoxville.com

+1

Breast lift and implants

Unfortunately, based on your photo I do think you'll need a vertical incision with the peri-areolar incision for a lift and implants. It looks like your skin is fairly loose and this will need to be reduced more than a simple peri-areolar incision could do. Your areolae will be reduced with either method, however. Implant size is impossible to gauge based on the photograph alone, as this can only be determined by a physical examination and various measurements. However, you'd probably... more
Nina S. Naidu, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Beware the peri-areolar lift for breast that are too long!

The periareolar mastopexy has a very limited application for someone who needs a lift < than 3 cm. The implant will also have very little impact on the "lift" of the breast. In order to achieve an aesthetic result, the 1st thing is to create an aesthetic breast and then to augment the breast to the size desired. In the case of very droopy breast with large areola (as in the photo posed on this question) there is not question a periareolar lift will not provide adequate lift,... more
Kimberley O'Sullivan, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

osullivanplasticsurgery.com

+1

Periareolar breast lift techniques are for a very small group of women...

Hi there- Short cuts almost never pay off, and it is a mistake to think that a periareolar lift is a reasonable substitute for a more complete technique. When used inappropriately on a patient who really needed a more complete breast lift, the periareolar techniques produce abnormal stretching of the nipple/areola and flattening of the central part of the breasts. This is not something that can be easily corrected in the future without a more complete breast lift being performed. Those women... more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Periareolar lift and perky breasts

A periareolar lift does not really "lift" the breast, but rather moves the nipple to a more superior location. This tends to give the illusion of a lift but also flattens the breast. From your pictures, I believe you would most benefit from a vertical lift, which gives the best lift and the most perky result. It also has the least amount of scarring compared to an anchor incision. With time the vertical fades nicely. I would choose a breast implant based on what cup size you... more
Robert M. Jensen, MD

Medford Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar lift not going to work

From reviewing your photograph, I do not believe anything other than a traditional lift will work to get enough lift. The implant, high profile would give even more projection which would further enhance the look you are trying to achieve
Barry E. DiBernardo, MD

Montclair Plastic Surgeon

www.newjerseyplasticsurgery.com

+1

Crescent lift in large and sagging breast with large areola is NOT recommended

Your larger areola will only get larger with a periareolar lift or crescent lift. IT will do nothing to correct the excess skin in the lower half of the breast as well descent of the breast parenchyma. Therefore if you place an implant into your breast with a crescent lift, you will have larger areola and an implant that drops into your lower breast.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

A periareolar lift will not help your particular breast shape

Based on your photos a periareolar lift will not leave you with tight , perky breasts. As a matter of fact, i am not sure any surgery will leave you with tight, perky breasts. There is too much of your breast tissue that is lax and your general skin tone is also lax. So do not expect tight breasts or you will be disappointed.
Francisco Canales, MD

Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon
+1

You will need breast lift with vertical scar

You have too much sagging to have circunaerola breast lift .Your breasts arre touching the chest wall and nipple lift will not give a good result. The common mistake is to try to avoid bigger scar and endding up with the breast falling off the implant and worse look than you started. Please get multiple consultations and when you go for consultation,Let your doctors offer their recommendation before you tell them what kind of incision you want.
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

A Periareolar Lift is a BAD Choice in a woman with Deflated Breasts and Large Areolae

I am sure you are familiar with the Tennis term "running around your backhand"; some players with a poor back hand try unsuccessfully avoiding hitting a backhand by twisting their bodies to try and respond with a forehand hit. They always lose. And so will you by insisting on a periareolar lift. The periareolar lift works well ONLY in women with minimal sagging whose areolae do not take up so much of the breast surface. The periareolar lift, if you think about it, is analogous to... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

A periareolar lift has limitations

This type of lift was described by Dr Benelli, who never designed the original operation to be used with implants.  The operation is very good at lifting the nipples of small breasts an inch or two. You have a large areola, long breast fold, a fairly long breast, and a lot of hollowness at the top.  Fixing all these things will require a lollipop-type incision, at least.
John LoMonaco, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

+1

Your breasts can be lifted with implants and with minimal scarring around the areolae

Hello - Yes, your breasts appear as though you would get an excellent result with a periareolar lift with saline or silicone implants. Your areolae will also be reduced in size. In order to get a good result, I would first place the implants underneath your chest muscles and then move the skin and areolae up over the implant for improved symmetry and position. You may need a small vertical incision below the areola in order to get a great result, but these scars typically heal very well. ... more
Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.BaltimorePlasticSurgery.com

+1

Limitations of the periareolar lift

No one wants the scars from a breast lift, but they are very often a good trade-off in order to get the shape right. The periareolar lift gives a little bit of lift but not much, and it tends to flatten the breast. Combining it with implants can help, and many plastic surgeons won't do the periareolar lift (also called a Benelli lift) without implants. No one can give specific advice in your case without personally seeing you, but my guess is that the periareolar lift won't quite give you... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar Lift

Bassed on your pictures, I would highly suggest a traditional breast lift with a vertical and possibly a horizontal (inverted T) incision with or without implants. A periareolar lift will not give you adequate results based on your amount of ptosis. Also, for the best overall results, I would suggest an abdominoplasty at the same time. Good luck with your procedure.
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Vertical or full mastopexy needed

A periareolar, "donut", "concentric", or "Benelli" mastopexy can provide some improvement if your priority is to minimize scarring. However, you'll be sacrificing form and projection by limiting yourself to just that technique. Based on your photographs, I would recommend a bilateral areolar reduction, silicone gel implants, and a vertical lift at a minimum. It would be difficult to recommend a size implant in that your height, and breast measurements, i.e.... more
Jeffrey D. Hoefflin, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Perky breasts from periareolar breast lift

Unfortunately, a periareolar lift + implant will not create a perky look for you. The periareolar lift is limited by the fact that all of the tightening occurs in the skin around the areola. As a result, there is very little breast reshaping, and the skin tension around the areola results in either spread scars or thick scars around the areola. The 'lollipop scar' operation has the advantage that breast tissue (gland and fat), not just skin, is pulled together to tighten the bottom of... more
Michael Kreidstein, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mastopexy with implants

It looks like you need a full mastopexy with implants. It will make your areolas smaller and your breasts will be "perkier". Just remember that over time, they will sag a bit. Gravity ALWAYS wins. A push up bra will also help with the perkiness. It also looks as if you could use an abdominoplasty.
William B. Rosenblatt, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

A mastopexy augmentation for perkier, youthful breasts

Thanks for the nice photo- it depicts your breast anatomy well- you definitely need a Mastopexy using a Wise pattern and a breast augmentation to rejuvenate your breast shape. Anything less than a 'anchor' pattern skin excision will leave you with residual laxity. The breast lift and augmentation can be combined, or done in a staged fashion. Results with staged pexy-aug procedures are typically more predictable than the one-stage procedure. However, most women want the procedure done in a... more
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Periareolar lift

The only way to consistently make your areola smaller and your breasts perky is to do the lollipop incision. The periareolar lift tends to blunt the cone shape (perkiness) of the breast and the scars or the areola tends to spread over time. It also depends on what you mean by perky. Perky tends to mean breasts that are firm, pointing somewhat up, and somewhat cone-shaped. But be sure to discuss what you mean specifically with your surgeon.
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

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