Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Seeking Breast Augmentation, Is a Lift Necessary? (photo)

I am 31 years old, and have had two pregnancies, I am 5' 2" weight 126lb and a 34C. I am looking into getting a breast augmentation to become a full D; However due to the years and two pregnancies, I feel my breasts have sagged. I measured 24-25 in. distance between my sternal notch and nipples. I really want the fullness, but want to avoid the vertical scar. Is the sagging of my breasts considerable that I definitely need the breast lift surgery or will the implants alone solve the issue?

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26 Doctor Answers | Asked by 32yearoldmom in NYCTX

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Breast augmentation with Ultimate Breast Lift

Since you are a 34 C and only desire a D, you will require minimal augmentation. However, the biggest cosmetic defomity of your breasts is asymmetry, drooping, poor cleavage and large areolas. More important than the breast augmentation is the breast lift. This can be done through a circumareola approach that will elevate your breasts, increase your cleavage, bring your nipples medially and add volume. This can be done without vertical scars. Breast augmentation... more

Breast Lift Needed?

Breast implants by themselves will probably not make you happy. Physical examination and the further exploration of your goals will let you know if a breast lift is required. However, you should go in with an open mind and realization that a lift may be the best recommendation.

Breast Augmentation vs Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast augmentation is to increase breast volume whereas, breast lift elevates the nipple and areola, repositions breast tissue and removes excess breast skin. The procedures are completely distinct and separate. An evaluation by your doctor will determine the approriate treatment.

Seeking Breast Augmentation, Is a Lift Necessary?

You will need a lift....An inexperienced doctor will try and tell you that you'll do fine with just implants but in 6 months you will be back in their office very upset....I have seen it a million times!!!!

Internal (scarless) breast lift together with implants will give you the look you want.

Hi. You definitely do not need a lollipop scar breast lift, even though your left breast is slightly saggier. If you don't like the large areolas, that can be corrected with a circular scar around the nipples. But you do not need scars just for breast shape. see video

Breast lift and implants

If you want to achieve that volume, then you will need an implant. A lift may be modified in the sense that a circumareola lift may be all that is needed.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Do I need a lift with my breast augmentation?

I always tell my patients that one sees shape before scar. In your case, it appears that a lift with your augmentation would give you a better shape. The trade off here could be a doughnut scar around the areola or a lollipop scar.

Breast augmentation with a lift

From the photos it looks like you would need a lift with augmentation. If you wanted to avoid the vertical scar you may be able to get away with a circumareolar lift ( donut lift ) where the scar is only around the areola. An in person consultation would be necessary to see which lift would be best for you. see video

Breast lift in addition to implants will give the best aesthetic results but with surgical scars

To obtain the best aesthetic results implants to give the upper pole fullness will be needed as well as a breast lift(mastopexy) to creat better symmetry and lift the nipple areolar complex to a more aesthetic looking position. Try to minimize the type of lift needed may reduce the scaring but will compromise the results of the surgery. It is a give and take type of situation and you need to make the choice that will make you most happy. Good luck!

Need augment with pexy

Your photos show sagging and some tuberosity. With implants alone, the upper poles would be fuller but you would continue to sag and I do not think the result will be aesthetically pleasing--less satisfactory than the tradeoff in a mastopexy in terms if scarring. An exam would be necessary to determine if you would be a candidate for periarolae mastopexy, which would avoid the vertical scar.

Seeking Breast Augmentation, Is a Lift Necessary?

You never want to do more surgery than you need, but if you need a lift to get the best results, there are no shortcuts. As with many ladies who have babies, you will need a lift to get good results.

Do i need a breast lift

From the photos, you most likely need to consider a mastopexy to place the breast mound over an implant. This will give the most aesthetically pleasing result.

Need breast augmentation and lift

You will certainly need to have mastopexy (breast lift) In addition to having implants. This is especially true as your breasts are slightly asymmetrical. At the very least, you need to undergo a crescent lift with an incision around the areolar which will also give you an areolar reduction which will be more aesthetically pleasing.

Is breast lift necessary with augmentation

If you want to get the best possible result, you should definitely get a lift at the same time as the augmentation. This can be done with a periareolar scar and does not need a vertical scar. I would also recommend liposculpture of the pre-axillary (in front of your armpit)fat.

Kenneth L. Stein, MD

5 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation

Hello, If you look at the photo of you with your arms down, you will notice that the bottom of your areolas are at the bottom of your breasts. This will remain unchanged after augmentation alone, as the implants will mostly lead to upper pole fullness. Nipple position will not change and can even look lower after proper placement of the implant. The lift will place your nipples and sagging breast tissue into a more desirable position over the implant. If you were to see me, I... more

Lift with breast augmentation, hard to say

The need for a lift with a breast augmentation can depend on personal preferences and the feelings about the breast scar. When things are on the border it can be best to complete the augmentation to the planned D-cup and see how things work out. The implant may be all you need.

A breast lift is not necessary but would likely improve the look of your breasts

Looking at your pictures you do not necessarily need a lift, however without one your breast will continue to maintain their somewhat prolonged (tubular) appearance. The result will be larger cup size but when naked you may not be happy with the overall (tubular) shape. For that reason I would recommend adding a lift and reshaping of your breast tissue. A direct examination by a plastic surgeon would be ideal. Sincerely, Martin Jugenburg, MD, FRCSC more

Do I need a lift with a breast implant

Thank-you for submitting your photos. You have enough laxity by what I see to need a lift with a breast implants. Many women don't like the idea of a vertical scar but if it will give you the prettier result, you may need to decide what is best for you. There is no replacement for an in-person consultation. I recommend you see a board-certified plastic surgeon who can show you photos of some of their patients who have an exam similar to you. I hope this helps. Dr. Edwards more

Seeking Breast Augmentation, Is a Lift Necessary?

Thanks for the posted photos. You are on the border line to needing a donut lift with larger implant. So ONLY an in person evaluation will answer the question correctly. Regards

Lift vs Augmentation alone

Judging by your photos you have some sagging and some loss of superior volume and asymmetry. A breast augmentation alone will just add volume. There will be greater fullness especially superior breast fullness after a breast augmentation. There is a little elevation of the nipple with a breast augmentation. It is difficult to give a recommendation fro surgery based on photos alone but an augmentation with a lift would allow the surgeon to correct both the size and shape... more

Ralph R. Garramone, MD

7 reviews

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lifts Lift Breasts, while Augmentation makes them bigger

Your photos show that you have some significant breast sagging (ptosis) - unless you arch your back as you did in one of the photos.Your breasts also have some asymmetry as do most breasts. Although you get a little indirect lift from sub-glandular placement (above muscle) it is not much. In general only a breast lift will make your breasts more perky and therefore you need both to look your breast. The vertical scar, lollipop scar, you do not want is the... more

Breast Lift Needed?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Although online consultation cannot provide as thorough a diagnosis and recommendation as in person consultation can, I think you'll be best off with breast augmentation along with breast lifting. Your pictures demonstrate asymmetric breasts ptosis ( “sagging”). I'm concerned that you would be displeased with the results of breast augmentation only, given that you describe your breasts as having “sagged".... more

Breast lift needed with augmentation?

While it is difficult to evaluate by photos alone, it appears from the frontal view with arms down that the position of the breast tissue and nipples (left lower than the right) that you would most likely need a lift with the augmentation. This is highly dependent on size of implant and position of implant placement (subglandular or submuscular). There are other internal techniques (biplanar) that can help lift the tissue, but a personal consultation would be required to fully evaluate your... more

Breast Augmentation and breast lift....do I need the latter?

Hi, If you do an augmentation mammoplasty alone without a lift, then you are setting yourself up for a terrible disappointment. It is called a "double bubble" This alone would leave you with not only the asymmetry and size discrepancy but your breasts will "hang" off your implants. If someone tells you that you can augment alone, then leave that office. You need an asymmetric lift with implants. There are many ways to do the lift and one is... more

Is a lift necessary?

Great question! This is a very common situation shared by a lot of women. You asked if "implants alone will solve the issue" ... that depends on which issue you are referring to. Implants will give you fuller, larger breasts, but they will not correct your "sagging". The only way to address the sagging is with a breast lift. I hope that helps and wish you all the best!

Breast Augmentation and Lift

At times breast implants alone can adequately lift the breasts to a more natural position, but without a face-to-face consultation, it is hard to say whether or not you would need a breast lift. Depending on the findings of such a consultation, there are several breast surgery incision techniques that can be used to minimize scarring. Additionally, there are certain products available to help improve the appearance of plastic surgery scars. I would advise you to schedule a consultation... more