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Can I Go with Smaller Implants Now That I'm Getting a Lift?

asked 11 months ago by MissL in Redwood City
Latest answer by Scott Sattler, MD
Question viewed 445 times
Tags: benelli, candidate

A while back I posted a question about using small implants (180 to 200cc) to lift my sagging breasts and most of the doctor responses were "implants alone would not lift saggy boobs." Now, my doctor will do a benelli lift in addition to my implants. I'm already a full B and don't want to be too much bigger. I still want 200 or 213cc, but my doctor suggested 234 mod+. Now that I'm doing a lift, I feel confident that 200/213 will give me the results I want. Any feedback would be appreciated!

19 answers to Can I Go with Smaller Implants Now That I'm Getting a Lift?

Implant size when accompanied by a breast lift

It sounds like you have a very clear idea of your goal. If the reason for the larger implant was to try to lift the breast, then that reason no longer applies. Smaller implants, to help shape the breast, work great in the patient who does not want much enlargement of the breast.

James Nachbar, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Can I Go with Smaller Implants Now That I'm Getting a Lift?

The advantage of the Benelli lift is less scaring, but it has several disadvantages. The most significant disadvantage is long term deformity of the areolas and flattening of the breasts. The larger the implant you chose the bigger the risk. The degree of ptosis correction is also limited with that technique. I prefer a vertical lift with a 200 cc augmentation. I will put a photo on my profile to show you.

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon

Implant size and Benelli breast lift

Although it is difficult to suggest an implant size without examining you, the difference between a 200-213 cc implant and a 234 cc implant is relatively small. I believe you probably could have a good result with the smaller implant. Having the Benelli breast lift at the same time should help reduce the sagginess as well.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD
San Jose Plastic Surgeon

www.vincentleporemd.com

Breast implant and breast lift

It is difficult to know what is the right for you without examining you or seeing any photos. In general, more patients say they wish they had a slightly bigger implant, say one year down the line, than the other way round. On the other hand, you seem to have a very clear idea about what you want. I think a surgeon's role is to suggest what s/he thinks is the best option for the patient, but at the end of the day, that is only a suggestion, not a decree. So I do not think your surgeon... more

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Lift and smaller implants

It is difficult to evaluate you without photos, however in general a lift does not increase your breast volume. A 20 cc difference in implant size is minicule so I wouldn't worry about that. Sometimes an implant will fill you out and lift you up without needing an implant depending on your areolar level.

David Nicholas Csikai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Small breast implants and a Benelli breast lift are a very good combination.

Of course everything ultimately depends on the details of your own personal anatomy, but we do a lot of combination minimal scar breast lift (circular scar around the nipples) and small breast implants. Usually about 200 cc's. And most patients are very happy.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Can I go with smaller implants now that I am getting a lift

It is possible that you can, and it is possible that you may not want to. If you chose your implant size by trying them on in a bra, be aware that the implants will look smaller in you than they looked ON you in a bra. Nevertheless, if you are looking for more fullness in shape with less volume increase, a smaller implant may be what you are desiring. One other important factor to consider...a benelli lift is not a strong skin tightening lift. So, if you have some skin laxity in addition... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Can I Go with Smaller Implants Now That I'm Getting a Lift?

Dear MissL, It is difficult to answer your question without any photos or an examination. In general, sagging breasts require a lift, and small breasts require augmentation. For many women who have had kids, both a lift and augmentation are necessary because the breasts are deflated (ie. small and droopy). In selected circumstances, women with deflated breasts and only a small amount of sagging may be candidates for breast implants alone, which can provide a small amount of lift. The... more

Larry Fan, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift procedures improve breast shape, most of the time

The Benelli 'lift' is more of an areolar reduction procedure than a breast lift - at least in my hands. It tends to flatten the front of the breast and 'blunt' any projection the breast might have. I prefer vertical breast lift and implant combinations in most cases.

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Small implants along with Benelli Lift

As a patient, it is too much responsibility to decide which implant size would provide you with the best result possible. Allow your surgeon to determine what type and size implant to use for your specific case. Many times, this decision is made during surgery once the relationship of skin/breast tissue and implants have fully been evaluated. Understand that your breasts will never match that of any other previous patient or picture precisely. Providing photos may... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Benelli with small implants to reduce saggy breasts

If you don’t want to be larger, you may want to rethink getting implants. A Benelli lift has limitations and will minimally improve nipple position. Using a small implant at the time of a breast lift will help fill up the saggy skin and will enhance the results of the lift. Just something for you to think about.

George John Alexander, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Smaller implants with a lift.

A Benelli lift will raise your nipples a little bit but probably won't do a whole lot as far as tightening your breast. I am always very cautious not to expect a Benelli lift to do too much. If you do, you can end up with a funny shaped breast that has a flattened nipple areolar area. As far as size goes, why do you think your judgment is better than your surgeon's? He/she has probably carefully measured your breast diameter, assessed your tissue... more

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.sowdermd.com

Implants are for size not lifting

1- the difference between the sizes you mention and your physician mentions is minimal for volume- what matters is the implant dimensions. Any volume should be wide enough to make you look natural. 2-A benelli mastopexy is an olsder procedure. Look into a tear drop mastopexy. This technique is a combination of Goes Circumareolar lift and implant.

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.breastenlargement.net

Smaller breast implants when doing breast lift

When a surgeon tightens the skin of sagging breasts with a lift, it is no longer necessary to fill in all of the loose skin with a large implant. Smaller breast implants may work well if the surgeon is able to tailor the excess skin to match the implant. Without a lift, the surgeon wound not be able to remove excess skin.

David Stoker, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Benelli plus implants

If your areola are large, then a benelli makes a lot of sense, otherwise it can lead to a flattened appearance in profile view. a lift requires a vertical component, this is just opinion and many will disagree but I prefer avoiding revisions when they are predictable. size just needs to be in ballpark, shape and nipple position is what counts.

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Choosing an implant size along with a lift

Dear Miss L, It is somewhat difficult for us to comment accurately on what size implant would best suit your goals without seeing pictures or examining you. However, if you are already a B cup in volume and don't want to be much bigger than that, a 200/213cc implant should provide the result that you are looking for. Good luck! see video

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and implants

Photos would be so helpful here. A mod plus implant is built to look fuller in the upper inner pole than a moderate profile. Subtle but real. The volume differences you discuss are small so go with what you are comfortable with as long as your surgeon agrees with whether ti will get the "look" you want. A Benelli is only useful if your nipples are no lower than the crease and point forward already.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Smaller implants with a lift

Generally speaking, one needs a smaller implant if a lift is being performed. A benelli lift is a good procedure when the nipples are in good position and the areola are large. It does not offer offer as much control in reshaping the breast as a lollipop approach or an inverted T. It has a tendency to leave a bit more sagging skin than the other procedures. That being said, if you pursue the benelli lift, it is better to go with the slightly bigger implant as it will... more

Beverly Friedlander, MD
Short Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants and benelli lift

20 cc difference in breast implant volume is very minimal and I think would be barely perceptible. In my experience most patients out a year from their breast augmentations are very happy with their size or wish they were slightly larger. Although the lift will improve the shape it does not result in an overall increase in breast volume.