Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Breast Lift & Implant. 1 Surgery or 2? (photo)

I'm 31, have nursed 3, weigh 125 & wear a 34C. I want tight, round, perky breasts (small implant, remain C or small D). I've visited 2 doctors & been given 2 different diagnosis. #1 I need a lollipop and implants in 1 surgery. #2 I need an inverted t and stage the surgeries. Does staging the surgeries result in better (less) scarring on the vertical scar? Would my areola stretch if i do 1 surgery? Would a lollipop raise me enough? Is scarring worse with a lollipop b/c the weight of the implant?

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22 Doctor Answers | Asked by mammaofthree in Texas

Doctor Answers (22)
Community Comments (1)

Breast Lift & Implant. 1 stage or 2

Based on the photos alone, I would favor a vertical (lollipop) lift at the same time as implants. There are surgeons who always do the lift at the time of implant insertion, some who never do, and some, like me, who decide on an individual basis. One common argument for two stages is the higher revision rate for one stage. But the two stage has 100% of patients getting two operations. For someone needing an extensive lift, or someone getting very large implants that will make... more

Breast Augmentation with Mini Ultimate Breast Lift is the one operation to satisfy your needs

There is a new technique called Breast Augmentation with Mini Ultimate Breast Lift. Using only a circumareola incision it is possible to lift your breast tissue higher on the chest wall, reshape your breasts to increase upper pole fullness and displace the breasts more medial to increase cleavage. This will increase the projection of your breasts by aligning the areola, breast tissue and implant high on the chest wall over the bony prominence of the chest. I never use... more

"Lollipop" breast lift + implant: 1 surgery or 2?

On reviewing your photos, you are an ideal candidate for a vertical “lollipop” mastopexy with a small implant. The small implant would give you more fullness in the superior pole and the mastopexy would elevate the nipple/areola complex. In your case you have glandular ptosis and one of the important aspects of a vertical mastopexy is resection of inferior breast tissue. This tightens the inferior pole and supports the newly elevate nipple/areola complex... more

Lift augmentation

Hello. I would recommend a lift and augmentation in one procedure with the lollipop approach. I do these procedures regularly with none of the complications you mentioned. As a matter of fact the lollipop approach would cause less scaring than the inverted t approach and would be perfectly adequate to raise the breast. The only time that I would recommend staging this kind of procedure would be to correct grade three ptosis, which judging by your pictures you do not have. Jaime Perez,... more

When is a delayed lift necessary?

The reason for your surgeon to recommend a delayed lift is for safety. When large implants are placed in the breast, it can cause significant tension on the overlying tissue, particularly the nipple. When a lift is performed, an incision is made around the nipple- in all types of lifts. This incision prevents blood from the surrounding skin from getting to the nipple, and therefore the blood supply to the nipple is required to be from the underlying tissue. This is... more

Lift

You have minimal ptosis. A well sized implant will give you the results you are looking for as far as volume only. You will need a periareolar lift for the final touch up which can be done at the same time

Breast Augmentation Mastopexy

Augmentation mastopexy is designed to correct the two most common changes that occur in breast appearance following pregnancy: loss of breast volume, and stretching out of breast skin. While there are some moms who can get an acceptable cosmetic result from augmentation alone or from mastopexy alone, many moms have a combination of breast volume loss and skin excess that requires simultaneous augmentation and mastopexy (breast lift). I frequently perform this surgery in concert with an... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

LIft and augmentation?

If you want more volune you would need an implant. It looks like from your photos that you would need a lift. Depending upon the implant volume and your exam would determine what type of lift you would require. Possibly a circumareola or a lollipop would be all that you would need. On occasion an anchor type incison is used, but I reserve that for patients with severe laxity.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

To lift or not?

Based on your photos, it looks like your nipples are positioned above the fold of your breasts. So it doesn't look like you need a lift at this time and implants alone should be able to provide a good result. Your areola will probably stretch but they should be so big they need to be modified. You don't need a inverted T or vertical or circumareolar scar. Find a board certified plastic surgeon that you trust with experience in breast augmentation and... more

Option #1 is Reasonable

Thank you for your pictures. I would agree with implants and a lift in the same surgical setting. The scar would not be less with a staged procedure (typically). What the best type of lift is determined by your physical exam. Dr. ES

One versus Two Stage Surgery

Hello Mammaofthree, You really have two questions, how and when (one or two surgeries). I will break it down for you. What you want: Round, tight, perky breasts. What that means anatomically: The greatest amount of breast implant volume relative to natural tissue, with the smallest surface area of skin. In other words, you want the result to emulate the appearance of a woman who had small, tight breasts to begin with. So how can we emulate that? The answer is... more

Need breast lift or not

After looking at your photo, you have mostly pseudoptosis and your nipples are still pointing forward and not downwards. You have the skin volume of a D and if you are willing to go towards a D cup you should not need a breast lift at least for now. I would just put in breast implants first. See how you like them. If you wish for the lift you can do that in the future. That way you may not have to deal with the scars associated with a breast lift. Dr. Chu more

Benjamin Chu, MD

11 reviews

Honolulu Plastic Surgeon

Should my breast lifting with implants be done in 1 or 2 stages?

Although some surgeons perform a breast lift and augmentation in 2 stages, most plastic surgeons perform these in 1 stage. In my office I almost always perform these in one stage. As to the type of lifting that you need, you would need to be examined and then be able to review the different techniques along with their advantages and disadvantages. Good luck!

Breast lift with Augmentation as one stage or 2 stage surgery ?

This is true that each PS has own view on this issue but for me I would perform a "lollipop" lift with an augmentation in the submuscular position at the same time. Surely more cost effective ,one surgery lesser risk than two .I don't see any merit in two stage work. In fact I have never done it that way. Inverted T incision lift or Anchor lift is perhaps not for you in my opinion since its rarely used these days .It can perhaps be indicated if someone has a squarish breast to begin... more

Breast augmentation first

You will get very good result with augmentation only, but your expectation will determine if you need lift. Your nipple position is not too low and will lift with implant alone,but you want tight,round,perky breasts with small implant which requires doing lift. The safest procedure would be augmentation first and lift later in your case.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift & Implant. 1 Surgery or 2?

A properly planned and executed breast lift and augmentation can nearly always be done in one stage. I favor the vertical (lollipop) mastopexy. It is a powerful, non-distorting lift that also cones the breast. I have not used an anchor procedure in many, many years. Good luck!

One breast surgery or two

Every surgeon approaches surgery with the technique that works for them. There is no right or wrong. That being said, I personally see no benefit to performing this in 2 stages. I would perform a "lollipop" uplift with an augmentation in the submuscular position at the same time. I see no benefit to 2 stages. More costs, and a second recovery time. I perform this technique all the time as do many surgeons. Good luck.

Rick Rosen, MD

3 reviews

Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

I do it in one stage

I do the surgery in one stage, the exact nature of the incision would be determined by your examination. It is impossible to know for sure from your photos.

Breast lift with implants techniques

We routinely perform breast lift with implants with all techniques, including Benelli, anchor, and vertical pattern incisions. Some Doctors feel that it is best to separate the two procedures but I have found that our patients do very well and the single procedure allows for less surgery, quicker recovery, lower complication rate and predictable results.

Breast lift with or without implants?

If you visit ten different doctors, you may get ten differing opinions about what procedure would be best for you. These opinions will be based on each doctor's training and experience. It does not mean that one doctor is right and another is wrong, just differing opinions. Some doctors put in implants during the breast lift procedure and others prefer to wait and put them in at a second surgery. I happen to be one who likes putting them in during the initial surgery... more

Full Breast Lift and A Small Implant

Although plastic surgeons will disagree, if you want the tightest, roundest, perkiest breast, the skin envelope needs to be as tight as possible. This can only be achieved by a full breast lift. Combining the full breast lift with a small implant is reasonable and you will get a fantastic result. Please find the best credentialed plastic surgeon who has performed hundreds.

Breast Augmentation/Lifting: Two-stage or Not To Stage?

Thanks for the question and pictures. As you have found, this is not a question agreed-upon by all plastic surgeons. There are good plastic surgeons who will insist on doing the procedures separately and there are good plastic surgeons who can produce excellent outcomes in a single stage. The combination breast augmentation / mastopexy surgery differs from breast augmentation surgery alone in that it carries increased risk compared to either breast augmentation or mastopexy surgery... more

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Comments (1)

NoMoreBoobEnvy (RealFriend) 17 Jan 2013

Hey there .. check out my before pic in my white tshirt .. you can see how droopy my boobs were .. I didn't get a lift but if you went with D's or DD's you may not need a lift and those scars. I would rather get it all done at once, but if you don't need the lift then why go through the pain. ;) Good luck!

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