To lift or not to lift? That is the question (Photo)

Question

I'm 31, 5 feet 2 inches tall, and weigh 140 pounds. I don't have children and have no plans on having children anytime soon, but I am looking to have a breast augmentation this year. Looking at my breast, would you say I need a lift? If so, are there other ways to lift with implants outside of the lollipop method?

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. You are a candidate for breast augmentation with a lift. Besides a lollipop lift, an anchor lift is also an option. Based on your photos, your degree of ptosis is too great for anything else. I hope this helps.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Your nipples are located below your breast fold and point slightly downward, there a lift is recommended. A vertical (anchor) breast lift may be suitable, although your surgeon can confirm this.

Wayne I. Yamahata, MD · Answer

Implants add to breast volume but do not provide much lift. Your photos suggest you would have a far superior aesthetic outcome with a lift.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

You will have very unattractive, nipples-pointing-down appearance after augmentation without a lift. Your inframammary fold is high and tight, and your nipple to fold distance is short. Done by an expert, your lift scars will be inconspicuous within a year and your shape will be excellent.

Michele A. Shermak, MD · Answer

Hello! Love your question!
It looks like your nipples are just above your breast crease so you may do really well with breast augmentation alone. Particularly with more projected implants, you can achieve notable lift through filling of the upper breast. You have some minor mismatch between the sides and the lower nipple could benefit from a crescent removal of skin along the upper areolar border. One possible lift that may be helpful is the donut lift, removing skin around the areola and reducing the nipple areolar diameter, resulting in a scar that hugs the areolar border. This would help tighten the skin of the breast.
I would recommend you see a board certified plastic surgeon who can help guide you through your decision making to reach your goal. Sizing will be helpful to determine which implant will help you reach your goal size.
Best of luck to you!

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Your breasts are low on the chest wall and you will need a lift. The technique I recommend is a mini lift. Using a circumareola incision, your breast tissue is reshaped, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medical to increase your cleavage. At the same time, fat transfers or small implants can be placed if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants. They then get to choose what looks right for them. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Mildly Sagging Breasts: If your breasts are mildly droopy, a saline or silicone gel implant placed behind the pectoral muscle might help create the illusion of perkiness. That’s because as the implant fills out the top of the breast, it also fills out the bottom, making it look as if the nipple has moved higher. It hasn’t. You can always get a lift later if you feel you are not perky enough when fully settled and healed. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear nandz1990,
determining whether you need simply a breast augmentation versus a breast lift can be somewhat complicated. It depends on a number of factors including skin laxity and current nipple position. Generally speaking, if the nipples are lower than the inframammary line the patient will most likely need a breast lift. If the nipples are at or above the inframammary line we can generally get by with just a breast augmentation depending on the size of the implant the patient wants. I often still using implant when I perform a breast lift because it provides more upper breast fullness after the lift. To be sure a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help determine what the patient actually needs.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, you would do best with a lift. Measurements are needed to be sure, but you might do well with the doughnut lift.

Peter Andolina, DO · Answer

To completely answer this question I would need to take certain measurements and do an exam. It's difficult to determine if you would need a lift solely based on the pictures but if I had to give it my best educated, professional guess it looks like you may get away with just an augmentation. When it comes to incision patterns for mastopexy that too depends on measurements and position of your nipple and areola. If you only require a small lift, you can sometimes just make an incision around the areola.

To lift or not to lift? That is the question (Photo)

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Answers (13)

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