Can I avoid a breast lift? Looking for a natural shape (Photo)

Hi there, thanks for your question. I think it depends on your expectations. If you are just looking to improve fullness and volume then yes, you could get away with just using an implant, and you may find that your areola moves up a bit. But, if you are hoping for your areolas to be more centered and higher, that would require a breast lift along with an implant. I reccomend an in-person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. Hope that helps!

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. You will benefit from a lift in addition to the implants. This will give you the best result.

Great quesiton and thank you for the provided photos. You do have some breast tissue hanging below the inframammary fold. It is hard to be certain without an in person consultation but it does appear that with the appropriate size/width implant placed that you could fill out your breast envelope and avoid a lift for now.

Thank you for sharing your pictures. It's all about your expectations and what you want to see. You may have the option to choose between breast augmentation with or without a lift. If you opt for augmentation without a lift, it's important to understand that you may need to use bigger implants and might still experience some sagginess and an increase in the size of your areola. But you can avoid extensive scarring. If you choose to have a lift, your breasts will likely appear more youthful and perky, and your areola can also be made smaller for an improved overall look. You should discuss the pros and cons of each approach with your surgeon.

Based on the photos alone (without measurements), it seems that you will need a mastopexy (breast lift). A large implant is not the solution for stretched out breast tissue/skin. You need to have an appropriate evaluation by a plastic surgeon with experience in breast surgery.

Your nipples are located below your breast fold and are pointing downward, which would make a lift suitable for you.

The technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained. Later, fat transfers can be performed if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hi. I think you could go either way. If you have the augmentation without the lift, you will still have some sagging of your nipples, and your areola may get larger. However, the benefit of avoiding the lift would be to avoid the more extensive scars. If you have a lift, your breasts will look more youthful and perky. You can also have your areola made smaller for a better overall look. Talk with your surgeon about the pros and cons of each approach so you can make the decision that suits you best. Good luck!

I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. 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, if interested. 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

Dear nwhaley2003,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery