Crescent Lift or Full Lift? (photo)

Thank you for the question and pictures. Although it may sound attractive to patients, the "crescent” breast lift is rarely indicated, achieves very little, and  potentially leaves patients with distorted/elongated areola.

 In order to achieve the shape/lift  that your goal picture demonstrates, a full breast lift will be necessary. The operation will likely involve incisions around the areola as well as vertically oriented ('vertical mastopexy"). The trade-off typically seen with breast lifting is improvement in breast position/shape versus the  presence of scars. Whether to proceed with the surgery  becomes a very personal decision that should be made after weighing the pros and cons carefully. 

I hope this, and the attached, helps.

In plastic surgery as in life if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.  A crescent lift will provide virtually no lift and will distort your areolas. You will do best with a vertical (or lollipop) mastopexy.  All the best!

Neither the crescent lift nor the full lift will give you the result desired.  The crescent lift is incapable of moving the breast tissue that high and the full lift will result in an ugly vertical scar that is unacceptable.  You are an excellent candidate for a new technique called Breast Augmentation with Mini Ultimate Breast Lift.  Using only a circumareola incision it is possible to reshape your breast creating upper pole fullness, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.  Aligning the areola, breast tissue and implant over the bony prominence of the chest wall will give maximum anterior projection with a minimal size implant.  Smaller implants will descend less, are more stable long term and less likely to require revision.  At size 34 C, each 100 cc's of implant corresponds to 1 cup size change. 

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.