Do I need a lift with my implant? (Photos)

Like many, your perception is that a breast lift will make you look fake, which is not the case. A breast lift is designed to make your breasts look normal after placement of an implant. Your breasts sag and are asymmetric, which would be made worse by an implant. What you want is normal, and hopefully, pretty breasts. The lift is necessary.

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

Unfortunately one breast and nipple are lower than the other. That really cause a problem and a lift would solve that issue. If both breasts looked like the smaller one you could probably get away with just implants but you would not like the asymmetry

Dear Mommbie,
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

One breast sags more than the other. You can have just implants, but you will have more perkiness and upper breast fullness if you have a lift and place the implants behind the muscle.

From your photos it appears you have some asymmetry where one breast is lower. This is common and can be corrected with a breast lift. It appears from your photos that a lift isn't indicated for one breast, but it is for the other. I encourage you to further discuss your concerns and goals with your surgeon.