Is the reduced scaring from a doughnut lift worth it compared to a full lift?

Question

I am looking at getting a breast augmentation (Im 25 currently a B/C and looking to go to DD/F). Everywhere I have spoken to has also recommended a lollipop or anchor lift. One dr has recommended a doughnut lift. This is obviously appealing for less scars but I have read there are some downsides to this method. My breasts arent very saggy and I initially didn't think I would need a lift until it was recommended. Is the reduced scaring from a doughnut lift worth it compared to a full lift?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Thriving620010,
my preferred lift is a lollipop lift when a periareolar won't do (ie greater than 2cm lift required). The lollipop technique was created by a Canadian plastic surgeon named Elizabeth Hall-Findley and treats the breast as a three dimensional structure instead of two dimensions (anchor - lift). Most importantly it does not require the horizontal component scars that the anchor-lift requires and breasts appear much more natural, lifted, and less boxy. Lastly, the lift lasts longer because the lollipop doesn't rely on the skin to hold the breast up, its actually breast tissue thats being brought together to support the breast and hence improves longevity. 
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

A doughnut lift produces minimum lifting and an anchor lift produces more but the areola is the most moved. The breast lift 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. At the same time or later, 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.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

The most rubles with the donut lift include enlargement of the areolae and bad scarring compared to other types of lifts. In addition if you get a bad result from a donut lift it can be tough to convert it into a standard lift. Surgeons like ding them because they are easier than traditional lift. But many of them look terrible

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

There are few people that are good candidates for a donut lift.  This sounds appealing but does not do much to lift the breast.  In addition, tension on the incisions can cause the areola to stretch or for the incisions to scar poorly.  An in person evaluation or photos would be needed for a specific recommendation for you.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You did not post photos, so I cannot be specific. The doughnut lift does work in specific cases. If the vertical lift was recommended, you probably need this lift.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

This response was dictated using word recognition.
My apologies for any potential Grammatical errors.
The more of a lift someone needs the more skin that needs to be removed.
More skin removal means longer scars. 
A minimal breast lift can be done with a Benelli aka doughnut, mastopexy. Relying on this procedure for patients who need more than a tiny lift increases the chances of all the drawbacks of the procedure, which includes widening of the areola and widening of the scar.
Generally speaking the donut mastopexy is in my opinion a poor choice for most patients.
Relying on this procedure set patients up for undesirable outcomes that become difficult to fix because inappropriate skin resection was done with the first procedure. It’s much better to do the correct procedure the first time and avoid having revision surgeries.
There is a substantial degree of subjectivity, and there is also substantial variation in skill and experience among plastic surgeons.
In the end provider selection is probably the most important variable. In the hands of the right provider, you’ll end up with the right procedure and highest chance of quality outcomes without the need for revision surgery.
Finding the right provider is more difficult than most people realize.
My best recommendation is for patients to have multiple in person consultations with plastic surgeons in your community who seem to have extensive experience with breast surgery.
Consider plastic surgeons who are involved with breast cancer reconstruction in your community.
plastic surgeons who do breast reconstruction on a regular basis often had an upper hand when it comes to skill and experience for most breast procedures. 
The more consultations you scheduled the more likely you are to find the better provider for your needs.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of the previous patients who had similar breast characteristics to your own.
 Being shown a handful of preselected images, representing only the best results of a provider career may be insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider.
It’s also important to make sure you’re looking at before, and after pictures of previous patients who have very similar characteristics to your own.
 Bring pictures of your breast, the same way plastic surgeons take before and after pictures to use as reference during the consultation.
I highly recommend people avoid virtual consultations, and I generally recommend people avoid traveling long distances for elective surgical procedures.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider.
The more consultations you scheduled the more likely are to find the better provider for your needs.
The biggest mistake patients make is scheduling only one consultation and then scheduling surgery.
 Having only one in person consultation, more or less eliminates the ability to choose the better provider. Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Is the reduced scaring from a doughnut lift worth it compared to a full lift?

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