What size implant is best for me with a lift?

Hello, thank you for your question. Its a balancing act when adding an implant for some round shape volume and adjusting your breast tissue. Sometimes we had and implant and remove some of the natural breast tissue. Speak to your plastic surgeon about your concern.

After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size breast implants. 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 is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

If you are a 32 DD then you do not need implants but need a breast lift. 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.

You may need to have a small reduction and then add an implant of the size reduced so you can keep the similar size.

Sometimes it may be appropriate to have a breast reduction and augmentation with implants at the same time. Substituting breast tissue for implants can give better overall shape with increased breadt projection, and volume in the upper half of the breast.
Without seeing pictures, it’s hard to make a quality assessment. If your breasts are already DD, then adding a large implant is probably going to make your breast size over the top.
In order to get the benefit of breast implants without becoming too big, you may need to have some of the breast tissue removed.
It may seem contradictory to have a reduction and augmentation at the same time, but this is a good technique for balancing aesthetic, shape and contour without getting excessively large.
I suggest all patients have multiple in person consultation before scheduling surgery. 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 patient who had similar body and breast shape and characteristics to your own.
A breast lift by itself, comes to leave the breast flat without good projection, and often leaves the breast lacking in volume in the upper half.
There are certain breast lift techniques that can improve breast contour, giving a better projection than other techniques.
An experience plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing is a before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients.
The concept of doing a reduction with implants augmentation is somethings not all plastic surgeons, may have all that much experience with since patients either want one or the other.
In the end, there are generally only two variables involved with quality cosmetic surgical outcomes. The first is patient candidacy, and the second is provider selection.
To get a good understanding about your own candidacy for various surgical procedures, including a good understanding of what surgery can, or cannot accomplish, as well as finding the right provider I suggest multiple consultations with as many plastic surgeons as possible.
The more consultation you schedule the more likely you are to find the best provider.
Determining the size implant should be done based on having a clear understanding of what size breast you want in the end. If you don’t want to go up substantially in size and don’t have breast tissue removed then using a large implant is not going to work.
In the end, it’s a balancing act that should be based on having a clear understanding of what each procedure can accomplish combined with having a good understanding what you’re hoping to achieve and what you’re willing to go through. This in combination with finding the right provider is the key to consistent quality outcomes.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD