Will I need a breast lift, or would the implant sufficiently inflate my breasts? (Photo)

Weight fluctuations can negatively affect the breasts. A breast lift would remove excess skin and tighten the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.

The technique I recommend is a lift using 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.

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

I appreciate your concerns however it appears from your photo that your breasts demonstrate slight asymmetry, left nipple a bit lower than the right and modest ptosis. However you have more than ample breast tissue and unless you desire to be much larger, it appears that breast lift alone would be your best option. Your breasts can then be lifted and shaped nicely into a perky shape and position. Implants alone may fill out a bit of your deflation, but will make you considerably larger and have minimal impact on your ptosis. Come see me or another board-certified plastic surgeon in our area to explore the best options for you. Good luck.

Dear jetjcar,
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

Your one photo is not taken well enough to say for sure (arms are uneven and not full view), but you may do well with just an augmentation. this will be determined during the consultation.

Side view photos would help answer your question more accurately. It appears that you would benefit from both an augmentation combined with a periareola (around the nipple) scar. Your breasts appear a bit low and it of course depends on the size of implants that you choose (please do not choose a very large implant to avoid a lift... it will result in the breasts slowly descending and require a lift later anyway).
Dr. Taranow