Should I get a breast lift with my augmentation?

If that is the end result that you are looking for, then I would in fact recommend a breast lift.  If you are OK of where your breast footprint sits on your torso, then I would believe that you could forgoe the lift.  I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with and who is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Best wishes!

Dr. Desai

It’s difficult to say for sure based on your photo, but you appear to have mild sagging. Implants may help lift your breasts, but they’ll also make you larger. If you don’t want to go larger, then stick with the lift alone. But you should know that a lift alone may not give you similar results as those in your wish pic because those breasts are quite rounded, results that would be achieved with implants.

First, schedule a consultation with an additional board-certified plastic surgeon. That will likely provide a better perspective about the best surgical plan moving forward. It's not possible to estimate the degree of your breast sagging based on the photo, but if you're satisfied with the size of your breasts, a lift may accomplish the aesthetic goal you want. As others have pointed out, the "wish" photo you've included appears to be of a woman with small breasts and little existing tissue. If you do want the perkier look represented in that photo, you will need to combine a breast lift with implants. 

Thank you for your inquiry and photos. It is difficult to assess from the angle of your photo but It appears that you have grade 2 ptosis. Based on your comments, since you "don't want to be any larger", then perhaps you should reconsider having implants put in. Placement of an implant will be able to correct minor degrees of ptosis but may not provide enough of a lift if the sagging of your breasts is your main concern. It is true that a mastopexy (lift) will leave scars on your breasts but these scars tend to fade with time and can become fairly inconspicuous. I believe the scars are an excellent trade off for a youthful shape and form to your breasts. A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will explore what you are expecting as far as breast size, shape and different techniques used for this procedure. A breast sizing session and/or a 3D Vectra imaging session are excellent tools used to help you envision results. Be sure to find a physician you are comfortable with to give you the results you want. Good luck. James Lee 

It is very difficult to determine the best lift you will need (recommended based on your photos) or the exact size and shape implant you will require to best match your ideal breast image without an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon. Not just any board certified plastic surgeon, but one with many years of frequently performing breast augmentation surgery including different approaches, techniques and implant choices. This is because several measurements not to mention your breast characteristics are needed to determine the optimal implant size to obtain your goals. Without knowing these dimensions it would be difficult to make this determination. For example, the existing base width of your breast will determine, in many cases, the maximal volume per implant profile that you can accommodate. To illustrate; a 100 cc difference may make a significant difference with a narrow base width breast, but much less of a difference if you have a wide chest wall and wide breast “foot print”. Therefore, just because your friend may have a great result with let’s say a 300 cc implant to make her go from a “A” cup to a “C” cup size does not mean that you will have the same result with the same size implant. The same process goes for just filling in the upper part of your breast without becoming much larger. Further simply placing implants in a bra to determine the size best for you is not always accurate as the bra often distorts the size, is dependent on the pressure the bra places plus the implant is outside your breast and not under it among other variables. Computer software morphing programs that automatically determine the best implant size can be helpful in some but not all cases (e.g. doesn’t work well in my experience with existing implants, sagging or asymmetric breasts). Using “want to be” photos however are useful if simply provided to the surgeon as I will further explain in the link below including silicone vs saline implants

Thank you for your question and pictures. From your picture it does look like you may be a candidate for a breast lift + augmentation to give you the results you are looking for. I would want to examine you in person to give you my final recommendation. Its possible that with the breast lift alone your breasts would not be as full as you want them to be, so I assume that is why the surgeon you met with recommended breast implants instead. You should consult in person with another board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast procedures to make sure you get the best advice prior to surgery. You want to feel 100% comfortable and confident with your surgeon before you schedule your surgery date. Good luck!

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  With that
being said, based on your photographs, the best shape and contour could be
achieved with an implant and a wise pattern breast lift. Your nipple sits
below the inframammary fold and without a lift in addition to the implant, this
will not have a natural shape.  A wise pattern lift with an implant can
result in a very nice shape if good technique is used.  The
size of the implant is based on your desired breast size/shape, your
chest wall measurements, and soft tissue quality.  This decision
should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from
both you and your surgeon.   Make sure you specifically
look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this
surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The
most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I
recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon
who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Hello,Thank you for the question and photos. The photo of you isn't head on. A side and quarter angle would be useful. Based on your desired look and concerns, It appears that a full lift will be necessary to meet your expectations. Sometimes implants alone can improve slightly sagging breasts and give a filled-out, slightly lifted look, but you will not achieve the high/perky goal that you have without a lift. This could be done with or without a small implant. I recommend that you have another consultation. Seek out board certified Plastic Surgeons in your area whose work appeals to you. All the best

Thank you for the question and photos. You appear to be a good candidate for a lift with implants. A lift alone will not give you the fullness in the upper part of the breasts and that's what the implants will do. So ideally a combination of a lollipop lift and a small implant will give you perkier breasts with a longer lasting result however it will not look like the wish photo because the wish photo is only an augmentation without a lift. Discussing this with your plastic surgeon will help you determine what's best for you. All the best,Dr. Khuthaila 

Thanks for your question and the photos. The wish picture that you are showing is of a woman with little natural breast tissue or laxity. The implant provides fullness to the top of the breast and there is really nothing left over to droop.  To get you there you would likely need a lift, and even some natural volume reduction ( less leftover to droop.)If you like your current size go with a lift only, but know that the breast will have a teardrop shape. After the lift has healed you may still have an implant placed if you wish to give upper pole fullness. While Lift and implant can be done together the combo of  these operations at the same time can be more variable  and lead to more post operative laxity due to swelling and stretching. Getting what you are looking for may be more predictable in a staged fashion.I hope this helps.