Do I need a full anchor lift? (Photo)

Thank you for your questions.If you are looking for volume increase with natural looking breasts implants alone would suffice. If however you want to look very perky I would recommend a vertical scar only (Lollipop Technique) breast lift in addition to augmentation. Judging by your photographs you do not have too much loose skin, and when required, a vertical scar technique would give superior results with less scaring. If you just have implants you can always have a lift later on if you so desire. All The Best !

From your photos (exam needed for best opinion) it appears you would be a reasonable candidate for a lollipop type of lift which is about half the scars associated with many anchor lifts. Maybe you should have one more opinion from a plastic surgeon with experience in this technique. Anchor pattern lifts are unusual in my practice over the past 15 years except for exteme cases since using the lollipop technique. 

Although physical exam is needed to confirm my advice, it appears from your photos that subglandular augmentation may fit your needs.  Placement of higher profile implants below just the Breast tissue and over the chest muscle may provide you with larger and perkier breasts without a formal Breast lift with anchor scars. This technique will not give you as much lift as a formal augmentation mastopexy, but the trade off for less lift is less scars!

An in-person examination is required to answer this question - its possible that you might not need a breast lift at all. You photos are not taken from a standard angle, so its difficult to tell where your nipple is in relationship to the fold beneath your breast. We're happy to see you in Seattle for a consultation.

Hi there. Before considering the following comments, be advised that they are somewhat provisional because of the poor photos. In the frontal photo, one arm is elevate and the right nipple and shoulder are lower than the left so that the apparent distortion may nullify the commentary.As far as the "need" for a breast lift (mastopexy), the procedure is justified (or not) by the objectives of the patient and her tolerance to  additional incisions.  On cursory  exam of the left breast, I see no need or indication for breast lift. The breast is deflated but it is not ptotic ( droopy). A Dual plane augmentation should suffice beautifully. As far as the right breast goes, the need to lift the breast is primarily a function of the patient's desire for optimal symmetry in exchange for more incisions.  Is she willing to trade incisions for better symmetry? Without some manner of lifting, the right side may appear a bit lower than the left.

Looking at your pictures, you do have sagging of the lower poles of the breasts. I prefer to do a vertical breast lift/augmentation with a lollipop incision. I did not perform an anchor lift for the past 14 years! Your breasts tend to go lateral on your chest wall, and with a vertical lift you will get more cleavage and rotation of the lateral breast toward the center of the chest wall. This will also relocate your nipple/areolar complexes to a more aesthetic location on the breasts. See a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience in this technique. Good luck.

Thank you for providing photos.  They help a lot.  The answer requires more questions.  Pretty Breasts come in many shapes and sizes.  Without a more comprehensive consultation a full recommendation is not possible.  Your breasts have some deflation and lower than ideal nipples, but not unattractive breasts.  Based on the size implant you like, I would not proceed with an anchor incision but would do an augmentation only.The issue is what breast shape do you desire?  A tight round "perky" high breast would require more surgery and scarring that may not be worth it.  I suggest you get more opinions and spend more time with photos that demonstrate what you like.Good luck

This really depends on the 'look' you are going for, in terms of very perky, or more natural but larger, or something in between. You have a decent amount of breast tissue below the nipple, but the nipple is in overall pretty good location relative to the fold (at least on the right but there isn't a good picture of the left). In order to lift the amount of breast gland currently beneath the nipple, you would likely need some time of 'lifting' procedure (which can mean an anchor incision). However, if this bit of hanging breast tissue is nice to you, and you just want a larger but more natural breast, having a larger implant placed partially submuscular could potentially achieve this with no lift. To further complicate things, there is such a thing as 'addition subtraction' surgery where a woman with some pseudoptosis (gland below the nipple) is relatively happy with her breast size, but wants a perkier and only modestly larger look. She may benefit from removing some of the gland (subtraction) and also having a small submuscular implant placed (addition). This usually requires a vertical incision, but not necessarily a full anchor. My recommendation would be to go see a board certified surgeon and inquire about these procedures. Bring in pictures of women who have had similar surgeries that you liked and ask lots of questions. Don't give up!Hope that helps,CDK

Looks to me that you would benefit from a full lift.  Often, I do not use an anchor incision but use just the incision around the nipple and a vertical incision.  The shape of your breast is much more important than the resultant scar.  Scars fade with time.  A lousy shape will not.  Beware of having a big implant and a Benelli lift just to avoid additional scars.  This procedure almost always results in a bizarre looking breast.  I learned this the hard way.

Keep looking. You can get a beautiful look with the implants and no lift. Of course it would help if we knew your wish look and if you are looking for excessive fullness in the upper breast it is conceivable a lift would help but a lift is totally unnecessary to get a very attractive and natural result.