Would I need a breast lift? (photos)

Dear Inventine245488
Thanks for posting your question.This is a very clever question to ask and I will try to explain it to you:There are many factors to consider to decide augmentation only or augmentation and uplift.You need to have an examination of your breast with measurements. That gives the distance between base of your neck to nipples which shows level of droopiness (ptosis) and distance from nipple to inframammary fold (degree of lower pole stretch. Also one can check the quality of your skin. Based only on photos I think you have stretch marks on your breasts with deflated upper poles.I think you will need an implant and they might give you the volume you need. An augmentation only has the benefit of being the simpler and cheaper operation with much less scarring. If 4-5 months down the line you were not happy with breasts you can then have an uplift surgery but you might be just happy with augmentation.A full in person examination can answer this question much more accurately but I hope you find this answer useful.

It’s difficult to say without seeing a side view. However, your breasts do have stretch marks and your nipples are located below your breast fold, therefore a lift may be needed. Without one, your implants would most likely sit too low on your chest.

Hi Inventive245488,
The single photo shows that you have some excess breast skin, and that your nipples sit at or below where the breast meets the chest wall (the relationship between the two is described by your surgeon as "ptosis"). Based on a limited evaluation, you are right on the cusp of needing a lift or not.
I would suggest an evaluation by a qualified plastic surgeon, who can discuss the expected aesthetic (and nipple position) after breast augmentation. For some women with slightly low nipples, an anatomic/shaped implant can provide extra fullness in the lower pole, and prop up the nipple to potentially avoid a lift.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington USA

Hello,
Thank you for your enquiry and for posting a photo. In you situation an additional breast lift is advisable. You have some stretchmarks and ptosis (droopiness) which are difficult to correct with a reasonable implant size. Although very large implants could correct the droopiness, I would advise against it. They would stretch your breasts even more and cause more ptosis long term.

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

Hello! To lift or not to lift - a question asked all the time!
I have quite a few patients who really oppose having a lift because they do not want the associated scars. We therefore discuss larger fuller implants to recruit the loose skin in the breast in order to better center the breast tissue and nipple.
In your case it looks like the gold standard answer would be to do a breast lift. Your nipples are below your crease under the breast. The lift will freshen the nipple areolar complexes, reducing them in size and help tighten loose skin. You can then go with a less full implant, particularly if your goal is a conservative cup size with an unoperated look. Scars do heal well and the shape and lift you get with the breast lift combined with the augmentation is wonderful!
I would recommend you see a board certified plastic surgeon. Best of luck to you!

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 or small implants can be placed if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Based on the photo, proper implant selection and a dual plane approach can likely prevent the need for a formal lift procedure. I hope this helps.

Dear Inventive245488,
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

Hello, thank you for the question and pictures.

My recommendation is a breast lift with implants, if we only increase the size of your breast and don’t remove the skin excess they will look more saggy not delivering good results.

Make sure to approach to a certified surgeon to help you clear all your doubts.

Best wishes!