Want larger & fuller breasts - can I get away with not doing a lift? (Photos)

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. If you prefer fewer scars and the slightly ptotic look, you may be ok without a lift. A formal evaluation would best elucidate the ideal procedure for you.

Thanks for your question. From these pictures, you seem to be a good candidate for a breast augmentation and lift. I recommend scheduling a consult for a proper evaluation. Please always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Dr. Moises Salama, board certified plastic surgeon.

3D imaging & simulation software may help you come to a decision alongside your surgeon. It is difficult to make that assessment based on photographs alone, but in patients with a breast shape similar to yours, I would ordinarily suggest that altering the skin envelope (with a combination of a nipple-areolar reduction and a lift) would be beneficial to the outcome. This will always be a trade off between what you are trying to achieve and scarring, but scarring from breast uplift procedures usually heal well and are not particularly noticeable once the scarring has matured at 12-18 months.
If you did wish to avoid scars associated with a breast uplift procedure, but boost your volume, you may get a more natural outcome with fat transfer (rather than a breast implant), but this may require more than one session to achieve the volume that you are aiming for.

Thanks for your question!
To achieve a look that you will be happy with, you will need a lift along with implants. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Dear BASFD, thanks for sharing your question and pictures, after evaluating your case you can avoid the lift and do Ultrasound Guided Breast Fat Transfer this will add volume to your breast and avoid the scars. Keeping in mind the your breast will still look a little bit fallen. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks! Dr. Luis Mejia.

Dear BASFD,
based on your photos, it looks like you would need breast lift. My preferred lift is a lollipop lift when a periareolar won't do (ie greater than 2cm lift required). The lollipop technique was created by a Canadian plastic surgeon named Elizabeth Hall-Findley and treats the breast as a three dimensional structure instead of two dimensions (anchor - lift). Most importantly it does not require the horizontal component scars that the anchor-lift requires and breasts appear much more natural, lifted, and less boxy. Lastly, the lift lasts longer because the lollipop doesn't rely on the skin to hold the breast up, its actually breast tissue thats being brought together to support the breast and hence improves longevity.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Yes, you can avoid a lift. Your photos show that both nipples are at the level of your infra-mammary crease. A dual plane augmentation will give you some lifting, a large implant will fill your upper pole. Your breasts will appear more natural without a lifting procedure. Good luck.

Hello and thank your for posting. If you are adamant that you don’t want the scars that come with a lift you don’t have to get a lift. Just understand that the results will not be as good. Large implants can fill out the breast and can give an ilusión of a lift but the areola placement will not improve noticeably. Especially on your right breast that seems to be much larger and lower then the left. It will also not help with your asymmetry or the amount of excess skin you have on the sides. So don’t really think can you really avoid the lift and get away with it.

Maybe the correct size implants with a Benelli Lift, which is a peri-areolar scar lift (around the areola only), can help with symmetry and might give you a slight lift as well….. but this reduced scar technique is not a great option for you and I wouldn’t recommend it.

I feel it is best to have a breast lift with implants if you want larger and fuller breasts. Breast lift with implants cane have the natural results you are looking for! As soon you understand that the scars are actually the solution rather then the problem, you will love your results!

Best of luck,
Dr. Miguel Mota

Candidacy for a breast lift relies on specific breast measurements that help guide the assessment. For example, the sternal notch to nipple distance measures breast position. This measurement starts at your sternal notch, located at the dip in your clavicle, and extends to the nipple. Ideally, this distance is between 18cm and 22cm. From your photos, it appears you would be a good candidate for a small lift. However, if you are happy with the position of your breasts and are only looking to increase breast size, implants alone may achieve the look you desire. Implants come in a range of sizes and profiles. An implant that offers more fullness at the top may be better suited if you want to avoid a lift. I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to discuss your options. Wishing you the best.

Your breasts are too low on the chest wall and a breast lift is essential. 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 or small implants can be placed if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.