Do I Have Enough Breast Tissue for a Lift Without Implants? (photo)

Implants in your case are not absolutely essential, but I agree you would getter a nicer shape with implants.  If I were to do your surgery, I would do the lift first and put implants in at a second stage if you need them.  Trying to perform a lift with implants in one procedure would be risky, since your nipples need to be raised quite a bit.

Thank you for the photos. Congratulations on your weight loss. If the desire is for upper pole fullness, the usual way to do that is with an implant. The implant does not necessarily have to be large. If you need or want volume, then a larger implant will help. Nipple/areola positioning is a different matter and may necessitate more work, (i.e.; a lift). Discuss your goals with the board certified plastic surgeon and make sure they are reasonable. Together you will come up with a plan.

You certainly do have enough breast tissue, but more importantly, you have enough skin to lift them high without a vertical scar and no implant. The Ultimate Breast Lift is ideal for women who have the amount of ptosis that you have. An internal cone and bra straps made from your own tissue is designed to reshape and reposition your breasts to give you maximum projection without implants.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Kind regards,

Dr. H

Hello,

Great job loosing weight!  It matters not if your breasts are small or large, breast lifts do not restore the upper pole of the breast very effectively, no matter how 'high and tight' we get the breast.  This is because after surgery our body tissues always regain some level of laxity, which in turn allows breast tissue to drop out of the upper pole and into the mid body of the breast, contributing to the enhanced projection of the breast.

A breast implant placed under the muscle in conjunction with a breast lift will give more reliable and permanent upper pole fullness, and if desired, more volume.

If you would be happy with high and tight and perky, then no implant  necessary.  I think it would be a great result.  If you want a more full upper pole, then an implant is required; also a great result.  You certainly don't burn any bridges having a lift without an implant and seeing how you like it after 6 months to a year.

Best of luck!

Auto augmentation
mastopexy is a surgery that repositions your own breast tissue into a more
pleasing and comfortable position Auto-augmentation mastopexy makes the breasts only as much bigger
as there is lower pole breast tissue available to move into the upper
pole.  The lower pole tissue that is moved up is fixed in place with
sutures to the pectoral fascia, so it is not possible for the relocated tissue
to ‘drop’.  

Breast implants add volume (and weight) to the breasts while
auto-augmentation really does not.  Additionally, implants augment the
entire breast, while auto-augmentation augments the upper pole only.  So
for many reasons auto-augmentation results tend to be less prone to recurrence
of droopiness.

Auto-augmentation mastopexy is absolutely the procedure of
choice for a patient who wants a breast lift, who will not have adequate upper
pole fullness without an implant or auto-augmentation, and who is happy with
the amount of breast issue that she is starting with.  If a patient wants
a lift AND fuller breasts (i.e. increase in true cup size), then an implant is
required.

Dear VenturaCA,

Thank you for your question and photos.  Yes, you definitely have enough tissue for a breast lift alone if you want to remain the same size you are now.  You will not have 'upper pole fullness' are fullness to the top of the breast without an implant, but if you are ok with this, you will still have a dramatically better result with a lift alone.

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

Ask your surgeon about autoaugmentation and Rubin mastopexies... either one of those procedures can produce a very satisfying outcome without having to travel to Sugarland to have the proprietary Ultimate Breast Lift.  These procedures have withstood the test of time and more than one surgeon can reproduce results with predictable outcomes.

Maybe but ONLY in person evaluations allow us to be more definitive in offering you just a lifting. I might also consider fat grafts with the lift. 

Considering your 100 pound weight loss and your photos, you will certainly need a breast lift (mastopexy).  What the mastopexy won't do is restore any firmness or perkiness to the breasts - your breasts will feel similar to how they feel now, and you will lack the upper breast fullness that you may desire.  So... adding implants can provide some of that fullness and youthful perkiness.  They don't have to be big implants.  If you are unsure, just do the mastopexy.  You can always decide to have implants later, and it is not unreasonable for your surgeon to want to stage the procedures anyway (do the lift first, and the implants later).

You have enough breast tissue for a lift with an "auto augmentation". In this procedure we use some of your own tissue and slide it under the breast, similar to a small implant.

The total size of your breast will essentially be your current size but it will be much higher on your chest.  If you want your breasts to be bigger than your current size in a bra, you will need an implant.

Feel free to come in for a consult and we can discuss this further.