Do I need a lift or is Breast Augmentation enough? (photos)

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Based on your photos, a breast augmentation using a dual plane approach should give you a youthful, full shape to your breasts. It’s difficult to say for sure with just photos but I don’t think you need a lift. I hope this helps.

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

Good morning,
No you do not absolutely have to have a lift- you like nice soft natural breasts with more fullness and not overly perky- sounds like you should skip the lift!

Your nipples are slightly low but still above your breast fold. In my opinion you do not need a lift, especially if you are not looking for super perky. A regular augmentation or better yet a dual plane augmentation, which will help centralize your nipples, will work nicely. good luck.

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 can be performed if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear Thrifty25796,
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

I Appreciate your concerns and it appears from your photos that your goals may be attained without breast lift and just augmentation.
You have modest ptosis however traditional submuscular Breast Augmentation may not provide enough lift even with high profile implants. You still have a fair amount of breast tissue present and sub glandular breast augmentation with placement of moderate plus silicone implants over the muscle would be the best option, as it would provide some lift and still give you a natural result. Another option would be submuscular breast augmentation with moderate plus implants utilizing dual plain technique which provides a small amount of lift but it may be enough for your desires. Come see me or another board-certified plastic surgeon in our area to explore the best options for you. Good luck.

Measurements are needed to be sure, but just based on your photos, you will need a lift with the augmentation.

Thanks for the posted photos. I agree if you still want slight "saggy" effect do implants only in the 450-550 cc ranges. Best to seek consults in person or virtually.

If you are simply wanting more volume then you can consider augmentation alone. The implants will settle behind the nipple and create more fullness but the nipple position will be essentially the same. You can always return later for a lift if you find that the augmentation alone is not the look you want.