The Big Question.....lift or No Lift?! - Baltimore, MD

If you don't go with a lift, consider going with silicone on top of the muscle to create a fullness. You might go with a fuller profile of the implant too. Good luck!

You definitely need a breast lift. My breast looked very similar

I didn't go with a lift and I'm very happy with my outcome my dr said it was a quick and simple after the fact surgery to do if I didn't like results I went under the muscle dual plane and that gives a natural nipple lift mine are not really high up but look perfect and natraul to me, lift cost more and is also a big scar in comparison. To just augmentation :) best of luck

Hi, If you want to go big, I don't think that you need a lift specially if you want the natural look. I see that you live in MD, I live in VA and had my BA with Dr. Eric Desman in Alexandria VA. He is so good at what he does!!!!. my first consultation with a different doctor, was not good he wanted to do a lollipop lift!!! i really didn't needed that, I didn't want a California boob job. LOL I also had a saggy breast do to breast feeding. If you don't mind driving I will recommend Dr. Erick Desman. Good luck!

I think you can still have natural looking with a lift, and there is amazing things they can do with scars. My ps says if I want to possibly eliminate scar altogether they can even do some laser treatments...and do all the time. I think the best way to know if you should have a lift (cuz you know implants will bring them down more as time goes by...) is to do to the pencil test or google "checking for pstosis on the web". I did this and I figured I was about a grade 1 and when I went to see my PS I was spot on. I'm having a lollipop lift and implants soon, and my goal is to be natural looking too...but I didn't want naturally looking saggy boobs. It's scary I know to try to figure out what you should do, what size, blah, blah....wish you the best!

I was a grade 1 too. .I had the lift. . Glad i did because i would be more than a grade 1 now with the implants. .. ask your question to the real self doctors so you can get more professional opinions. ...

Can't speak to the lift part, but I do know that sub glandular placement is almost never a good option (regardless of how much breast tissue you have.) Not only are you at a much higher risk of capsular contracture, but over time, you will be more susceptible to sagging because they don't have any muscle helping keep them in place. See in the picture on this website, the thin piece of muscle holding on to it... http://www.tcclinic.com/augmentation_mammoplasty/submuscularbreastaugmentation.htm

I am sure you have enough breast to cover an implant in a subglandular position and i know that in the US they tend to prefer under muscle but here in the UK they do both. My implants are subgandular and I had a small A cup and I have no problems at all. Personally I think its a shame to lift and distort the muscle unless its absolutely impossible to fit an implant otherwise. Naturally a breast sits over and mostly women want a natural look anyway. I think the risk of capsular contraction and rippling is no more than going under. And as for aging "over"ages in a strange way with implant sitting high and the natural breast coming down creating a bit of a "snoopy"look. This is what my mum looks like after 28 years with implants. If your second doctor is confident you can get away without a lift, avoiding scars with implants in subglandular position and if you can see some pictures of women he has done that are similar to you with good results than I think you should trust that he will do a good job with you too. God luck!

I saw 3 different doctors and got 3 completely different suggestions. Think you should seek out another opinion. Also - the under/over muscle depends on your lifestyle and size you choose. If you work out a lot or are worried about distortion (they will move when you gesture) then the subglandular is usually recommended where you have enough tissue (which looks like you do). I think it's so important to feel comfortable with the doctor and staff. You will spend a lot of time there after your surgery - and you'll get the best results from a doctor who takes the time to listen to you and understand what is most important. Nothing will ever be perfect, but you'll be really happy if you pick a good surgeon who is able to weigh the various costs/benefits of different choices so you get the best result for you! Good luck and keep us posted!

also - you should post your pics on here for the doctors to give you some of their thoughts... always nice to have some free opinions from trusted experts!

I just got my implants yesterday! I went to three drs for consults, the first two, in the same practice, both wanted to do a lift on me. I never fully trusted what they were saying and since a lift does add $ onto the price, I can see why they might want to suggest that. The dr. I went with said no lift and was of course cheaper! I put a lot of trust in what he said, I liked his practice/staff, etc and my friend had implants with the same dr! In the end, I'm glad I went with him and trusted him to put in what looked good and what I was going after. We never discussed cc's or profile, I put my full trust in him to put in what he knew would work! I showed him photos of what I wanted and left the rest to him! I feel his experience was very helpful in me being able to trust him and I find it kind of strange to leave the cc's and profile up to a patient that is not experienced in what works with certain breasts, sizes, shapes and tissue. I suggest you try and find a few more drs to check out before deciding on one, it doesn't sound like one stands out to me yet. I do think you should have some way so in the lift decision, especially in your case, I think my main thought was that they were probably as big at one time as I wanted them to be with implants and the nipple positions was fine. Also, how much will it bother you to have the positioned just perfectly, to me, I didn't find any good reason, but I did also trust my dr that he would make the look good without the lift! Hope that helps, keep us updated on what happens!

You are a PERFECT candidate for a fat transfer to the breasts since you want a natural look, more fullness & already have nice sized breasts.  Please read my blog and the fat transfer section.  I am VERY happy with my results.  It would be SO nice for you not to have to deal with potential implant problems in the future.  You will also have very little down time from exercise & a heck of a lot less pain!  Good luck in whatever you decide.  I do hope you consider this as one of your options.

Ok, pherhaps the saline makes sense since you have so much of your own breast tissue. But I still don't think you need to go "under" also for the same reason, because you have have plenty of your own breast tissue. Take into consideration that silicon textured implants over the muscle reduce the risk for capsular contraction compared to saline overs. Someone mentioned fat transfer, pherhaps thats worth looking into...

I had the same issue as you do. I decided to go with saline under 371 moderate on one side and 391 on the other to even them out a bit. I too have enough tissue to cover the implant and am told that saline gives more lift that silicone, plus you don't have to go for MRI's etc with saline. The worst case senerio is that I might want to get a lift at some point, but hopefully I will like them and never have to deal with those scars - it is worth it to me to see what happens first. Just my opinion. He did tell me that I would go through the "scary look" until they drop so I am prepared for frankenboobs but hoping not - lol

I was on the fence also about getting a lift but ultimately decided to NOT get a lift as I really didn't want the scars. I'm 45 and have quite a bit of sag due to weight loss and 2 children. I figured I can always go back when I have more $$ saved and get a lift. I have to tell you I truly believe I made the right decision to NOT get a lift. I was a 34B and am now a 34 full C or small D(according to VS). Although I am VERY happy with them, my left one was a bit droopier. My PS said I could do a purse string lift to correct 75% of the droop. That makes me very happy..and minimal scars. But he also said, I might not need it depending on where they end up dropping to...I'm only at 5 weeks . :) I would say this...scars are not reversible. I would go without the lift, see how you like it and then possibly do a lift after if you feel it's necessary. (BTW..the purse string lift is done under general anesthesia so no costly fees). Basically only the surgeon's fee.