This blog discusses breast lifts, breast augmentation, and a combination breast lift with augmentation, including what each procedure can do and who is a candidate, so patients can confidently choose the right procedure for their needs.
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Do I Need Breast Implants or a Lift?
That is a question many women ask themselves, and their plastic surgeons, when considering breast enhancement surgery. While it might be obvious to a few, if you’ve breastfed before or you’re experiencing the natural progression of breast sagging, your breasts might not look how they once did.
Many women are torn between breast augmentation, breast lifts, and a third option (the not-so-secret breast augmentation with a lift). Let’s break down what these procedures do and who might benefit from each one.
What Can a Breast Augmentation Do?
Breast augmentation involves increasing the size of the natural breasts by inserting medical devices called breast implants. These implants are made of silicone or saline and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to provide maximum customization.
Breast augmentation incisions are customized as well, but they are tied to the type of implants you choose. Breast augmentation incisions include:
- Inframammary: Short, horizontal line under the breast fold (silicone or saline)
- Periareolar: Circles around the nipple-areolar complex (NAC); hides scars (typically saline only)
- Transaxillary: Incision within the armpit; no visible scarring on breasts (saline only)
Breast augmentation does not just increase breast size; it can:
- Remedy asymmetries by making the breasts even
- Increase cleavage, fullness, and roundness if so desired
- Enhance your overall figure by emphasizing your chest or balancing your proportions
- Open up your clothing options, including bathing suits and bras
- Greatly increase self-confidence
So, yes, breast augmentation does increase the size of your breasts, but it can do so much more.
What Can a Breast Lift Do?
A breast lift is ideal if you have sagging or deflated breasts, and/or downturned nipples. The objective of the procedure is not to increase volume, but to lift the breasts higher on the chest, reshape the natural tissue for a firmer, more rounded appearance, and enhance the nipples if they have been stretched due to breastfeeding.
Many women experience changes to their breasts after breastfeeding, pregnancy, and aging. As the breasts flatten and the skin becomes less elastic, the breasts can sag and point downward. A breast lift directly addresses these issues. During the procedure, your surgeon will lift the breast mound, tighten loose tissue, and remove redundant skin to restore a youthful appearance. If the nipples need to be addressed, they are surgically altered to be smaller or face forward.
Breast lift incisions are different from those of breast augmentation. They are related to the amount of revision required, the size of the patient’s breasts, and the amount of tissue that needs to be removed or altered. They include:
- Periareolar incision: Circle around the NAC (mild cases only)
- Lollipop incision: Circle around the NAC and one vertical line down toward the breast fold (moderate revision)
- Anchor incision: Same as lollipop incision, with an additional horizontal line at the bottom of the breast (best for most severe revision)
A breast lift is a fantastic procedure that most women can benefit from at some point in their lives. However, it does not increase volume or restore lost volume. While the breasts can be rounder and firmer after the procedure, they will not be larger.
Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, or Both: Which Option Is Best for You?
The first question you need to ask yourself is this: What exactly do I want to fix with cosmetic surgery?
If you are primarily or only concerned with volume loss, so your breasts aren’t sagging, or you’re pretty happy with their shape, then a breast augmentation is likely what you need. On the other hand, if you are primarily or only concerned with sagging, your nipples are stretched or downturned, and you are unhappy with the shape of your breasts, but you are fine with the amount of volume they have, then a breast lift alone might be ideal.
But if you, like many women, are noticing a combination of breast sagging and a loss of volume, both of which go hand in hand after breastfeeding and aging, then combining your breast lift with implants is likely the best option. During this procedure, your surgeon will use one of the breast lift incision types (periareolar, lollipop, or anchor) to perform the lift and then insert an implant at the same time.
Bear in mind that most surgeons will recommend the anchor incision type for a breast lift/augmentation combination procedure in order to accommodate the size of the implants. If you prefer saline, you might be a candidate for the other incision types (periareolar or lollipop), as these implants can be filled after insertion. Silicone requires an anchor or inframammary incision type.
Combining your breast augmentation with a lift is an excellent way to address all your concerns in a single procedure. Excess skin will be removed, and your breasts will be lifted and have more volume, bounce, and cleavage that you can enjoy for years to come. The recovery process is the same as if you’d had either procedure alone, with no additional pain or downtime.
Want to Learn More About Breast Lifts With Augmentation in Sacramento, CA?
The best way to determine if a breast lift, breast augmentation, or combination procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation with your board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Mabourakh is a breast enhancement specialist with extensive experience performing custom breast augmentation and lifts for his patients. He will discuss all your customization options and potential outcomes during your consultation, so you can make a decision with confidence.
Call Folsom Plastic Surgery today at (916) 984-8585 for our Folsom office, and (209) 464-5656 for our Stockton office to request a consultation, or complete the contact form.
