BREAST AUGMENTATION VS. BREAST LIFT: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift: Which Is Right for You?
If your goal is to enhance the appearance of your breasts, then you have several surgical options available to you. Two of the most popular surgeries to enhance the breasts are breast augmentation and a breast lift. The procedure you choose will depend on the specific results you’re looking to achieve.
As board-certified plastic surgeons, we can educate you about each type of surgery and help you determine which one, or a combination of both, will get you the desired results.
What Is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a procedure in which the breasts are literally moved to a higher position on a women’s chest. During surgery, the breast tissue and nipples are raised, and then the excess skin below the nipple is tightened and contoured for a more shapely bust line.
A breast lift can make a woman’s breasts look more youthful and perkier. In addition, the breasts will hold a firm position on the chest and point outwards. Women may find that clothes fit better and they feel more confident and attractive after surgery.
This procedure is ideal for women who want to:
- Correct sagging or drooping breasts.
- Remove excess skin from the breasts.
- Have younger-looking, more contoured breasts.
- Maintain current breast size.
- Increase their confidence about their appearance.
While a breast lift is helpful for sagging breasts, which are often the result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, natural aging, hormonal shift, or changes in weight, there are some drawbacks to the procedure. There is more scarring with breast lifts than with breast augmentation. And, although firmer breasts may give the appearance of increased breast size and more cleavage, a breast lift does not actually increase the size of the breasts. So some women may be disappointed if the results aren’t as dramatic as they had hoped.
What is Breast Augmentation?
A breast augmentation is a procedure that uses either saline or silicone implants to actually increase the size and firmness of the breasts. Saline implants are often less expensive, but they have been known to leak. It may be worth it to pay a bit more for the peace of mind that comes with silicone.
The benefits of breast augmentation include:
- Larger and firmer breasts.
- A wide variety of implants that allow women to achieve as subtle or dramatic a change as desired.
- Less scarring than with a breast lift and scars are usually hidden.
- Increased confidence about appearance.
Which Is Right for You?
As a general rule, women who want to correct sagging breasts and have no desire to increase the size of their breasts should first consider a breast lift. However, women must understand that there will be some visible scarring after surgery.
For women whose breasts aren’t sagging but are smaller than they would like, are ideal candidates for a breast augmentation. Implants will definitely increase the size of the breasts and provide additional cleavage.
In some cases, a woman may decide to undergo both procedures for a truly dramatic result. In fact, the two procedures really do complement one another. The lift helps support the new, larger breasts. And the nipple repositioning that takes place during the lift provides a more natural look. A discussion with your doctor can help you determine if you should have both procedures done at the same time, or allow some time to pass between procedures.
Women who are unhappy with the look of their breasts have a number of options available. Whether you are considering a breast augmentation, breast lift, or a combination of the two, it is important to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Fodero to assess all your options thoroughly.
Northeastern Plastic Surgery understands your desire for a beautiful, youthful looking body and facial appearance. We use the latest plastic surgery techniques to perform a variety of surgical procedures. Dr. Fodero and the staff are very friendly, helpful, and available to answer any questions you may have about the procedures we offer. We strive to ensure that your experience with us is positive. Please contact us today to learn more about the services we offer.