There are some conditions that require lowering of the infra-mammary fold of the breast, however it is not typically performed in routine breast augmentation.
Judging by your photos, you appear to have physical attributes that would make your procedure relatively straight forward (routine if you will), such that you would not need lowering of your IMF. (David Cangello, MD, Mobile Plastic Surgeon)
Lowering the breast crease how often
Women with small “A”cup with little sagging and if they are looking for large B or C cup will only get enough space when the crease is lowered and I end up doing this surgery in almost 30 % of my patients.
These are generally single women looking for getting married. This is right that 7 cm distance to nipple is normal but from your pictures it seems you have long barrel shaped chest and if the crease is not lowered you might end up with a mount on the flat part of chest with nipple looking down. (Ashok Govila, FRCS, MCh, MS, New York Plastic Surgeon)
I do not think that the fold should be intentionally lowered more than the normal adjustment down of 1 cm or so that occurs with breast implants. Ask your surgeon if that is what they were referring to. (Christopher Park, MD, Albuquerque Plastic Surgeon)
Breast crease does not appear to need lowering
Your breast crease does not look like it would needs to be lowered to acheive a good result. As you can tell form the answers, however, each surgeon has a slightly different approach to this surgery and none of them are absolutely “correct”. I do not lower the crease very often, but that does not make me any more correct than those that find it necessary.
My best advice is to discuss your concerns with your surgeon. Any surgeon worth their salt will be willing to discuss the plan and the rationale for such a plan. If you feel comfortable and confident in your surgeon, go with your gut. (Michael S. Hopkins, MD, Long Island Plastic Surgeon)
Breast Augmentation and Lowering the Inframammary Fold
Lowering the breast fold during breast augmentation is generally reserved only for those women with a deficient nipple/fold distance, and when the size of the implant is such that lowering the fold is required so the implant is not riding too high. You appear borderline for needing your fold lowered, but this assessment is best made in-person. (Arnold S. Breitbart, MD, FACS, Oshkosh Plastic Surgeon)
Lowering the inframammary fold
Although it is not the typical goal to lower the inframammary fold when putting breast implants in, I believe it is almost universally the side effect of the operation. If you use a very large implant and/or go too low you can end up with complications. However, I do believe that lowering of the inframammary fold is nearly universal and your plastic surgeon is astute enough to have realized that and explained that to you. (David Janssen, MD, FACS, )
Looks like you have some breast asymmetry – all you need are implants. I would expect some minor asymmetry post op – but you will look a lot better with the implants only. I would not lower your IM line. (William B. Rosenblatt, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
Lowering the breast crease
People do measurements on what are the “normal” or “average” lengths of various body parts. The “normal” distance from the nipple to the fold under the breast should be about seven centimeters. Judging by your pictures, I would say that you have a normal shape to your breasts.
You have lost some volume in your breasts but you are not sagging. The simple addition of a breast implant should restore your lost volume.
In my opinion, you do NOT need a breast lift and you do NOT need the fold under your breasts lowered. I believe that God put that crease there for a purpose and a lot of bad things can happen when we try to lower it. It can result in bottoming out of the implant (since we are taking away a very nice support structure) and it can cause a “double bubble” effect on the lower half of the breast where you wind up with two creases on the lower portion of the breasts. (Edwin C. Pound, III, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)