Breast Augmentation: Cost, Reviews, Photos

Breast Lift with Augmentation when Breast Position is Low

Anytime the breast position is low, a breast lift should be performed with the breast augmentation. Generally, the nipple should be above the breast crease for breast augmentation alone. If you augment a breast that is relatively low, you will have a larger breast that remains low.

That would generally not be considered a youthful, aesthetic breast. Based on the limited photo you provided, your breast appears low and your skin appears thin. If your goal is a more youthful breast (size, shape and position), then it appears a lift with the augmentation would give you that result, not implants alone. (Behzad Parva, MD, Washington DC Plastic Surgeon)

Breast augmentation together with breast lift

Your posted photos show stetched out areola, nipples lying below the level of the crease under the breast and stetchmarks covering the upper half of both breasts. This indicates that the breasts were larger at one such as during pregnancy and that increase stretched the skin. Now that the breasts are smaller you are left with extra skin. Some of this extra skin will be taken up by the breasts after enlarged with breast implants.

However, it is highly unlikely that they can take up all the excess skin. Furthermore the implants alone will not raise the level of the nipples. You will need a skin procedure in addition to augmentation. The type of skin procedure should be decided by you after face to face physical examination by your surgeon for a complete assessment of the current situation. Augmentation without any skin procedure will leave you with a suboptimal result.

I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication required for you to make an informed decision regarding your surgery. My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship. (Aaron Stone, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Very large implants will give you a small lift – but if you want a lift you need one. The scars fade, but you are stretched out and should have a pexy with moderate implants. (William B. Rosenblatt, MD, Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon)

Do I Need a Breast Lift With Breast Augmentation

A breast implant placed under the muscle will push your breast outward and give the illusion of a small amount of lift, but it will not allow your breast tissue and nipple to defy gravity. If your breasts appear deflated, then the key to the decision making process is the position of your nipple.

If it is more than one inch below your breast fold, which is how it appears in your photos, then you should consider a periareolar breast lift, in which the only scar is around the boarder of the areala. If you don’t reposition the nipple, then the breast implant, which does not extend below the breast fold, will lie mostly above the nipple and will not look natural. If you have a substantial amount of breast tissue that needs to be lifted, then a vertical breast lift technique would be preferable. (Joseph Fata, MD, Louisville Plastic Surgeon)

Lift Or Not With Augmentation

I agree that you need to have a mastopexy or breast lift performed. You will not be at all pleased with the result if you have an augmentation alone. Since you are concerned about being too big, I would in fact suggest that you have a lift without an implant. You may be quite pleased with this; if not, you can always have an implant placed later. (John Whitt, MD (retired), Montreal Plastic Surgeon)

Breast lift is the better aesthetic choice

A breast lift is the better aesthetic choice. If you do proceed with an augmentation (with or without lift), I would recommend your have silicone implants placed in a subglandular plane to minimize risk of the deformity that arises from progressive descent of your native breast over a high riding submuscular implant. (Chen Lee, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Nobody “wants” a lift but many need one

From an anatomical standpoint, your breasts have drooped enough that an implant alone won’t look as good as one with a lift. Implants don’t lift you, they just make you bigger. Lifts lift you and give you more youthful shape and tone.

The scars improve wih time and the result looks much better. But you can elect to do the implant alone and see if you like it. You probably won’t though and will do the lift later. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Nashua Plastic Surgeon)

Not every low breast has to be lifted

Many women do not want a lift because of the scars, which is a good reason. You have two choices: have an implant placed without a mastopexy and accept the fact that the breasts will not look high but will look larger and mature. That is fine with many women – as long as they know what to expect. You will get some lift just with the implant.

The other option is to have an augmentation and a periareolar mastopexy, where the scars are limited. However, the amount you can be lifted that way is also limited. If your goal is to have higher breasts, you need to be willing to live with the scars.

You are better off with subglandular implants – your breasts are lower than your pectoral muscles and you won’t look good otherwise. Find a plastic surgeon whom you trust, and consider what you are willing to trade and what not- there is no right answer for all women. (Mark B. Constantian, MD, FACS, )