Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift: Which Procedure Do You Need?
Both breast implants and breast lift surgery can provide a younger-looking bust after pregnancy, weight loss, and aging, but the procedures aren’t interchangeable. Each surgery is designed to address different underlying concerns and knowing what issues you’d like to improve is the first step in determining the right solution for your unique needs. Dr. James Shaw, an acclaimed board-certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, outlines candidacy factors for breast augmentation and mastopexy, respectively, to provide patients with a better understanding of their treatment options before scheduling a consultation.
If you’re not sure what procedure is best for you, a conversation with a board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon is a good place to start. Contact Shaw Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation.
Breast Implants — Enlarging Breast Size and Upper-Pole Fullness
Breast augmentation uses implants (saline or silicone) to increase volume. When compared to a breast lift, augmentation may be more ideal for someone who feels their breasts are too small, who wants more upper-pole fullness, or who wants to restore volume lost after weight loss or breastfeeding without significant sagging.
Those who would benefit from breast augmentation generally seek to improve:
- Naturally small breasts
- Lost volume after pregnancy and aging
- Upper-pole fullness and/or cleavage
- Asymmetry
Breast implants sit behind or in front of the chest muscle, and are chosen based on desired size, projection, and breast width. In general, breast augmentation alone is most successful when the breast tissue itself is still relatively well-positioned on the chest wall.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy) — Enhancing Breast Shape, Positioning, and Projection
Unlike breast implants, a breast lift doesn’t add volume. Instead, the procedure repositions the breasts and nipple-areola complex higher on the chest wall, reshaping the breasts to restore a more youthful contour and projection. If your main concern is sagging (ptosis), nipples that point downward or sit below the breast crease, or breasts that have become elongated or lost their shape after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or aging, mastopexy is usually the more effective treatment when compared to implants.
Patients interested in a breast lift typically want to address:
- Sagging or ptosis (drooping)
- A stretched, elongated, or “deflated” look
- Stretched or disproportionate areolas
- Lack of projection/breast profile
A breast lift can also improve the size and position of the areolas. While mastopexy alone will not make the breasts larger, it can reshape the breast contours by removing excess tissue and skin while lifting the bust for enhanced projection.
Combining Approaches with a Breast-Augmentation Mastopexy
Many women have a combination of all these concerns. In these cases, a combined breast-augmentation mastopexy, commonly called a breast lift with implants, can address multiple issues in a single procedure — breast implants restore lost volume and upper-pole fullness, while a breast lift repositions the tissue and nipple higher on the chest for a more youthful shape.
This combined surgery is more complex than either procedure performed alone. A qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Shaw can assess breast tissue, skin elasticity, and goals to determine whether you need additional volume, a breast lift, or a combination of both approaches to achieve your desired outcome.
At Shaw Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon James Shaw, MD knows that in-depth patient education is essential to understanding the most ideal treatment to achieve your goals. A consultation is the best way to confirm whether implants or breast lift surgery is the right approach to address your concerns, so don’t hesitate to book an appointment with Dr. Shaw at our Wichita practice today.