When you look in the mirror lately, are you unhappy with the appearance of your breasts? You’re not alone. Many women struggle to feel confident in the size or shape of their breasts.
When these feelings start to creep up, women often assume a breast augmentation will help them, and they might be right! But in some cases, a different procedure called a “breast lift” is actually better suited to their needs.
Put simply, a breast augmentation adds to your breast size, and a breast lift elevates your existing breast tissue. However, there are a few more intricacies and differences to consider if you’re trying to determine which cosmetic breast procedure is your best fit.
Breast Augmentation
The word “augment” means “to add to or increase.” So it follows that a breast augmentation is a procedure that involves adding to your breasts. These days, your cosmetic surgeon can use either silicone or saline implants to increase the size of your breasts. We’ll recommend the best option for you depending on your breast shape, desired cup size, and preferred texture.
Concerns Addressed
A breast augmentation is the way to go when your breasts seem too small. Maybe you’ve always wished your breasts were larger. Or perhaps your breasts have lost volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or major weight loss. The ideal candidate for breast augmentation feels their breasts are, more or less, “in the right place” – but they wish they had more.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to want “Double D’s” to consider breast implants. Many of our patients just want to go up a cup size or two in order to better fill out a dress or a bathing suit. Also, if you’ve lost a bit of volume with age and want to bring back your younger figure, implants are definitely an option to explore.
Expected Results
The results of a breast augmentation are nearly instant! Of course, you’ll have some post-surgical swelling that will take a few weeks to dissipate. But once that’s gone, you can immediately enjoy a fuller-looking figure.
We aim for results that look natural. So, whether you’ve increased one size or three, you can go out in public without anyone knowing you have breast implants. Our patients report feeling so much more confident, especially when dressed up for special occasions and when relaxing by the pool in their swimwear. It’s surprising how far that confidence can take you in both your career and your personal life.
Breast Lift
A breast lift is what it sounds like. We lift or elevate your existing breast tissue. To accomplish this, we generally make small incisions into the skin above your breasts, remove excess skin in this area, and tighten the remaining skin before closing the incisions. Also known as mastopexy, Ormond Beach residents find breast lifts surprisingly straightforward to recover from.
Concerns Addressed
It is natural and normal for breasts to sag as you age. But just because it’s “normal” doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Sagging breasts can not only erode your confidence but can also make it difficult to find bras, dresses, and tops that flatter your figure. If you’re bothered by breasts that sit too low on your chest, a breast lift is usually the most suitable of the breast enhancement options.
Expected Results
After a breast lift, Ormond Beach patients are often surprised by how much younger they look and feel. This one simple change can make your figure look a decade younger, if not more.
You may also notice some physical benefits after a breast lift. For example, some patients find that their back pain diminishes due to the change in breast placement. You may also be able to run, walk, and exercise more comfortably. Styles you used to avoid, like plunging necklines and V-necks, suddenly become flattering possibilities.
Combining the Two
Maybe you’re bothered by both your breast size and volume. This is also fairly common, especially after pregnancy. Your breasts may have decreased in size and begun sagging.
Again, this is normal. Skin does lose elasticity with age, which can lead to sagging, and normal hormonal changes often lead to a reduction in volume. Again, normal does not mean we can’t address it. For many of our patients, we suggest a breast lift and a breast augmentation. We can perform both procedures at the same time, so you only have to recover once.
Hopefully, this guide helps you decide between breast lift vs. breast augmentation. If you’d like more information about either procedure, please reach out to the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. We offer breast augmentation that Ormond Beach residents can count on, and we can’t wait to help boost your self-confidence.