If you’re currently unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, then you have a number of options. Two of the most popular options are the breast lift and the breast augmentation. While patients sometimes assume these two procedures are the same, there are some important differences between the two.
So, is a breast lift or a breast augmentation the better fit for your needs? That depends on the specific issues you’re struggling with and also on your desired outcome. Here’s a closer look at both procedures and what each involves.
Breast Lift
A breast lift is a procedure that aims to reshape the breast to minimize drooping and sagging. As you age, lose weight, or have children, it’s only natural for your breasts to begin losing their shape. And some women naturally have less breast fullness than others, even in their youth.
Whatever the cause, a breast lift will help correct the issue without greatly altering the size of your breasts. In many cases, this procedure can also reduce physical symptoms of discomfort that come with sagging breasts in addition to enhancing their appearance.
The different types of breast lifts include:
- Crescent lift – Involves an incision just above the areola. Minimally invasive and great for patients with little sagging
- Periareolar lift – Involves an incision around the areola. Best for patients with large areolas and minimal breast sagging.
- Vertical lift – Two vertical incisions. Slightly more invasive and may result in some scarring that’s easily hidden under clothing.
- Inverted-T lift – Similar to the periareolar and vertical lifts, but involves an extra incision within the breast fold. Ideal for dealing with extreme cases of sagging.
Which procedure is right for you will depend on the current shape and size of your breasts, the location of your areola, and how much droopiness you’re experiencing.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a very popular cosmetic procedure. It’s what you probably picture when you hear the words “plastic surgery”.
The main goal of breast augmentation is to increase the size of the breasts. If your breasts are smaller than you’d like, then a breast augmentation can help you achieve the size you desire.
There are two popular kinds of breast implants: silicone and saline. Silicone implants give your breasts a more natural look and feel, but they are more expensive and involve a larger incision. Saline implants are cheaper but less surgically involved, and they are often used in patients who already have ample breast tissue but desire more volume.
Which Procedure Is Right For You?
Do you desire larger or completely reshaped breasts? If so, then a breast implant is probably the way to go. Do you just need to correct a bit of drooping to accentuate your current breasts? In that case, a breast lift is the right procedure.
Great News: It doesn’t have to be an either-or situation! Many women who get breast implants will also undergo a breast lift in order to minimize drooping and enhance the results. This is often more cost-effective and requires less downtime than getting the procedures done separately.
Selecting the right procedure is only step one. Now, you need to find the right plastic surgeon. Please contact us at The Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery today for more information or to schedule a consultation with our experienced and compassionate practitioners.
