Breast augmentation surgery enables women to achieve the shape and contour they always wanted. A variety of implants and surgical techniques can help women look and feel their best by restoring fullness and volume to their breasts. Many women who seek bigger breasts are bothered by breast sag and wonder if implants can also make their breasts perkier. Breast lift can be a better choice than breast augmentation to combat breast sag. Below, Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. George Sanders outlines the key differences between breast augmentation and breast lift, and how to choose the surgery that is right for you.
Breast Implants
Implants, available in saline or silicone form, can be placed directly behind the breast tissue or under the pectoral muscle to enhance the size and shape of the breast. Breast augmentation can accomplish the following goals, but is often insufficient to make your breasts look perkier on its own:
- Increase size and fullness of breast
- Correct asymmetrical breasts
- Improve self-confidence
- Restore the body’s shape after a mastectomy
Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation
During breast augmentation, your surgeon can reshape and resize the breasts by placing implants. But while breast augmentation may be the right choice for fuller and more attractive breasts, it cannot correct breast sag. In fact, breast implants can sometimes worsen the appearance breast sag.
A lift, however, can raise the breasts and restore a more youthful shape by tightening the surrounding tissue and removing excess skin. Breast lift can also resize overly large or stretched out nipples and areolas and move them to a more natural-looking position on the breast mound. Pregnancy, weight fluctuations and genetics are all factors that can lead to loss of your skin’s elasticity. Breast lift surgery can make you feel years younger by making your breasts appear perkier.
A Combination Procedure
Many women opt for a combination procedure to rejuvenate their breasts. Only a combination of the two surgeries will address both sagging and deflated breasts. Performing the procedures together will also cut back on overall costs. Healing time will be greatly reduced, as you will only have to take a couple of weeks off of work and family duties once, rather than for multiple surgeries. Given the option, it is also beneficial to put your body through anesthesia as few times as necessary. Combining breast augmentation with breast lift surgery provides the fullness and perkiness that cannot be achieved from one procedure alone.
Every woman’s body is unique, and only your doctor can help you determine if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation, breast lift or a combination of the two. To schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, call the office of Dr. George Sanders at (818) 981-3333.
