As you consider options for breast enhancement surgery, especially if you’ve recently experienced major changes to your body, it can be difficult to determine which procedure will be most beneficial to you. Women who want to restore fullness and a youthful boost to their breasts after pregnancy or weight loss often struggle to choose between a breast lift and breast augmentation at my Staten Island practice.
Each procedure offers its own benefits , and in many cases, combining them within a single surgery is especially effective. In this blog post, I’ll discuss the benefits of each procedure and explain why many women choose a combination of the two surgeries to achieve a figure that makes them feel amazing.
Breast Augmentation vs. Lift
The difference between a breast augmentation and a breast lift comes down to volume versus position. While augmentation increases breast size using implants, a lift reshapes and elevates existing tissue without adding volume. The right choice depends on your anatomy and goals.
| Breast Augmentation | Breast Lift (Without Implants) |
|---|---|
| Increases breast size and fullness | Lifts and reshapes existing breast tissue |
| Uses implants (saline or silicone) | Does not use implants |
| Enhances upper pole fullness and cleavage | Improves breast position and contour |
| Best for patients with low volume | Best for patients with sagging (ptosis) |
| Does not correct significant sagging on its own | Does not significantly increase size |
| May require future implant maintenance | No implant-related maintenance |
Should I Get a Breast Augmentation?
The primary goal of breast augmentation is increasing breast volume through the addition of synthetic implants. This can be helpful for women who:
- Naturally have less breast volume. You may feel your breasts are not proportionate with the rest of your body, or you may not feel confident wearing more revealing clothes such as bathing suits or low-cut tops.
- Have asymmetrical breasts. Asymmetry in the breasts is quite common, and breast augmentation can correct it. Placing a larger implant in the smaller breast creates a more balanced figure.
- Want to enhance their cleavage. Round implants can help women achieve greater fullness in the upper pole of their breasts, resulting in more prominent cleavage.
Breast augmentation is typically not the best option for correcting sagging or drooping, however. Without correcting stretched tissue, implants add weight and can worsen the effects of gravity, rather than “filling out” the loose skin as some women hope.
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
Should I Get a Breast Lift Without Implants?
The primary goal of a breast lift is to address sagging by reshaping and elevating your natural breast tissue—without adding implants. This approach is ideal for women who are generally happy with their breast size but want a firmer, more youthful position and contour.
A breast lift without implants may be the right option if you:
- Have sagging after pregnancy or breastfeeding: Fluctuations in breast size can leave tissue stretched and lower on the chest. A lift restores a more youthful position.
- Have experienced weight loss: Reduced volume can lead to loose, deflated skin. A lift tightens and reshapes the remaining tissue.
- Notice downward-pointing nipples: A lift repositions the nipples (and can resize the areola) to a more natural, forward-facing position.
- Like your current breast size: If your main concern is shape rather than volume, a lift alone can deliver meaningful improvement.
It’s important to understand that a breast lift does not significantly increase breast size. In some cases, breasts may appear slightly smaller because they sit higher and tighter on the chest. However, the improved shape and positioning often create a more balanced, rejuvenated look.
If you’re looking for a subtle increase in fullness along with a lift, options such as fat transfer or combining a lift with implants may also be considered.
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
Should I Get a Combined Breast Augmentation and Lift?
The combination of these procedures (called an augmentation mastopexy) can address both sagging breasts and insufficient volume within a single surgery. I recommend this approach if you are looking to achieve a more youthful breast shape while increasing your breast size, whether subtly or more dramatically. It offers the benefits of both procedures while requiring only 1 recovery period, making it much more efficient than having each procedure done separately.
The best way to determine the right procedure for you is to consult in person with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will make recommendations based on an in-depth examination and discussion of your goals.
Breast Lift With Fat Transfer (A More Subtle Alternative)
For patients who want to improve breast position while adding a modest amount of volume, a breast lift with fat transfer may be an option. This approach combines the lifting and reshaping benefits of a traditional breast lift with a small increase in fullness using your body’s own fat.
Fat is typically harvested from areas such as the abdomen or flanks, then purified and strategically injected into the breasts to enhance shape and symmetry. Because this technique does not use implants, the results tend to look and feel very natural.
This option may be a good fit if you:
- Want a subtle increase in volume rather than a significant size change
- Prefer to avoid implants
- Are primarily concerned with sagging, but would welcome added fullness
- Have enough donor fat available for transfer
It’s important to understand that fat transfer cannot achieve the same level of volume or upper pole fullness as implants, and some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed by the body over time. For patients seeking more dramatic enhancement, a combined breast augmentation with implants and lift may be the better choice.
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
See examples of the results you can expect after a breast enhancement procedure by visiting our before-and-after photo galleries for breast augmentation and breast lift.
If you would like to learn more about breast lift and augmentation procedures in the Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island area, please contact us online or call (718) 720-9400.
Leave a Reply