What’s the Difference Between a Breast Lift and Augmentation?
By Marc Feldman | Published on February 9, 2011 | 0 Comments
While some of his Atlantic City, New Jersey clients confuse breast augmentation with the breast lift procedure, Marc Feldman MD assures his patients that they are, in fact, two different things. Though the two are often used in conjunction with one another, a breast augmentation adds volume to a woman’s breasts while a lift alters the placement of the breasts so that they sit higher on the chest.
In most instances where a breast lift is needed, Dr. Feldman says, the nipples have started to sag below the crease of the breasts. This often happens after going through multiple pregnancies, but is also a natural part of the aging process. Sagging becomes a problem, Dr. Feldman explains, especially for women whose bra cup sizes are in the C and D range. For women who feel that a breast lift would be beneficial, during surgery, the nipples are lifted above the crease line.
There are three different types of breasts lifts that women and their surgeons can discuss. The first, Dr. Feldman explains, requires taking a half-moon section of skin above the areola and then sewing the breast back together. This will provide a small lift of about an inch to an inch and a half. For women who need more of a lift, he explains that by pinching the skin of the breast around the nipple and moving it upward, a surgeon can lift the breast up to five inches. If that is still not enough and you have breasts that have sagged severely, the third type of breast lift includes incisions that resemble the shape of an anchor and will allow for the optimal lift.
While many women jump at the chance to reverse the effects of child birth and gravity, Dr. Feldman says that at Feldman Plastic Surgery, it is important for patients to have realistic expectations of how their chests will look post-surgery. Though many women are focused on the positioning of their breasts, and rightfully so, Dr. Feldman also makes sure to bring up the issue of scarring. Since the procedure is focused on the repositioning of the nipples, patients can expect to have scars in that area.
Trading droopy breasts for small scars is a non-issue for some patients, Dr. Feldman explains, while other patients are very concerned with the prospect of permanent reminders of their surgeries. Regardless of how you feel about the issue, he says that it is always important to view examples of women whose breasts show little scarring and those who have very noticeable scars. Dr. Feldman can also assess the likelihood of prominent scars forming on your own body by taking a look at the pigmentation of other scars that you already have. While you are not guaranteed to experience the same exact type of scarring, this is usually a good indication of what to anticipate. Sometimes, he adds, it is simply the genetic makeup of a patient that predetermines whether she will scar or not.
If a patient becomes particularly leery of surgery because of the possible scars, then Dr. Feldman says that it is sometimes helpful to bring in a husband or close friend to weigh in on the effects of the scars. If the patient’s husband is turned off by the thought of scars, then most of the time, the woman will not be pleased afterward either. As a standard practice though, patients of Feldman Plastic Surgery are required to come into the office for more than one consultation to make sure that they are comfortable with their upcoming surgeries.
Once you decide to move forward with a breast lift, Dr. Feldman says that if you maintain the same body weight, your results will last for a long time. However, if you gain and lose weight or become pregnant again, you may experience some residual sagging as a result. In order to end up with the best results possible, you should speak to your doctor about what you can do before and after surgery to make sure that your breasts look beautiful for years to come.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.