Breast Augmentation? Breast Lift? Or Both?

For women who know they want their breasts to look better but aren’t sure where to start, the choice between breast lift and breast augmentation procedures at our practice near Scottsdale, AZ, can be a confusing one. While both options are popular for their breast-enhancing abilities, each is designed to treat a slightly different set of concerns. Determining the right procedure makes all the difference— and combining them is often the most effective decision.

In this blog post, I’ll discuss the differences between these 2 procedures and explain why combining them often produces the most flattering results.

Breast Augmentation

The goal of breast augmentation is to increase size and fullness with breast implants. Augmentation can also correct breast asymmetry, enhance the volume of naturally small breasts, and create a more feminine appearance. The procedure is popular among women who have naturally small or asymmetrical breasts, or who have experienced a modest loss in volume over time.

While breast augmentation can add volume, it cannot perk up drooping breasts or fill up sagging skin. It’s a common misconception that adding an implant to a droopy breast will uplift it. Adding volume to stretched skin can actually worsen sagging. If you’re happy with your breast size but want to address shape or perkiness, you may be better off with a breast lift.

Breast Lift

The goal of a breast lift is to raise sagging breast tissue and create a more youthful appearance. A breast lift can tighten skin, reduce areola size, reposition nipples, improve breast shape, and potentially alleviate neck or back pain caused by sagging. The procedure is popular among women who have gone through pregnancy and breastfeeding, or who have experienced considerable volume loss over time as a result of aging or weight loss.

While a breast lift can create perkier breasts, it cannot add volume or increase breast size. Some patients remark that their breasts appear slightly smaller after the surgery due to the removal of excess skin, though the shape and position are much more youthful.

Combining Procedures

It’s common to have some overlap between both areas of concern. Because it is not advised to place an implant in saggy breast tissue, combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift is often an excellent solution for women who want to lift their breasts while maintaining or increasing size.

By combining a breast lift with implants, we can achieve more transformative, comprehensive results. When we perform a breast lift and a breast augmentation in the same surgery, you also enjoy the benefits of both procedures while experiencing only one recovery period.

To see examples of the results you can expect from a breast lift with implants, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.

If you would like to discuss your breast augmentation options with a board-certified plastic surgeon in the Scottsdale and Chandler, AZ, area, please contact us online or call our Gilbert office at (480) 466-7355.