Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift
Many women who are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts turn to breast surgery to enhance their bust line. Breast augmentation increases the volume and fullness of the breasts, helping many women feel more feminine and attractive. However, breast augmentation does not address every woman's breast enhancement needs, specifically for those who wish to improve the appearance of sagging breasts. This is where breast lift surgery can help.
Plastic surgeons Richard Bendor-Samuel and Louis Boileau provide consultations to determine which treatment is right for each patient's needs. For more information about breast augmentation versus breast lift, schedule a consultation at our Halifax, NS practice.
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation, or breast enlargement, is a surgical procedure used to enhance the shape, size, and appearance of the breasts. Women who wish to add volume to their breasts for an increased cup size often benefit from breast augmentation. Although breast augmentation can improve the appearance of the breasts, it will not significantly reduce breast sagging.
The Breast Augmentation Procedure
There are multiple breast augmentation techniques that can be performed. This allows breast augmentation to be tailored to the needs of each patient. Some things that can be adjusted to customize the breast augmentation procedure include incision location, type of breast implant (saline or silicone), size of implant, and implant placement (either over or under the chest muscle). Incisions may be made in the underarm, under the breast, or around the areola. Once an incision is made, the breast implant is inserted into the breast and positioned for a symmetrical, natural looking placement. The incisions are then sutured closed and the breasts bandaged.
What Is a Breast Lift?
Breast lift, also called mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of drooping breasts. Many women find their breasts are droopy and have lost firmness due to the aging process, significant weight loss, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Breast lift surgery can help improve the bust line through the removal of excess breast tissue, restoring a more youthful and perky appearance. Breast lift surgery alone will not add volume to the breasts.
The Breast Lift Procedure
Like breast augmentation, the breast lift procedure may be customized to accommodate each patient's needs. Incisions may be made around the areola and on the breast in a donut shape, an anchor shape, or a lollipop shape. The type of incision will depend on the amount of tissue being removed.
During the breast lift procedure, excess tissue is removed using a predetermined incision technique. The size of the areola may be reduced, if the patient desires, and the nipples will be repositioned to match the new position of the lifted breasts. As with breast augmentation, the breast lift procedure is finished by suturing the incisions closed and bandaging the breasts.
Which Treatment Is Right for You?
Breast augmentation and breast lift surgery address unique breasts issues. Those who wish to increase their bust size often achieve their desired results with breast augmentation alone. Those who are happy with the size of their breasts but want to reduce breast sagging may choose to only undergo breast lift surgery, while women who want to add volume and lift to their breasts may do so by combining breast augmentation and breast lift surgery.
Schedule a Consultation
For more information about breast augmentation versus breast lift surgery, or to find out which treatment is right for your needs, we invite you to schedule a consultation today.
