1. Breast lift vs breast augmentation: Which one do I need?

If you like your size when wearing a bra, but you note that your breasts sag or droop out of the bra, then a lift is a good option. If you feel too small in your bra, then augmentation is a better option. Some patients need both, but this is best determined during a consultation.

2. Can breast lift with implants provide symmetrical breasts?

No two breasts are perfectly symmetrical. In cases of significant asymmetry, I sometimes use implants of different sizes, but I always inform patients preoperatively that their breasts will be still be slightly different.

3. What kind of breast lift leaves minimal scars?

The smallest scar for a lift is the crescent mastopexy, in which a sliver of skin is taken from just above the nipple-areolar complex. The lift provided by such an incision is minimal. Remember, minimal incision = minimal results!

4. Can breast lift and breast augmentation procedures be performed during the same surgery?

Yes, definitely, but the surgery is associated with different risks and trade-offs. A breast augmentation adds weight to the breast, which will tend to move it downwards with time. A breast lift is trying to lift all of the breast tissue higher on the chest wall. Therefore, augmentation-mastopexy procedures are performed on selected patients.

5. Is it possible to breastfeed after breast lift surgery?

Most breast lift patients have already finished having children, but in theory you should be able to breastfeed following breast lift surgery. However, there are no studies to confirm this.

6. Should I wait until after pregnancy to get a breast lift?

In general, yes, you should wait until after you have finished having children prior to getting a breast lift. However, if you have no immediate plans to have children and the appearance of your breasts bothers you, you can undergo breast lift surgery, understanding that you may require a revision or another lift after you have children.

7. What questions should I ask my doctor before a breast lift?

Discuss what bothers you about your breasts, what you like about your breasts, and what you are willing to trade-off. For example, if you don’t want to have scars on the breast, you may not be able to have a significant lift.

8. What is the recovery time from a breast lift surgery?

You will be able to return home the same day and perform light activities. Most patients return to work within 4-5 days. No heavy lifting, exercise, or sexual activity is permitted for 2 weeks.

9. What is the difference between a crescent breast lift and a vertical lift?

During a crescent lift, a small “crescent” of skin is excised from directly above the nipple-areolar complex. This provides at most 1-2 cm of lift of the nipple-areolar complex on the breast mound; it provides no lift to the breast at all. In a vertical breast lift, an incision is made around the nipple-areolar complex and extended vertically down the breast. The breast tissue is reshaped and lifted on the chest wall, and the excess skin is excised. This is a true “breast lift”.

10. Can I combine breast lift and areola reduction in one surgery?

Yes, an areola reduction is typically performed during most if not all breast lift procedures.

11. Will a breast lift without implants make breasts look smaller or larger?

By lifting the breast tissue and removing the excess skin, the breasts will appear to be larger, even if implants have not been placed.