You know you’re ready for a plastic surgery procedure to enhance your breasts, but how do you know which option will serve your needs best? There are different types of breast enhancement procedures available today, from breast implant surgery using saline or silicone implants to breast lift surgery that restores a youthful body profile by addressing sagging breasts. Understanding the differences between these two procedures is the first step in determining whether breast augmentation or a breast lift is right for you.
What is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the size and volume of the breasts using breast implants. At Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery, Dr. Andrews prefers silicone implants in various shapes and sizes, offering patients a wide range of options to fit their body proportions and aesthetic goals. Implants are typically placed behind the chest (pectoralis) muscle for a natural look.
Benefits of Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation surgery offers several benefits, including:
- Increases the size and fullness of the breasts
- Improves cleavage and overall breast shape
- Restores volume lost due to pregnancy, weight loss, or aging
- Brings symmetry to uneven breasts
- Helps patients feel more confident in clothing and swimwear
During your consultation, Dr. Andrews will discuss your goals in detail to determine whether a breast enhancement procedure using implants is the best solution for your needs.
Breast Augmentation Candidates
Candidates for breast augmentation are:
- In relatively good health with realistic expectations about the outcome of the surgery
- Non-smokers or willing to quit smoking prior to their procedure
- Hoping to increase the size and fullness of their breasts
- Self-conscious about the size of their breasts
- Challenged to find clothing that fits properly
- Wishing to reverse changes to the breasts after pregnancy and nursing
- Concerned that one breast is noticeably smaller than the other
Breast Augmentation Procedure Details
Dr. Andrews usually performs breast implant surgeries at Surgery Center Cedar Rapids on an outpatient basis. The procedure typically requires general anesthesia and takes about an hour, unless it’s being combined with another treatment, such as a breast lift surgery.
Breast augmentation involves an incision along the breast crease underneath the breast. Care is taken to place incisions in the natural folds of the skin so post-operative scarring is minimized. Dr. Andrews uses the incisions to place the implants, using care to ensure a natural, beautiful result.
Breast augmentation usually takes about an hour to perform, longer if the procedure is going to be combined with another treatment. Patients generally return home the same day as the surgery and are usually back to work in a few days and back to strenuous exercise in 3-4 weeks.
Breast Augmentation Results
The results of breast augmentation surgery will be seen right away, with results becoming more apparent as the patient fully recovers from surgery. Breast augmentation is a durable procedure, with many patients never needing to replace their implants if they are happy with them. However, patients can also opt to have the implants removed or replaced as the breasts change with time to fit their aesthetic goals.
What is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift is a surgical procedure to restore the breasts to a youthful position on the chest. Breasts can start to droop and sag over time, particularly after pregnancy and nursing take their toll. This procedure can also remove excess skin and reposition nipples if necessary to achieve the most beautiful, natural results.
Breast Lift Benefits
The benefits of a breast lift may include:
- A more youthful body profile
- An increase in the projection of the breasts
- Nipples that were pointing downward are repositioned
- Restored breast appearance after pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Clothing fits better
Breast Lift Candidates
The best candidates for a breast lift are:
- In relatively good health, with realistic expectations about the results of the surgery
- Non-smokers or willing to stop smoking prior to their procedure
- Unhappy with sagging breasts or deflated-looking breast tissue
- Concerned about nipples that point downward
- Worried that their breasts appear “deflated” after pregnancy
- Wanting to bring symmetry to the shape and position of their breasts
Like breast augmentation, a breast lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures to achieve the best possible results. Dr. Andrews will discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals with you to help you determine whether a breast lift is the best approach to meet those goals.
Breast Lift Procedure Details
Like breast augmentation, a breast lift is performed on an outpatient basis, and women most often opt for general anesthesia. The procedure involves incisions around the areola, down the center of the lower breast, and possibly in the breast crease. The incisions will allow the surgeon access to the breast tissue so that the breasts can be repositioned from the inside out to create the most natural look.
The procedure will take approximately two hours to complete if no other procedures are performed at the same time. Patients are able to return home the same day as their procedure and will be back to work within 2-3 weeks. Strenuous exercise is usually allowed 3-4 weeks after surgery.
Breast Lift Results
The results of a breast lift can be seen right away and will continue to improve as the breasts heal from surgery. In most cases, breast lifts only need to be performed once to offer long-lasting results. Some women may find that age and gravity once again take their toll on the breasts over time, and they require subsequent procedures to maintain their positive results.
When Two is Better than One
By understanding the difference between the two procedures, it is easier to determine which surgery will give you the best possible results. Women who are happy with the position of their breasts but desire more size and fullness can opt for breast augmentation. Those who are mostly satisfied with their breast size but wish to correct drooping and sagging will be better off choosing the lift procedure. In some cases, a combination of a breast lift and augmentation performed simultaneously will produce the best possible outcome, giving desired fullness and restoring youthful shape often lost with age, weight loss, or pregnancy/lactation.
Schedule a Consultation
Having any type of breast enhancement surgery is a highly personal decision that should be made between a woman and her plastic surgeon. Dr. Andrews will take the time to listen to your concerns and help you find the best option to meet your specific aesthetic goals. To learn more or schedule your consultation with Dr. Andrews, contact Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery at 855-338-0261.
Breast Surgery FAQs
How much does breast surgery cost?
The breast augmentation cost and breast lift cost can vary depending on the type of implant chosen, the complexity of the surgery, and whether procedures are combined. During your consultation, Dr. Andrews will provide a detailed breakdown of costs and help you choose the best plan based on your goals and budget.
Why should I see a board-certified plastic surgeon?
Ultimately, the best way to determine whether you need breast augmentation, a breast lift, or a combination of both is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Andrews will take the time to understand your goals and anatomy, then tailor a treatment plan that delivers the most beautiful, natural-looking results.
What is the main difference between a breast augmentation and a breast lift?
The key difference in breast lift vs. breast augmentation lies in what each procedure addresses. Breast augmentation focuses on increasing breast volume using implants (such as silicone or saline implants), while a breast lift improves breast position by lifting and reshaping sagging tissue without significantly altering volume.
