Having a breast lift is the perfect time to get implants. The sagging that motivated you to consider a lift usually goes hand in hand with the loss of breast fullness, and breast implants naturally enhance a lift.
On the practical side, it makes sense to take care of both during one surgery rather than two. However, being able to combine procedures is different from whether you should do so.
Adding an implant to a lift is a personal choice based on how you want to change the appearance of your breasts. But before making that decision, you also need to learn whether a lift alone could achieve your desired results.
Scheduling a consultation with Rafael C. Cabrera, MD, FACS, at Plastic Surgery Specialists of Boca Raton is the best way to get all of the information you need to make the decision. He discusses your goals, explains the changes you can achieve with a breast lift, and guides your choice.
Learning about the differences between the two procedures is an excellent place to start.
The tissues supporting your breasts weaken and stretch with aging. Weight gain and loss, pregnancy, and breastfeeding also take a toll on tissues. As a result, many women end up with sagging breasts.
A breast lift (mastopexy) solves this problem. The purpose of a lift is to reposition the breasts. Your surgeon removes excess skin, tightens and reshapes the remaining breast tissue, and raises your breasts to their natural position on your chest.
Dr. Cabrera ensures symmetry, reducing the size of the areola (the dark area around the nipple) and repositioning the areola and nipple.
There’s one thing a breast lift can’t accomplish: It doesn’t change the size of your breasts. You need to add breast implants if you want to restore lost volume or enlarge the size of your breasts.
During breast augmentation, Dr. Cabrera enlarges your breasts and corrects problems like unequal size and shape. Though he frequently inserts implants, he can also perform a fat transfer. Both procedures can be combined with a breast lift.
There are two types of implants. Both have an outer shell made of silicone and come in a wide range of sizes. However, one is filled with saline, and the other contains an elastic gel. Each has pros and cons, and some women prefer how one feels over the other.
In addition to explaining different implants, Dr. Cabrera discusses other options with the surgery, such as placing the implant above or under your chest muscle.
There are subtle differences in appearance based on the implant’s placement. Individual differences also affect your choice. For example, you may need to put it under the muscle if you don’t have enough breast tissue to cover the implant.
Dr. Cabrera uses liposuction to remove fat from another body area. After cleaning the fat, he injects it into your breasts. The fat survives by establishing a new blood supply, giving you a natural breast enhancement.
Whether you’re sure you want to combine a breast lift and augmentation, or you’re still trying to figure out whether you should add implants to your breast lift, talking with Dr. Cabrera can make your decision easier. Call the office today to schedule a consultation to learn about your options.
