If you’re a woman who is considering getting a cosmetic procedure in the breast region, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is whether you’re looking for a breast lift or breast augmentation. In some cases a combination of the two is recommended.
Breast augmentation, technically known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that improves the size and shape of a woman’s breast. Some women feel dissatisfied because their breasts never developed to a size that meets their expectations. Others want to bring balance to one breast that is smaller or shaped differently than the other. Often, women seek breast augmentation to restore their natural breast volume, which may have decreased as a result of pregnancy, weight loss, or aging.
A breast lift is designed for women whose breasts have lost their elasticity over time. During breast lift surgery, excess skin is removed from the breasts and the remaining skin is tightened. The goal of breast lift surgery is to help a woman attain firmer, younger-looking breasts that are proportionate to the rest of her body. A breast lift can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.
In certain cases, such as after dramatic weight loss or after pregnancy, women may experience deflation of the breast region and not be certain which procedure they’d have better luck with.
The best thing you can do in this case is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon and use their expertise to your advantage. You don’t need to know which procedure you’re interested in to have a consultation with a doctor. Instead, go in with the results you want to see and ask your surgeon which procedure or combination of procedures will get you those results.
Frequently, the result you’re looking for maybe a combination of both procedures. If you have significant sagging, a breast augmentation alone may not look correct. A breast lift by itself may not be able to account for the loss of volume after pregnancy. However, a small implant combined with a breast lift can restore volume and improve shape while also removing excess skin and moving the areola to a more natural position.
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