Breast lift or breast augmentation: which procedure will achieve the results you want?
Breast Lift in a Nutshell
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure that reshapes and recontours by addressing ptosis (droopiness) and laxity to create a more youthful bustline. The breasts are “lifted” by removing excess skin and tissue, and by placing the nipple/areola to a higher position, thereby making them look perkier. Note that a breast lift does not increase the size of the chest.
Depending on the severity of ptosis, a breast lift may result in more visible scarring. During your consultation, measurements may be taken to determine the degree of ptosis according to the modified Regnault ptosis scale.
Breast Augmentation in a Nutshell
Breast augmentation is a procedure that increases cup size by using either a saline or silicone cohesive gel implant. It is designed entirely to address issues related to size rather than any other aesthetic concern. The implant type may also positively affect the shape of the breasts to a certain extent as well.
Simply put, if your breasts sag, then you’ll need a breast lift. If you want larger breasts, then you’ll need a breast augmentation.
Combining Both
Are you unhappy with the size of your breasts? Do they droop as well? There’s no need to pick one or the other to correct, because you can fix both problems at one time. Breast augmentation alone will not address the sagging and can, in fact, make this problem worse. Fortunately, you can undergo these two procedures in a single surgery to get the perkier, larger breasts you want.THE GOOD NEWS – BREAST AUGMENTATION ALONE MIGHT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUIf you have mild to moderate sagging, we offer two types of implants that both lift and increase cup size at the same time, which means one procedure instead of two. It can be large breast implants or small. Inspira Soft Touch implants are designed to achieve a slight lift to the breast contour, without making additional surgical correction necessary. They come in two levels of cohesiveness: the less cohesive Responsive gel, similar to all the previous cohesive gels, and a slightly more cohesive Soft Touch gel. If possible, Soft Touch Inspira implants are placed into a submammary pocket. The other type is the Allergan Style 410, a stable tear-drop shaped implant that creates more projection than a round implant, most likely due to a maximal point of projection being lower down. Good results can be achieved by either implant type, however unlike Allergan Style 410, Inspira Soft Touch has no risk of rotation.
The desirable lift achieved by these implants is so pleasing that 95% of our patients who have been properly selected are satisfied with their results and do not undergo a subsequent surgery to address sagging.
If you’re unsure of what procedure would be most effective in achieving your aesthetic goals, talk to us today, Dr. Edelstein is Head of the Plastic Surgery Division at the Humber River Hospital. You’ll receive an honest medical opinion based on over 15 years of experience in cosmetic surgery.
