10 Jun Should You Get a Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation…or Both?
What’s the difference between a breast lift and breast augmentation? Quite a bit, but many patients opt for both at Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center!
Breast Lift
Let’s take a look at the breast lift first. A Breast Lift cosmetic surgery removes excess skin in the chest that causes breasts to look less perky and youthful than they used to. Sometimes a breast lift also repositions the nipple. At times, liposuction may be used to sculpt and contour the breasts by removing excess fat from the sides so that bras fit better.
There are numerous ways the incisions can be made during a breast lift, and your incision placement will be determined based on your breasts, how much skin needs to be trimmed, and your goals. One of the most common incision placements is the anchor or lollipop incision. This includes an incision that’s easily hidden in the crease of the breast as well as a vertical incision from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease. If the nipple needs to be repositioned, a circular incision around the areola might also be necessary. The great thing about these incisions is that they are easy to hide—both the crease and the areola border are fantastic for camouflage. Plus, after healing, scars are very thin and fade to the color of your skin.
Breast Augmentation Basics
A breast augmentation in and of itself is the enhancement of the size and shape of the breasts via breast implants. Today’s trend is towards a more natural look, which means a small size (measured in ccs) and a teardrop rather than a round shape. However, you can customize the breast implants that will be used during your breast augmentation surgery to achieve any look you’d like. You have a lot of options when it comes to breast implants.
You can choose the material, whether it’s silicone, saline, or gummy bear. Saline implants are inserted “deflated,” which means you do not need a very large incision. They are then filled with a saline solution, which is perfectly safe for the body. Some patients prefer saline because of the smaller incisions needed or because they simply prefer the feel. Others like how natural silicone feels, but those implants are inserted pre-filled. This will call for a longer incision—but if you’re combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift, that’s not an issue at all!
Gummy bear implants are a kind of silicone implant, but some patients say they feel even more natural. You can also help breast implants feel and look even more natural by choosing to place them below the chest muscles instead of on top of them. This can be especially helpful for very slender women who have little fat to “cushion” the implants. However, do keep in mind that implant placement below the chest muscles is a little more invasive and will call for a slightly longer recovery period. There are many considerations to take into account when thinking about any cosmetic breast surgery.
Talking Shape with Breast Implants
There are two shapes for breast implants: teardrop or round. For many years the trend was round and full breast implants with a high profile. Today, teardrop shapes are dominating. You have the option to choose either, depending on the aesthetic you prefer. You can also always change your breast implants in the future if your tastes change. Most women change their breast implants 10 – 15 years after their initial surgery simply because they have a new size, shape, or material preference.
Placing implants below the chest muscles can help to better “secure” them, particularly when opting for teardrop shapes. Although breast implants should not move or rotate much, just like your natural breasts there might be some minor shifts. It doesn’t matter if round breast implants rotate, but it does matter should this happen to teardrop shapes. Another means of securing them even further is to opt for textured implants rather than smooth. Textured implants “stick” in place and can be a great way of making sure teardrop implants don’t budge. However, most patients who get textured implants also place them below the chest muscles both for added stability and to have a little more padding between that textured material and the skin.
Do You Need Both Surgeries?
It depends! Those with skin laxity might find that breast implants are a great way to fill out the area, but others might benefit from trimming away excess skin and implants. Find out during your consultation with Dr. Shaun Parson. Schedule yours today by calling the office or filling out the online form.