Understanding the Difference Between a Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation

Your breasts are a defining part of your physique. But, aging, gravity, weight changes, and pregnancies can significantly alter their appearance. You may also be self-conscious if you have smaller breasts that fail to fill out even the smallest cup sizes. Simple, safe breast surgeries may be the answer.

All breast surgeries aren’t created equal. Breast augmentation and breast lifts are popular ways to boost your appearance, but they offer different benefits. Breast augmentation increases the cup size of your breasts, while a lift raises drooping tissue. The two procedures may also be done together to get the breast shape, position, and size you desire.

At the Aesthetic Surgery Center in New York City’s Upper East Side, women from Manhattan and the surrounding areas benefit from the expert surgical skills of Elliot H. Rose, MD when it comes to breast surgeries and other body-contouring procedures. 

During your initial consultation, he can help you determine which procedure is best for you or if both would work well. He’d like to share a little more about both options.

An augmentation creates more volume in your breasts

Volume describes the roundness or fullness of your breasts. When you’re unhappy with the volume or size of your breasts, breast augmentation may just be the answer. 

This procedure involves placing saline implants through small incisions. The implants are then inflated with a biocompatible saline solution to the size you desire. Dr. Rose can help guide you in determining the right breast volume according to your frame and aesthetic goals, but ultimately, your satisfaction is most important..

Breast augmentation helps women who have genetically small breasts or who’ve lost volume due to pregnancy and breastfeeding.

A lift for drooping breasts

Multiple pregnancies and the effects of gravity can cause your breasts to sag and lose their round, perky shape. Your skin stretches and the breasts appear elongated or droopy.

During a breast lift, Dr. Rose trims away excess skin and reshapes the breasts to restore a youthful look and volume. He also repositions the nipple and areola higher on the chest wall.

When you might combine the two

Breast augmentation focuses on your breasts’ size and shape, while breast lifts focus on breast position. Breast augmentation alone will not correct for breasts that have sagged, but breast augmentation can complement a breast lift.

If your breasts are smaller in size, they’re still vulnerable to losing their elevation and lift. Adding breast implants to a breast lift can further improve the appearance of your chest. You’ll have more volume and a more natural-looking shape following a combined procedure.

A breast augmentation combined with a lift is called an augmentation/pexy. You can look forward to upper breast fullness as well as repositioned breasts and nipples.

Both procedures require 3-4 weeks of healing with a gradual return to activity; this is true if you have an augmentation/pexy, too.

When you’ve made the decision to improve the appearance of your breasts with breast augmentation, a breast lift, or an augmentation/pexy, trust Dr. Elliott Rose of The Aesthetic Surgery Center. He offers state-of-the-art surgical techniques and vast experience when it comes to breast surgeries. Patients report being extremely satisfied with their results. Ready to schedule your consultation? Call us or book your visit online today.