Breast Size vs. Shape

Breast augmentation and breast lifts are complimentary procedures. In our San Francisco Bay Area, Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery office, the combination of breast augmentation and breast lift can enhance both the breast volume and the breast shape. While breast augmentation increases the breasts’ volume, breast lifts can address the breasts’ shape, and the position of the nipple.

Despite what you may read, breast augmentation does not lift the breast. It can provide additional volume and support for a breast with pseudoptosis. Pseudoptosis is “fake sagging” and describes a breast with the nipple located above the inframammary fold (IMF) and the majority of the breast tissue located below the IMF. Since the nipple is already in the correct position, adding volume with a breast implant supports the breast tissue and nipple upwards, and creates a youthful appearance of the breast. When breast augmentation is performed with the nipple already low in the breast, the added volume can appear to push the nipple further down on the breast, and give a matronly appearance.

Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation
Before and After Photos (Augmentation Mastopexy)

Before
After
Results shown are specific to each patient and individual results will vary

Breast Lifts And Breast Volume

Breast Lifts alone do not add volume to the breast. This is especially apparent in the upper aspects of the chest. A breast lift can move the nipple up the breast and the breast mound off the abdomen and back onto the chest, but Mastopexy alone does not fill the upper chest. Even patients with large breasts before having a breast lift, may still have relatively little or no upper pole breast tissue. This is seen even with Breast Reduction patients, who have an excess of breast tissue. A breast lift is performed as part of the breast reduction. While breast mound and nipple are lifted, in most cases the volume of the upper breasts cannot be significantly enhanced without using a breast implant.

Because the two operations, Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift, are complimentary, a beautiful synergy can be achieved with the combination procedure of Breast Augmentation Mastopexy. It is also one of the most complex cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, and it takes years of experience to develop reliable techniques that safely and reliably combine breast augmentation and breast lift. Because of the complexity, some plastic surgeons prefer to perform the procedure as two separate operations, but with careful planning, a mastopexy that includes breast implants can be performed safely and effectively as a single operation in many cases.

Breast Augmentation with Breast Lift Videos

Why Combine Breast Augmentation and Mastopexy?

The most common indications for combining breast augmentation with a beast lift are listed here:

Types of Breast Augmentation Lifts Available

Breast augmentation can be combined with any of the common breast lifts. A short review is provided here, and more details on breast lifts can be found on the breast lift (mastopexy) page. Breast lifts are listed in ascending order from mastopexies which provide the shortest scar (and the smallest amount of lift) to the largest.

Breast Augmentation Video Presentation

Breast Lift Video Presentation

Areola Reduction

If the areola is too large an Areola Reduction may be seamlessly incorporated into all the lifts above (except the crescent lift). The lifting procedure will position the areola, while the areola reduction decreases the amount of pigmented skin surrounding the nipple. Areolar reduction can also be performed without a lift. The scar is hidden along the edge of the areola. More information on areola reduction is located on the Specialty Breast Procedures page.

Breast Implant Warranties

The three major breast implant manufactures in the US are Natrelle (Allergan), Mentor (a division of Johnson & Johnson) and Sientra (Silimed). All stand behind their unique breast implant product lines with generous warranties, including lifetime replacement of your implant should you experience a deflation. Breast implants leaks which occur within 10 years of your initial breast augmentation surgery may qualify for additional financial assistance to defray the cost of Breast Implant Deflation Replacement Surgery, i.e. replacing your old breast implants with the new breast implants. For your convenience, warranty details are available here. Breast Implant warranties are frequently updated, so be certain to check your breast implant manufacturer’s web site for the latest information.

To compare Breast Implant warranties visit the San Francisco Breast Breast Implant Warranties Page.

Every effort is made to keep the breast implant warranties listed on this site up-to-date; however, manufacturers may change them without notice. Be certain to check your manufacturer’s website for the latest information

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