Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation: Which one is right for you?
Through our years of experience, we’ve come to realize that there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to breast surgery. When patients come into our office for a consultation, they sometimes carry those misconceptions with them. This may lead to patients asking for one procedure when another would be more appropriate.
We’ve seen this confusion occur many times when it comes to breast lift and breast augmentations. Many patients with unwanted sagging in their breasts believe that a breast augmentation will improve their appearance. Many do not know that another treatment, called a breast lift, might be a better option for them.
That is why we created this list of common misconceptions about breast treatments and how to decide which procedure might be right for you.
Let’s start with the most common misconception we face when discussing breast treatments.
Misconception #1 : If I get a breast augmentation, my breasts will not look natural
Many patients come in having seen artificial implants on celebrities or having seen breast augmentations gone wrong. With these images in their mind, they are naturally concerned about how they will look after the procedure. It’s important to understand that the images many people have seen are the exceptions, not the norm. Before your augmentation, your surgeon will discuss what size implant would be best for you and your body. With the help of your surgeon, the right size and style of implants will ensure that your breasts will match your figure. Choosing your size allows you to have control over how your breasts will look after surgery and can help to avoid an unnatural appearance.
Misconception #2 : Getting a breast augmentation will improve sagging breasts
As we mentioned before, breast augmentation is not, necessarily, the best option for breasts that have begun to sag due to age or breastfeeding. While breast augmentations can make your breasts appear fuller and more substantial, they will not improve support. To improve comfort, we usually recommend a breast lift. Unlike an augmentation, a breast lift will not make your breasts more abundant, but it will lift your breasts giving you more support and a more youthful appearance. If you’re looking to improve both the size and lift of your chest, a breast augmentation can be and often is combined with a breast lift. Likewise, if you would like your breasts to be a bit smaller and more lifted, a breast lift can also be done in combination with a breast reduction.
Misconception #3 : Breast surgery is only about appearance
This is another misconception brought about by celebrities and other influencers. While many patients do receive breast surgery to improve their appearance or level of self-confidence, not all breast surgery is purely cosmetic. Often breast cancer survivors who have had mastectomies will come to plastic surgeons for reconstructive breast surgery. In this surgery, our goal is to return the patients breasts to roughly the same size and shape they were before the operation. These surgeries do not qualify as cosmetic and are often covered under insurance. Another breast surgery that may be eligible under insurance is a breast reduction. Women with oversized breasts often suffer from severe back pain and other problems associated with the size of their chest. Sometimes these cases will require breast reduction surgery. Occasionally, patients seeking breast surgery have breasts which are severely lopsided (one breast is significantly larger than the other). Most of these cases are not considered cosmetic and will, depending on the patient and the situation, sometimes be covered under health insurance.
The truth about breast surgery, like most aesthetic treatments, is very different from the way it is portrayed in popular culture. The best way to find out if any cosmetic procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
For the truth about cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, tips on keeping healthy and more, be sure to check our blog every month.
Until next time!
