Is Breast Lift Surgery the New Breast Augmentation?

Posted November 23, 2023 in Breast Procedures

For years, breast augmentation has consistently landed among the top five plastic surgeries performed each year. Because a woman’s breasts are often perceived as a symbol of femininity and desirability, more than 250,000 women chose to enhance their curves via breast augmentation in 2022. 

But for some women, the issue with their breasts isn’t the size but rather the position. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, genetics, and gravity can all affect your breasts, causing them to lose their youthful perkiness and begin to sag. Below, we discuss how a breast lift can rejuvenate your figure and your options for combining breast procedures to achieve your desired bustline.

Plastic Surgery Trends

While breast augmentation remains a popular plastic surgery choice, the trend seems to be shifting slightly towards women wanting to enhance their natural curves. Breast lifts were the fourth most popular plastic surgery procedure in 2022, with nearly 140,000 procedures performed. Breast surgeries decreased slightly overall between 2021 and 2022. However, breast lifts only decreased by 3%, while breast augmentations decreased by 18%. Additionally, when you look at the change in numbers since 2000, breast augmentation has decreased by 9%, while breast lifts have increased by a staggering 65%.  

What Is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, is lifting sagging breasts by removing excess skin and reshaping the breast tissue to create a more youthful breast contour. 

Who Is a Breast Lift For?

A breast lift is for women who want to reduce or eliminate sagging and restore their nipples to a more raised position. Some of the signs you might want a breast lift include:

• A loss of volume in your breasts
• Stretched skin, causing your breasts to hang low
• Your nipples point downward
• Your areolae are stretched and out of proportion with the size of your breasts.

How Is a Breast Lift Performed?

A breast lift is an outpatient surgery performed using general anesthesia. There are several types of incisions used for a breast lift, and which one your surgeon uses often depends on the degree of laxity in your breasts. Dr. Careaga and Dr. Durand prefer to use the anchor incision, which they feel is the “gold standard” of breast lift incisions. 

When using the anchor method, your surgeon begins by making an incision around your areola, followed by an incision down the middle of your breast from the areola to the breast crease. The last incision extends horizontally along your breast crease. Again, the type of incision depends on the amount of correction required.  

Your surgeon then molds your breast tissue into a more natural shape and trims away excess skin around your breast. Finally, your surgeon will reposition your nipples into the proper position and reduce the size of your areolae if necessary. The result is firmer, lifted, younger-looking breasts.  

How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?

The results of a breast lift are considered permanent; however, your breasts will eventually be affected by the natural progression of age and gravity. Hormone changes and weight fluctuations may also affect your result, so managing those will help to extend the life of your breast lift. Additionally, wearing a supportive and well-fitting bra can help keep your breasts up where they belong.

Am I a Candidate for a Breast Lift?

Questions to consider when determining if you’re a candidate for a breast lift include:

• Are you unhappy with the loss of volume and shape in your breasts?
• Are your breasts sagging or pendulous?
• Do your nipples point downward or hang below your breast crease?
• Are your areolas stretched out and enlarged?
• Does one breast hang lower than the other?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” it’s a great time to consider a breast lift.

Combining Other Procedures With Your Breast Lift

While a breast lift doesn’t increase or decrease the size of your breasts, that doesn’t mean that you can’t also choose to undergo a breast augmentation with implants, breast augmentation with fat transfer, or breast reduction. A breast reduction already includes a breast lift, as the removal of breast tissue will also necessitate the removal of excess skin and repositioning of your nipples. 

A breast lift also doesn’t restore volume to the upper poles of your breasts. This fullness is often lost due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss, so that’s where augmentation comes in. Breast implants can add size and shape to your breasts, giving you a curvier profile.

A breast lift can be combined with nearly any other body contouring surgery, from a tummy tuck to liposuction. Talking with your surgeon about your aesthetic goals will help them work with you to customize your treatment plan and give you the results you desire. 

Learn More About Breast Lift Surgery in Miami

When you choose Careaga Plastic Surgery, you’re choosing highly skilled and experienced board-certified plastic surgeons. Dr. Careaga and Dr. Durand are committed to providing every patient with stunning results and use cutting-edge tools and methods in their surgeries to achieve those goals. If you’re ready to discover if a breast lift is right for you, call Careaga Plastic Surgery at (305) 615-4987 to schedule a consultation, or fill out the online contact form.