Do I Need a Breast Lift or Breast Augmentation?

Breast procedures make up the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries, with a variety of reasons to choose them including reversing signs of aging or simply aesthetic preference. Dr. Cruise offers both breast lifts and breast augmentations, which both have the goals of improving the appearance of the breasts but in different ways. Choosing between these two procedures may seem confusing at first, but once you understand the differences between them the choice becomes simple.

The Difference Between Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation

The most common cosmetic surgery overall, a breast augmentation serves to increase the size of the breasts using implants. Implants may be filled with either saline or silicone and are available in a range of sizes and shapes to best meet the patient’s goal size. There are many other factors that make breast augmentation a highly customizable procedure. For example, implants may be placed either below or above the muscles of the chest, which affects the look of the final results and may be considered to best suit the patient’s anatomy, lifestyle, or health.

Breast lifts, on the other hand, do not alter the size of the breasts and do not utilize implants. A breast lift repositions the patient’s existing breast tissue to create the contour and placement that the patient prefers. The procedure is often chosen because the breasts have drooped or sagged as a result of gravity over time as the patient ages.

What are Your Cosmetic Goals?

Deciding between a breast lift and breast augmentation generally comes down to the patient’s cosmetic goals. Ask yourself whether you feel that your breasts are too small. If the answer is “no,” a breast lift may be the better choice.

A common method of deciding whether or not to get a breast lift is the “pencil test.” To try the pencil test, place a pencil at the breast fold below the breasts. If the pencil falls, you’ve “passed” the test, meaning there is no sagging and a breast lift is not necessary. In the pencil stays, you may benefit from a breast lift.

Beyond the pencil falling or not, check whether the nipples fall above or below the pencil. Naturally larger breasts may hold a pencil regardless of sagging, but if the nipples are above the line, a breast lift may still be unnecessary for you. This is sometimes called the “pinch test.”

Combining Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation

Combining a breast lift and breast augmentation is a common choice. Especially after pregnancy and breastfeeding, many patients feel that their breasts have both drooped and become “deflated” looking, so they want to increase the size as well as lift the position. It is entirely possible to combine a breast lift and breast augmentation to meet both of these goals.

Schedule a Consultation

The first step to any cosmetic procedure is to schedule a consultation. This will help answer any remaining questions you might have and determine your candidacy for surgery. Dr. Cruise offers standard consultations in his Newport Beach, CA office or Fast Track consultations, which allow clients from outside of Newport Beach to consult with him online by uploading photos.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Cruise, call (949) 446-1421 or fill out our online form.