Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation: Understanding the Difference

1. Breast Lift: This cosmetic surgery lifts and reshapes sagging breasts. As we age, factors like gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations cause the breasts to lose their elasticity and firmness. A breast lift removes excess skin lifts and tightens the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. A breast lift can also reposition the nipple and areola (the dark skin around the nipple) to a more youthful height.
2. Breast Augmentation: This procedure involves breast implants or, in some cases, fat transfer to increase the size of the breasts. It’s a popular choice for patients who want larger breasts. A breast augmentation can restore breast volume after weight loss or pregnancy for a fuller, more youthful size and shape. Breast augmentation does not correct severely drooping breasts; patients interested in lifting, reshaping, and adding more volume to their breasts would require a breast lift with breast augmentation.

Aesthetic Goals & Surgical Results

• Breast Lift: The goal is to lift sagging breasts. A lift is ideal for patients who are happy with the size of their breasts but want to restore a more youthful position and shape.
• Breast Augmentation: This procedure is all about size. It aims to increase breast size, add more volume, or improve the symmetry of the breasts.

Incisions

• Breast Lift: The incision pattern depends on the degree of lift required to achieve your aesthetic goals. The nipple and areola can be raised to a higher position on the breast, and the breast tissue is reshaped.
• Breast Augmentation: This involves making incisions and inserting breast implants or an all-natural fat transfer. The incisions can be made under the breast, around the areola, or in the armpit. Tiny incisions are made to source fat via liposuction for fat transfer. 

Recovery

• Breast Lift: Recovery typically takes 1 to 2 weeks off work with the need to wear a special support bra.
• Breast Augmentation: Recovery often requires one week off work, and you may need to wear a compression garment.

Combining Procedures

Breast augmentation and breast lift are often combined to achieve optimal aesthetic results. Many patients choose to have a breast lift along with augmentation to not only increase the size of their breasts but also to lift them to a more youthful position. This combination can provide significant improvement in both size and shape.

Decision-Making

Choosing between a breast lift and augmentation depends on your aesthetic goals. If you’re happy with your breast size, but they are sagging, a lift might be the way to go. If it’s the size you want to increase, augmentation is the answer. Combining both procedures is the most popular choice for size and sagging issues.

If you have a preferred surgery date, do not wait until it’s too late

New Age Medical Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery is a very active aesthetic practice. If you have a preferred surgery date, do not wait until it’s too late. Call (613) 595-1880 to reserve your consultation. Our Patient Coordinators are happy to help you.