When it comes to breast surgery, deciding between a breast lift or breast augmentation will come down to the results you want to achieve.
Getting clear about the differences between a breast lift and breast augmentation can help you decide which surgery is more suitable for you. In this blog, we’ll outline the differences between the two procedures and what makes a suitable candidate for either procedure.
To help you decide which surgery is most suited to your needs, you can have a consultation for breast surgery with Dr Perron. Based in Brisbane, Dr Perron is a qualified Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who can assess your needs and help you choose your type of procedure.
What’s the difference between a breast augmentation and a breast lift?
The decision of whether a breast lift or breast augmentation is more suited to your needs will depend on your reason for undergoing breast surgery.
Breast augmentation is a procedure that can increase breast size by inserting implants, while a breast lift is designed to lift the breasts by removing excess tissue. While both surgeries involve the breasts, they address different aspects of them and aim to achieve different results.
Patients may choose to undergo breast augmentation for a variety of reasons, all of which are highly personal. Some patients may simply want to increase the size of their natural breasts, while others may seek to add volume that may have been reduced after pregnancy, weight loss, or the natural ageing process. Breast implants can also address the shape of the breasts and asymmetry.
A breast lift focuses on the position of the breasts rather than their size. The procedure is often chosen by patients who have skin laxity on the breasts due to the natural ageing process, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or genetics.
A breast lift lifts the breasts and addresses the position of the nipple and areola, which can become stretched or misaligned. The surgery repositions the nipple and often reduces the size of the areola, depending on the patient’s needs.
Who is a suitable candidate for breast augmentation?
A suitable candidate for breast augmentation is generally someone who wants to change the size and shape of the breasts, as opposed to lifting the breasts or removing excess tissue.
Firstly, suitable candidates will need to have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure. Candidates should also be in good overall health, as conditions that could complicate surgery or recovery, such as diabetes or heart conditions, can interfere with healing. Since smoking can impair the body’s healing process, smokers will be instructed to quit before undergoing the procedure.
Suitable candidates for breast augmentation will need to meet similar requirements to be suitable for a breast lift, but their goals for the procedure will be quite different.
Who is a suitable candidate for a breast lift?
Differing from a breast augmentation, suitable candidates for a breast lift are those who want to lift the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall, addressing skin laxity that may have resulted from the ageing process, weight fluctuations, or pregnancy.
Like with a breast augmentation, candidates must be in good health and not currently suffering from severe health conditions. They must also have realistic expectations for the results. Smoking must also be considered before a patient can undergo the procedure, and patients are normally instructed to quit smoking before surgery.
Since a breast lift addresses skin laxity that can occur after pregnancy, it may be recommended that patients have completed their families before undergoing the procedure. This is because future pregnancies can alter the results of the procedure.
Combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift
Often, a breast lift can be combined with a breast augmentation, allowing the patient to address the size, shape and position of the breasts within one procedure. However, this will entirely depend on your personal expectations and goals and should be carefully discussed with your surgeon.
While combining the procedures together can be a suitable choice for some patients, some factors to consider include the increase in surgery and recovery time, as well as the fact that it will be a more extensive procedure. Costs can be another factor to consider, as while combining procedures can mean reducing some fees (such as only one anaesthesia fee as opposed to two separate surgeries), the additional costs of the added procedure will need to be included.
Dr Perron will only recommend combining procedures if a patient is suitable for both procedures and can tolerate an extended procedure and recovery time. If you think you may want to undergo both a breast lift and a breast augmentation with implants, please let Dr Perron know during your consultation.
Dr Justin Perron: Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Dr Justin Perron is a qualified Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon based in Brisbane.
Born in Canada, he began his studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Calgary before relocating to Australia in 2000. He then completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Flinders University in Adelaide before moving to Queensland.
He is a member of the Royal Australsian Society of Surgeons (RACS), Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS Aust), American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS USA) and the Queensland Hand Surgery Society.
During a consultation, Dr Perron can discuss what you expect from breast surgery and explain the differences between a breast lift and augmentation. Based on your needs, he can help you decide which procedure to undergo and advise on whether or not a combined approach is suitable. He can create a highly personalised, tailored surgery plan for your chosen procedure, designed to achieve results that align with your expectations.
Please contact our team to arrange your consultation. All patients must have a GP referral to see Dr Perron.
