Which Breast Surgery Is Right for Me?

If you know you’re unhappy with the look of your breasts but don’t know what cosmetic procedure will help you, we’ve got you covered. This blog discusses the three top breast enhancement procedures: breast reduction, breast lift, and breast augmentation, who is a candidate for each, and what results each procedure provides.

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What Are My Breast Enhancement Options?

Most women have an ideal image in mind for their breasts. Some might have an idea of what they want their breasts to look like in certain clothing or maybe certain features they’d like to improve, such as cleavage or perkiness.

Breast augmentation is still the most popular breast enhancement surgery, as it creates a more pleasing shape and fullness to the breasts, but it might not be for everyone. With other equally transformative breast enhancement procedures to choose from, such as breast lift surgery or a breast reduction, it’s important to understand exactly what these procedures are designed to do.

We’ll break down the main cosmetic breast enhancement procedures—breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction—so you can decide which one is best for your goals.

Breast Reduction

Candidates for a breast reduction are usually a pretty select group, as this procedure is specifically designed to reduce the size of the breasts. However, it’s not as simple as just making the breasts smaller. Other benefits of a breast reduction include:

• Increased physical comfort: Many women with large breasts experience extreme discomfort due to the weight of their breasts putting pressure on their necks, backs, and shoulders. Breast reduction can alleviate pain and pressure caused by overly large breasts.
• Clothes fit better: Finding clothing (including bras) that fit, are comfortable, and look flattering with very large breasts can be a challenge. Reducing their size and creating a more manageable shape greatly improves the way you look in clothes and gives you more options.
• Improved self-image: Maybe the most important benefit of breast reduction is the increase in confidence for patients. Living with large, painful, and sometimes misshapen breasts can greatly affect your quality of life in many ways. The positive impact of this procedure simply cannot be understated.
• Smaller, more aesthetically pleasing breasts: Overly large breasts can be extremely heavy, causing the breast skin and tissue to prematurely sag or become misshapen. A prime benefit of breast reduction is the way your surgeon will contour and reshape the breasts for a more pleasing appearance.

Breast reduction results vary from patient to patient, as this procedure is highly customizable. Your plastic surgeon will discuss your goals for the procedure, which will determine the details of your surgical plan, such as your incision type and placement.

Breast Lift

During a breast lift, the surgeon will remove excess skin and possibly some tissue, reshape the breasts for a more pleasing appearance, and move the nipple-areolar complex to a more youthful position.

Breast lift surgery or mastopexy provides stunning sculpting results for patients who are experiencing breast sagging (ptosis) due to breastfeeding and pregnancy, aging, weight loss or breast implant removal. Other benefits of a breast lift include:

• Firmer, more elevated breasts: By tightening the tissues and muscles, your surgeon can create a more youthful look and feel to the breasts, in addition to reducing the appearance of sagging.
• Better clothing fit: Trying on clothes and bras doesn’t have to be stressful and disappointing anymore! After a breast lift, your clothes will fit better, and you’ll have more options that can suit you.
• Increased confidence: Although breast sagging is a natural part of aging, it can be extremely frustrating. A breast lift gives you a boost of confidence as you look and feel more youthful and empowered.
• Rounder, perkier breast shape: Even if sagging isn’t severe, not everyone is blessed with a round and perky breast shape. Your surgeon can reshape the breasts to better suit your ideal.

Breast lifts are always customizable to accommodate the level of sagging the patient exhibits, as well as her specific goals for the procedure. Your surgeon will choose one of three common breast lift incision types—circumareolar, lollipop, or anchor—that will best suit your needs.

Some patients benefit from combining their breast lift with breast augmentation via implants or fat transfer. A breast lift does not add volume; merely adjusts it. If you want both volume and lift, discuss combining these two procedures with your surgeon during your consultation.

Breast Augmentation

Lastly, breast augmentation is another breast enhancement procedure, perhaps the most popular and the most well-known on the list. Breast augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that improves the look of the breasts by increasing their size and shape with implants.

Candidates may be women with small breasts who want to increase their size, but they may also be looking to improve the size of misshapen breasts or create a balance between asymmetrical breasts. Benefits of breast augmentation include:

• Highly customized result: Breast augmentation allows patients to choose their implant size, shape, material, projection, and placement, all to combine for a truly custom result.

• Increased confidence and self-satisfaction: Breast augmentation patients are some of the most satisfied and most pleased with their decision to undergo plastic surgery—the boost to confidence is always a huge contributor to the procedure’s popularity.
• Improved proportions: Your surgeon will help you choose the breast implant option that is flattering for your figure but also hits the mark for your personal aesthetic goals. Many patients are ecstatic about how their new breasts make their whole figure look, not just their chests.

Breast augmentation patients have the choice between silicone or saline implants, each with their own benefits and ideal candidates. Patients can construct a look that is as natural or as augmented as they wish due to the customizable aspects of the procedure.

How Do I Know Which Procedure Is Right for Me?

You might have an idea of what procedure is best for you based on your specific goals. For example, if you know your heavy breasts are causing you problems, then a breast reduction is probably best for you.

The best way to determine the ideal procedure for you, your anatomy, and your goals is to have a consultation with your breast enhancement expert. Dr. Robert Spies is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 35 years of experience performing complex procedures on the face, breast, and body.

Dr. Spies will listen to your goals and your concerns, as well as discuss possible options for surgery and potential results. Now that you know the basics of these popular procedures, you can take the next step toward your ideal breast enhancements.

Want to Learn More About Breast Enhancement Surgery in Scottsdale, AZ?

Call us today at (480) 359-1019 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your comprehensive breast consultation with Dr. Spies.