Breast Augmentation Without a Lift

If you have Breast Droop and Choose Implants Alone, this is What You Can Expect

Breast implants, also known as breast augmentation, make breasts larger but do not raise your nipples or breasts. Saggy breasts are breasts where the nipple sags below the natural crease either mildly or severely. A breast lift is the proper solution for saggy breasts, because it will raise your nipples and tighten loose skin. However, a breast lift does not change your breast size.

Simply put, if your nipples and breasts are droopy and you want them lifted to a higher position, then you will probably need to have a breast lift. If your breasts are small but not droopy and you want them larger, then you may want a breast augmentation. If your breasts are both smaller than you would like and droopy, you may chose to have both procedures.

Breast augmentation and a breast lift are two different operations that accomplish two different goals. They are commonly performed at the same time, but may also be performed separately. Depending on your grade of ptosis (droop) the results will vary if performed separately.

When trying to decide which surgery will benefit you the most you may take into consideration the following recommendations of Dr. Loftus (and also read their blog on the topic):

• If you have Grade I ptosis (mild), you can probably avoidhaving a lift and just have implants alone. You must accept, however, that your nipples will not be raised and will continue to appear low. You will probablybe happier with slightly lower nipples than with the scars thataccompany a breast lift. If not, you can choose to have a breastlift at any time.
• If you have Grade II droop, you may find yourself on the fence. In this case, you must decide between a more shapely and youthful appearing breast with scars, or a lower, less shapely breast without scars. If you are uncertain, Dr. Loftus recommends the latter because you can always have a lift at a later date if you decide you want one.
• If you have Grade III (severe) breast ptosis, then you will probably need to have a breast lift done at the same time as your augmentation for the best results. If youhave this degree of droop and you choose to have implants without a lift, then you will almost certainly have a bulge either above or below the implant. These deformities are referred to as "bulging" and "double bubble". Fortunately, a lift will remedy either problem in most cases. So, you should strongly consider having a lift up front.

Bulging and Double Bubble

Bulging is due to the apparent fullness of the upper half of the breast. This occurs in those cases when the implants are placed in the proper position on your chest wall but because the natural breast is so low it has the appearance of hanging off the implant. If your surgeon attempts to remedy bulging by over-lowering the implant, you may develop a double bubble, which is an unnatural bulge below the breast. In general, women with mild droop will get nominal bulging. Women with moderate droop will get more bulging. And women with severe (grade III) droop will get significant bulging if they do not have a lift along with their breast implants. In all of these cases, Dr. Loftus recommends lowering the implants during surgery to the point just before a double bubble will occur. this leaves the woman with as little bulging as possible while not causing a double bubble.