Do I Need Implants With My Breast Lifts?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am having trouble deciding whether I need a breast lift alone or should have implants with it. I am 35 years old, had 2 kids and am a fairly full 34C. I do struggle to keep them in a C bra however. While I am happy with the size of my breasts I am not so with their shape. I just want back my fbreasts back up where they used to be and were nice and perky. I know I need a lift but am uncertain about whether an implant is necessary? I have several plastic surgery consutations and have been given different opinions, one says I definitely need it the other I cn have it or not. Neither doctor seems to be able to explain why in terms that I can understand and, quite frankly, they both seemed a little uncertain themselves. 

A: The breast issue that you have is a common one, once full breasts have fallen even though they have not necessarily gotten smaller. This has happened because of two breast tissue changes, there is now more skin and less internal breast tissue. That combination makes the change from a perky to a saggy breast. While you are happy with your breast size now know that they appear the same size because of the extra skin. When they are lifted, the breasts may appear smaller because a lot of extra skin has been removed. While breast lifts do not remove volume, this is why some women will have the perception that their breasts are a little smaller after a lift. There is also the longer term issue in that most breast lifts will lose the initial upper breast fullness that exists right after surgery as they settle with tissue relaxation. The role that a small breast implant may play for you then is in maintaining upper pole fullness and avoiding the fear that you may look a little smaller after a lift alone.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana