Understanding the differences between breast augmentation and breast lift procedures is essential for choosing the best option to enhance your breast appearance. Breast augmentation increases the volume of your breasts, while a breast lift will reposition the breasts and shape them into a higher, more youthful position. Whether breast augmentation or a breast lift is best for you will depend on the current appearance of your breasts and the look you would like to achieve.

Dr. Michael J. Yoo is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has helped thousands of patients achieve their ideal body image. His commitment to refined techniques, safety, and personalized care has established him as a highly respected name in his field.

Contact us online or call (949) 861-3340 to reach our Newport Beach office, or (424) 209-9925 to reach our Beverly Hills office, and schedule a consultation to explore your breast enhancement options.

About Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation increases the volume of your breasts with either implants or a fat transfer, or a combination of both. This is one of the most popular procedures in the country, with surgeons performing more than 304,000 breast augmentations in 2023 alone. (1) Breast augmentation can also be personalized to each patient’s unique anatomy and goals through several types of implants: (2)

  • Saline: Saline implants have an outer silicone shell and are filled with sterile saline.
  • Silicone: Silicone implants contain a silicone gel that mimics the feel of natural breast tissue.
  • Gummy bear: Gummy bear implants are a form of silicone implants with a highly cohesive gel, offering a more stable shape and natural look.

Implants can also be placed above or below the chest muscle, depending on your anatomy and your goals.

  • Submuscular placement: Placing the implant below the muscle is usually better for achieving a more natural look, especially for women with less natural breast tissue.
  • Subglandular placement: Placing the implant above the muscle (below the gland) is usually better for patients seeking a more dramatic breast enhancement.

Implants also come in different profiles. Low-profile implants have a wider base and provide a more subtle projection, while high-profile implants have a narrower base and create more pronounced cleavage.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

A fat transfer breast augmentation increases breast volume by removing excess fat from the abdomen, thighs, and/or buttocks with liposuction and injecting it into the breasts. This method offers a dual benefit of reducing unwanted fat in one location while enhancing the fullness of the breasts.

About Breast Lifts

A breast lift removes excess skin from the breasts to reshape the breast mounds and lift their position for a more youthful look. Aging, hormonal shifts, weight changes, pregnancy, and more can stretch the skin, resulting in a droopy, deflated breast appearance. By removing excess skin and elevating the breasts, a breast lift effectively rejuvenates the chest. There are several different variations of breast lifts we can perform to address varying degrees of breast ptosis, including:

  • Donut: Also called the periareolar mastopexy, this technique features an incision around the areola, then lifts the breasts to the desired position. A variation of this technique is the crescent lift, in which the incision is only made on one half of the areola. This method is best suited for patients with little excess skin who require minor lifting.
  • Lollipop: The lollipop lift, also called the vertical mastopexy, builds on the donut method by including a vertical incision that descends from the circular areola incision. These result in more significant lifting.
  • Inverted T/Anchor: This technique adds a curved incision made at the inframammary fold (base of the breast) to the lollipop method. This method is usually reserved for patients with advanced degrees of breast ptosis who require significant rejuvenation.

Benefits of Breast Enhancement

Breast enhancement has several benefits, which include:

  • Balanced proportions: Enhancing the appearance of your breasts can improve your clothing options and accentuate your curves.
  • Lasting results: The surgical adjustments made in these procedures ensure durable, lasting results. Patients who receive implants can usually enjoy results for up to 20 years.
  • Natural-looking results: All adjustments in breast augmentation or a breast lift are made with your unique anatomy in mind, providing results that enhance your natural appearance
  • Increased clothing options: Enhancing your breast appearance can bring you confidence in various apparel, especially in swimwear or other revealing outfits.
  • Improved self-esteem: One of the biggest motivations behind breast enhancement is enhancing self-esteem, and patients emerge from these treatments with heightened confidence.

Which Is Right For Me?

Whether breast augmentation or a breast lift is the right choice for your breasts depends on your appearance goals and unique anatomy. Breast augmentations are typically sought by patients whose breasts are asymmetrical, misshapen, or simply smaller than they would like them to be. In some cases of mild breast ptosis, breast augmentation can be an effective solution by replacing lost volume. Breast lifts are usually better suited for patients who do not wish to enhance breast volume; instead, they want to revert their breasts to a youthful position. Some patients choose to combine these procedures and undergo a breast lift with implants. (3) Breast augmentation and a breast lift can also address hypoplastic breasts, a genetic condition that results in insufficient breast tissue or breasts that are spaced far apart, asymmetrical, or have misshapen areolas. (3)

All prospective patients should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about their results. By discussing your goals and concerns with Dr. Yoo, you will be able to determine which procedure is best.

Consultation

Your breast enhancement journey will begin with a consultation with Dr. Yoo. During this appointment, Dr. Yoo will examine your breasts, discuss your goals, and explore your medical history. With this information collected, he will discuss whether a breast lift, breast augmentation, or a combination of both best meets your goals. Once you decide which direction to go in, he will create your personalized treatment plan.

Schedule your consultation today to explore your breast enhancement options. If you have any further questions, please call our Newport Beach or Beverly Hills offices at (949) 861-3340 or (424) 209-9925, respectively.

How to Prepare

To prepare for breast augmentation and/or breast lift, you should schedule time off work and take good care of your body by eating healthy meals and getting adequate rest. You should avoid nicotine or alcohol to promote optimal healing. We recommend that you create a comfortable place in your home to recover. Dr. Yoo will also provide detailed instructions to help you prepare based on your specific treatment plan.

After Your Surgery

Your recovery process will depend on whether you receive breast augmentation, a breast lift, or both. Dr. Yoo will also provide specific instructions to help make your recovery process as smooth as possible. Most patients return to work within 1–2 weeks, but strenuous activity and exercise should be avoided for several weeks. However, we do recommend occasional light walks to stimulate blood flow. During your recovery, you may experience minor swelling and/or bruising, though these will fade as you continue to heal.

Cost of Breast Augmentation or Breast Lift in Beverly Hills

The cost of your breast enhancement will depend on what procedures you undergo, the scale of each, and your personal goals. After establishing a treatment plan, you will receive an all-inclusive price quote.

Contact our office online to schedule your consultation today. If you have any questions, please call our Newport Beach office at (949) 861-3340 or our Beverly Hills office at (424) 209-9925.

FAQ

Is breast augmentation and/or a breast lift painful?

We administer anesthesia before your treatment for your comfort. You may experience some discomfort or soreness during your recovery, but you will receive instructions on how to manage this.

Can I have a breast enhancement procedure if I am planning on becoming pregnant?

We recommend that you wait to undergo breast enhancement procedures if you are planning to become pregnant.

Will I have droopy skin after my breast augmentation or breast lift?

Not typically. A key goal of these procedures is to address loose skin, but results can vary depending on your skin’s elasticity and healing

Will breast augmentation or breast lifts leave visible scars?

We carefully place incisions along natural contours to help minimize visible scarring.

What is the difference between silicone and saline implants?

Saline implants are filled with salt water, while silicone implants are filled with a flexible silicone gel. If you are considering implants, we will help you select the most effective type based on your specific underlying anatomy and aesthetic goals.

References

  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
  2. Ramachandran K. Breast augmentation. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery: Official Publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. 2008;41(Suppl):S41-S47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2825138/
  3. Seth I, Hunter-Smith DJ, Rozen WM. Hybrid breast augmentation: a surgical approach and formula for preoperative assessment of fat graft volume. Gland surgery. 2023;12(1):5-10. doi:https://doi.org/10.21037/gs-22-686
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