The Breast Surgery Showdown: Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift By Constance M. Barone, M.D. on July 15, 2016

Plastic surgeon Constance Barone offers a full range of cosmetic breast surgery procedures, including both breast augmentation and breast lift, producing consistently exquisite results for her valued patients. Although most patients come into her practice with at least a reasonable idea of what they want to achieve through breast surgery, some patients know only that they want their breasts to be “different” somehow. They aren’t quite certain whether they want their breasts to be larger or perkier or raised higher on their chests - only that they aren’t satisfied with the way they currently appear. It is at this point that Dr. Barone walks them through the available breast surgery options and explains the benefits and drawbacks of each.

In many cases, the discussion boils down to breast augmentation vs. breast lift at her San Antonio, TX plastic surgery practice, with many patients deciding upon a combination of the two. Breast augmentation and breast lift are actually two of the most commonly combined procedures in plastic surgery; however, before patients can decide upon such a combination, they must first understand the differences between the two procedures.

Are you a good candidate for breast augmentation? Or is breast lift better suited to your particular case? Perhaps you’d benefit from a combination of the two. To find out, we invite you to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Barone today.

What Breast Augmentation Can and Cannot Do

Breast augmentation is a procedure designed to enhance the breasts through the insertion of implants. It is one of the most customizable of all plastic surgery procedures in that patients can choose the size, shape, texture, and filling material of the implants, as well as the where the implants will be placed and the type of incision through which they will be inserted. They have influence over the profile of the breast and how natural the final result will appear.

Ultimately, breast augmentation is an excellent option for women who are looking to alter the size, shape, and profile of their breasts. What it cannot do is rejuvenate breasts that have begun to sag or droop due to stretched skin or excess fat. That would be a job for…

Breast Lift

Breast lift is a procedure in which excess skin, fat, and other tissues are removed, and the breasts are elevated to a higher, more youthful position on the chest. The areolae and nipples are also elevated, and the areolae are reduced, if necessary. Breast lift should not be confused with breast reduction in that it does not make the breasts significantly smaller or lighter; rather, it simply removes the excess tissues that have accumulated as a result of time, pregnancy, hormone changes, and other factors. What it cannot do is enlarge the breasts. That would be a job for…

Breast Lift with Implants

By combining breast lift and breast augmentation, women can rejuvenate their breasts while also achieving larger breasts than they have ever had before. While Dr. Barone generally advises against going too large, as this will simply exacerbate the sagging that breast lift corrected, a subtle augmentation can enhance the results of the breast lift beautifully.