Ask Dr. Elliott: What is the Difference Between a Breast Reduction and Breast Lift?
Choosing the right plastic surgery procedure can be more complicated than it sounds, especially for a patient who is trying to decide with little to no guidance. The right choice depends not only on your cosmetic goals but also on the underlying cause of the problem in some cases (e.g., excess skin vs. excess fat). Only the knowledge and experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon offers a comprehensive enough understanding of your options and your anatomy to determine what procedure is the ideal one for you. Still, I believe in educating my patients as much as possible, so to help you narrow down your choices, I’m taking a closer look at one of the more common questions I hear: what is the difference between a breast reduction and a breast lift?
As their names indicate, both of these cosmetic surgeries have distinct goals: breast reduction aims to reduce the size of the breast, while breast lift focuses on lifting the breasts to a higher and more youthful position. The breast reduction procedure involves removing breast tissue and fat in order to give the patient breasts that are more comfortable and proportionate to the body. A breast lift, on the other hand, generally removes only excess skin (rather than breast tissue and fat) while also repositioning the nipple.
Here’s the important distinction: a breast reduction typically involves a lift as well, because it’s generally necessary in order to create results the patient will be happy with. A breast lift, on the other hand, can either be performed by itself (with no change to the breast size) or alongside a breast augmentation (so that breast implants are used to make the breasts both larger and more youthful). Deciding which of these options is ideal for you will require a combination of your own self-reflection to determine what your goals are, as well as a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon who can explain what results you can expect from each option.
Having successful plastic surgery begins long before the operating room. It’s crucial to choose a qualified, experienced, and specialized board-certified plastic surgeon who makes you feel comfortable and who can not only perform your surgery well but can also guide you throughout the process. If you’re ready to get started, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more health tips and plastic surgery news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.