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Do I Need a Lift with My Breast Augmentation?


Many of Dr. Arie Benchetrit’s Montreal breast augmentation patients want to know whether incorporating breast lift into surgery would help them achieve a more beautiful result. Dr. Benchetrit often performs the two procedures together, but only patients with significant sagging of the breasts need both. In this post, he provides some general information to help you think about whether you need a lift with your implants.

Do Your Breasts Sag?

If you’re pursuing breast augmentation, it’s well established that you want bigger, fuller breasts. Whether you need a lift with your augmentation depends on whether your breasts sag.

Generally the position of the nipple-areolar complex in relation to the inframammary fold (i.e., where the breast meets the torso) indicates whether the breasts sag. In a “normal” youthful looking breast, the majority of the breast fullness as well as the nipple-areolar complex are situated above the inframammary fold. When the nipple-areolar complex droops below the breast fold, a lift is probably needed.

Placing breast implants in sagging breasts without lifting them could result in a “double bubble” problem, where the implant sits high on the chest and the natural breast tissue sits too low. Breast lift is needed to tighten and lift the natural tissue higher on the chest for a more youthful breast contour.

What Causes Sagging?

Pregnancy and nursing can give the breasts a flat or “deflated” appearance. The breast tissue expands during pregnancy, and the surrounding skin stretches to accommodate it. After breastfeeding, the tissue shrinks but the skin may have lost some of its elasticity and can no longer contract over the smaller breasts. Depending on the amount of loose skin, simply placing breast implants may not adequately fill out the skin.

The effects of aging, genetic factors and weight loss can also lead to sagging.

There is no non-surgical way to effectively tighten or eliminate loose skin. Breast lift is the only solution.

Discuss Your Goals and Options with Dr. Benchetrit

The best way to determine the most suitable surgical option for you is to make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Benchetrit. Based on an examination of your breasts and a discussion of your goals, he can recommend an appropriate solution.

To make an appointment with the plastic surgeon, please call or email our practice today.