If you’ve heard anything about breast procedures, you may already know they’ve helped countless patients achieve the figure they’ve always dreamed of. But with seemingly similar options like breast augmentations and breast lifts, it can be difficult to determine which will suit your aesthetic needs.
Fortunately, the surgeons and professionals Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates have dedicated their careers to patient education. We’ll make sure you walk into your procedure with confidence and a full understanding of what you’re having done.
Keep reading this blog to learn whether a breast augmentation or breast lift near Fruit Cove best suits your aesthetic needs. Want to speak with one of our surgeons and start creating your procedure plan? Visit our website or give our team a call to learn more.
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift removes excess skin and tissues from the breasts to give them a perkier appearance. By positioning the breasts higher on the chest, a breast lift reduces sagging and rejuvenates your figure.
Our experts recommend a breast lift to patients whose breasts lack shape and nipples point downward. These changes can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- Aging – The skin loses collagen as we age, causing the breasts to sag due to a loss of elasticity.
- Pregnancy – Cooper’s ligaments, or the band of tissues that support the breasts, become stretched out during pregnancy.
- Weight gain – Rapid weight fluctuations damage collagen structures, leaving the breasts with less volume.
- Gravity – Over time, gravity causes the breasts to stretch and sag.
Our experts may also recommend a breast lift near Fruit Cove to patients wanting to correct tubular breasts. Tubular breasts occur when the breasts don’t grow properly during puberty, creating an irregular shape that lacks volume. Women with tubular breasts may also have large areolas, downward-pointing nipples, and a significant gap in between the breasts.
It’s important to note that while a breast lift reshapes the breasts, it does not increase their size. If you want to create shapelier, voluminous breasts, our experts recommend looking into a breast augmentation.
What is a breast augmentation?
A breast augmentation uses implants or a fat transfer to increase breast size. Also referred to as an augmentation mammoplasty or boob job, a breast augmentation gives the breasts a fuller, rounder shape.
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we offer patients multiple implant options, including:
- Saline implants – Filled with a sterile salt water solution. Are typically put into the breast pocket empty and are filled once they’re in place.
- Silicone implants – Contain a silicone gel filling. Are considered to look and feel most similar to natural breasts.
- Gummy bear implants – Made of a thick silicone material that retains its shape even when ruptured. Are teardrop shaped to create more volume at the bottom of the breasts.
- Fat transfer – Injects fat from other portions of the body into the breasts. Best for women who are looking for a more subtle increase in breast size.
Depending on the type of implant used, you may need to attend regular check-ins after surgery to ensure your implants are functioning properly.
Combining Breast Procedures
If you’d like to address sagging breasts while also increasing your cup size, our surgeons recommend combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift near Fruit Cove. Combining these procedures helps patients achieve naturally perkier breasts with more volume.
Most patients don’t need to add as much volume with implants when pairing a breast lift with an augmentation. Combining these procedures can lend more cohesive results overall, leading to breasts with greater shape, size, and lift.
How do I determine which procedure is right for me?
Scheduling a consultation at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates is the best way to determine which breast procedure is right for you.
Once you arrive at our office, you’ll have the chance to meet with one of our surgeons and learn more about the procedure process. At this time, your surgeon will gain a better understanding of your aesthetic goals by asking about the specific concerns you’d like to target.
Your surgeon will also conduct a breast examination to determine which procedure will best suit your needs and frame. They may also evaluate the quality of your skin to ensure your breasts stay in place after your procedure. From there, your surgeon will recommend either a breast augmentation, lift, or combination of the two.
Be sure to alert your surgeon of your medical history and medications you’re taking to mitigate your risk of severe side effects. We recommend voicing your concerns and asking any questions you may have to ensure you’re making an informed decision.
What to Expect From Your Procedure
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we understand that the procedure process can feel confusing and overwhelming. Fortunately, our experts are here to support you through every step of the way, helping you make a decision you can feel confident in.
Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect from your breast augmentation or breast lift near Fruit Cove.
Breast Lift Procedure
Before your procedure begins, your surgeon will administer IV sedation or general anesthetic depending on what suits your health needs.
Breast tissue removal techniques vary from patient to patient, but your surgeon will make one incision around the areolae, one horizontally along the breast creases, and one extending downward, connecting the two.
Along with removing excess fat, tissues, and skin, your surgeon may place sutures deep within the breasts to reshape them. Depending on your surgery plan, your surgeon may also reduce the size of your areolas and shift the nipples higher onto the breasts. Finally, your surgeon will close your incisions before wrapping your breasts with gauze bandages and placing a surgical bra on your chest.
A breast lift near Fruit Cove typically takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. This timeline may vary if you are combining your breast lift with an augmentation.
Breast Augmentation Procedure
Before your procedure, your surgeon will have you designate your implant size and type. Like a breast lift, they’ll also have you choose between IV sedation and general anesthetic.
Depending on your unique procedure plan, your surgeon will make an incision in the crease under your breast, around your nipple, or under your arm. From there, your surgeon will place the implant in front of or behind the outer muscle of the chest wall.
If you have chosen a saline implant, your surgeon will place the implant shell in the breast pocket before filling it with a saline solution. Once the implant is in place and is behind the nipple, your surgeon will close your incisions and insert a drainage tube. Like a breast lift, they’ll also place bandages and a surgical support bra on your chest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still searching for final details before booking your consultation for a breast augmentation or breast lift near Fruit Cove? Here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Will I have scars after my breast procedure?
Yes, you will have scars after your procedure, regardless of whether you choose a breast augmentation or lift. That said, our surgeons also know exactly where to place your incisions to ensure you have as minimal visible scarring as possible. Your scars will also continue to fade in the months after your procedure.
We recommend using creams, ointments, and silicone sheets to help your scars heal faster.
Are there any complications associated with my breast procedure?
Like all cosmetic procedures, there are some complications associated with both breast augmentations and lifts. These side effects include:
- Scar tissue formation
- Infection
- Breast pain
- Changes in feeling in the nipple and breast
- Implant rupture
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is another rare but serious complication associated with breast augmentations. BIA-ALCL is a type of immune system cancer that forms in the capsule of scar tissue around the implant. Symptoms of this condition include swelling and pain near the implant.
Alert your surgeon immediately if you develop any of these breast procedure complications.
Will insurance cover my breast procedure?
No, most insurance companies consider breast procedures as elective surgery and will not cover them.
That said, we offer a variety of payment options to make financing your procedure easier than ever, including:
- CareCredit – Choose between multiple payment plans to fit your budget without upfront costs or prepayment penalties.
- Cherry – Get pre-approved to pay regular installments without harming your credit score.
- PatientFi – Create a payment plan that revolves around your unique financial needs, looking beyond your credit score.
We recommend consulting your surgeon to learn more about our payment options.
Schedule Your Consultation
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, patient education is our top priority. Cosmetic procedures are often a life-changing decision, and we believe patients should understand every detail of the surgery they’re having done.
Visit our website to learn whether a breast augmentation or breast lift near Fruit Cove is right for you.
Want to learn more about breast reductions? Head over to our latest blog posts for more information.
