If you are thinking about having breast surgery to enhance your appearance or boost your self-confidence, you may have questions about which surgery would deliver the results you want.
We often hear questions from women asking, “What is the difference between a breast augmentation and a breast lift?”
A breast augmentation is designed to add volume and fullness, and a breast lift removes excess skin and returns sagging breasts to their natural position.
What Is The Difference Between Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift?
A breast augmentation uses implants to increase breast size and add volume. You can choose from 2 types of implants that are filled with either silicone gel or saline solution and come in different shapes and sizes. The implant is placed under or over your chest muscle depending on the results you desire to achieve.
A breast lift (mastopexy) removes excess skin that has stretched out, causing your breasts to sag. Then the remaining skin is lifted and tightened, and the breast tissue is reshaped and restored to a higher, more natural, youthful–looking position. The nipple and areola may also be repositioned to create a natural-looking appearance. A breast lift does not add fullness and increase the size of your breasts.
Here is a simple comparison table:
| Breast Augmentation (Implants) | Breast Lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Results | Increases size and adds volume. | Raises and reshapes sagging breasts |
| Best for | Restoring lost fullness or enhancing naturally smaller breasts. | Repairing saggy breasts by removing excess hanging skin and restoring breasts to a more natural-looking position. |
| Uses implants? | Yes, most of the time. Sometimes, a fat transfer procedure is used for mild increases. | No, unless combined with breast augmentation surgery. |
| Scarring | Yes, but the scar pattern and visibility will depend on the placement of the implant incision. | Often more visible due to where the incisions are needed to correct the sagging skin. |
| Goal | To add volume and increase the breast size. | To repair and lift saggy, hanging breasts and restore them to their natural position |
Candidates For Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift
Many women notice changes in their breasts after pregnancy, breastfeeding, losing a significant amount of weight, or those that naturally occur with aging.
Breasts can lose volume and look deflated, become droopy or uneven, or lose their firmness. They can hang down well past the natural breast line and look aesthetically unpleasing.
Understanding the difference between what a breast augmentation vs. breast lift can do and cannot do will help you decide which option may best fit your goals.
Candidates For Breast Augmentation
You may wish to undergo a breast augmentation if you:
- Desire to have larger breasts;
- Want to restore lost volume after a pregnancy or weight loss;
- Are unhappy with your naturally small breasts;
- Desire to correct asymmetry between your breasts.
Candidates For Breast Lift
You may wish to undergo a breast lift if your:
- Breasts are droopy or severely stretched;
- Have been left with flat, deflated breasts and loose skin after weight loss or breastfeeding;
- Breasts point downward, or your nipples hang below your breast line;
- Breasts have lost firmness but still have volume.
Can You Combine A Breast Lift And Implants?
Yes. Performing these surgeries together offers two types of correction, both fullness and lift, to deliver optimal results.
A breast augmentation will add fullness, but it will not correct moderate to severe sagging. A breast lift alone will not add volume.
Combining both procedures may help:
- Restore lost volume;
- Correct sagging;
- Enhance symmetry of the breasts;
- Create a rounder breast shape;
- Reduce costs and recovery time.
Not everyone needs both an augmentation and a lift. Your surgeon will provide guidance based on your breast tissue, skin elasticity, nipple position, and the results you desire to see.
When you compare a breast lift vs. implants, you should consider what concerns you the most.
- Lost volume: If you desire added size or fullness, it may point toward augmentation;
- Sagging or low nipples: If you want to raise up and reshape your breasts, a lift is your best option;
- Both changes: After an exam, one of our surgeons may discuss whether a breast aug and lift combination could address both volume and position.
The main difference when weighing a breast lift vs augmentation is what each operation changes. An implant adds fullness but does not lift tissue below the breast fold. A lift moves and reshapes tissue but does not add implant volume.
You can read about breast augmentation with lift, then schedule a consultation with Dr. George Min to discuss the results you would like to see.
Breast Lift vs. Implants Cost
The cost of a breast lift vs. implants can be quite different depending on where you are having your surgery, the experience of the surgeon, how long the surgery takes to perform, the fees associated with the anesthesia, the anesthesiologist, etc.
Breast lift surgery takes a longer time to complete because it is a very technical surgery and much more complex than breast augmentation. Each patient is different, and the surgeon must completely customize the procedure for their unique anatomy.
The cost of a breast augmentation can vary depending on the type of implants you choose and the technique the surgeon uses to place them.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the average cost for a breast lift is higher than for breast implants.
| Procedure | Average Fee For The Surgeon | Average Range Of Total Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Breast augmentation (implants) | Around $4,875 | About $6,000 to $12,500 |
| Breast lift (mastopexy) | Around $6,816 | About $9,000 to $16,000+ |
| Breast lift with implants | No national average available | About $13,000 to $20,000+ |
Breast Lift vs. Breast Implant Recovery
Many women ask questions about what to expect from breast lift vs. breast implant recovery when they are considering their options.
Recovery times are similar for both surgeries, but breast lift patients may experience a bit more discomfort for the first several weeks. Each woman’s healing experience will be different depending on the extent of her surgery.
After breast implants, it is normal to experience:
- Tightness or pressure across the chest;
- Swelling, bruising, and tenderness;
- Temporary difficulty in lifting your arms;
- A several-month gradual process for the swelling to go down and the implants to settle.
After a breast lift, it is normal to experience:
- Swelling and bruising;
- Tightness across the breasts from skin reshaping;
- Temporary changes in nipple sensation or numbness;
- More involved aftercare for incision sites.
Most women need between 1 and 2 weeks of initial healing time and up to a few weeks off from work depending on their job responsibilities and the extent of their surgery. Full recovery can take between 6 and 8 weeks, and swelling can take up to 6 months to fully dissipate.
Combining the two surgeries does not normally add much additional recovery time and means going through just one recovery period instead of having to recover from two separate surgeries.
The initial healing period may be a little more intense due to extra swelling, increased soreness, and more involved incision care. Many women prefer combining these procedures because it usually reduces their total downtime and avoids needing anesthesia, surgery, and time away from work twice.
How To Decide Between A Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift
The best procedure for you depends on your anatomy and the results you wish to achieve.
If your main concern is the size or volume of your breasts, then a breast augmentation will accomplish this. If you are looking to correct sagginess or nipples that are pointed downward, a breast lift will be the best choice.
If you need correction for both volume and breasts that hang too low, combining both breast implants with a breast lift will provide you with the results you are looking for.
The best way to determine how to get the results you want is by meeting with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. George Min at NewVue Plastic Surgery. He can evaluate your current circumstances, explain your options, and help you understand what will work best to reach your aesthetic goals.
An in-person exam can allow Dr. Min to evaluate your skin elasticity, existing tissue, nipple position, chest proportions, and your goals before recommending a plan. Compare our breast augmentation and breast lift services to learn about how each option changes volume, shape, and position before your visit.
Where Can I Learn More About Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift?
Dr. George Min offers breast implant and breast lift surgery at NewVue Plastic Surgery in Seattle and Bellevue, WA. Dr. Min has over 20 years of experience and specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.
He and the team of professionals can help guide you in making the decision of whether a breast augmentation, a breast lift, or a combination of surgeries would be the best plan for you.
Set up your consultation today to learn more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a breast lift reduce breast size?
Not really. A breast lift can make your breasts look slightly smaller because the excess skin is removed and the breast tissue is tightened and reshaped. A breast lift enhances their position on the chest and makes them firmer, but it does not increase their size or add fullness.
How long do breast implants normally last?
Breast implants can last anywhere between 10 and 20 years but are not considered lifetime devices. Normally a woman will eventually need to replace her implants. Doctors typically keep an eye on the longevity of the implants using imaging scans that are done periodically.
Do breast lifts and implants leave scars?
Yes. Both surgeries create scars because they both require incisions. A breast lift usually leaves behind more visible scarring because it involves removing and tightening skin.
What can alter breast surgery results?
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, changes in your weight, and the natural aging process can affect the results of your breast augmentation or breast lift.
