There are so many ways to enhance, rebuild, and shape the breasts and because of that, there are a lot of terms to grapple with. Beyond simply referring to the surgery as a “boob job,” lots of other medical and technical terms that we always make sure our clients understand thoroughly before making any decisions about surgery. This includes delineating between the surgical implant devices (breast implants) and the procedure itself (breast augmentation), but there’s so much more to know about which procedures may be right for you.
Which is Better, Breast Implants or Breast Lift?
When all you’ve heard about a procedure is that someone had “work done” and now they look great, you may assume the only option for breast enhancement is with artificial implants. However, there are dozens of different techniques that may be more appropriate for your desired goals, even if they do involve breast implants.
During consultations, we take detailed measurements and observations to define the baseline of your anatomy to use in considering different procedures and techniques. We also make it clear that you can easily combine procedures to get the best of multiple approaches to fully re-design your bust.
One basic rule of thumb is that if you’re happy with the volume of your breast tissue, but not with the appearance of your breasts in some way, augmentation probably isn’t the way to go. And on the other hand, if your breast shape is ideal but you’d like more fullness in the cleavage area or larger cup size, breast augmentation may be the best option. For some women who want just a small increase, we can look at doing natural breast augmentation, which can give you nearly life-long results without the need for implants.
Breast Enhancement Procedures
Breast Implant Surgery
Breast augmentation with implants is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed every year in the US. It’s a simple, long-lasting way to enlarge the breasts and improve cleavage. Women want larger volume for a variety of reasons; some patients naturally have a small breast size and others want to reclaim volume lost by giving birth, breastfeeding, or significant weight loss.
Natural Breast Augmentation (Fat Grafting)
Patients who are interested in a subtle increase in volume without the need for artificial implants may be best suited to fat grafting. In this procedure, fat is transferred from an area of excess (like the abdomen or flanks) to the breasts. Typically, about a half cup size increase per breast can be expected. Fat grafting can also be used to reshape the breast when there are areas that appear flattened as a result of previous surgery.
Breast Lift
For people who have sagging breasts, a breast lift does just that: lifts the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall by removing excess skin and a small amount of tissue.. This procedure is perfect for those who are losing skin elasticity as they age or for those who have downward-pointing nipples but not an excessive amount of breast tissue.
Breast Reduction
Those who suffer from negative side effects due to having extremely large breasts probably know about this procedure. Breast reduction surgeries help those who have back and neck pain, shoulder grooves from bra straps, and other side effects. You can think of this procedure as a more extensive breast lift, with the goal of removing tissue and repositioning the nipple for a more natural, manageable chest size.
Revision Breast Surgery
Not every plastic surgeon can achieve 100% satisfaction for patients, leading people who have had unsatisfactory results from a previous breast surgery looking for experienced, proven plastic surgeons like us. Revision surgery can be done after any type of breast surgery to finally achieve the look and feel you were hoping for initially.
Combination Breast Surgery
As mentioned earlier, a breast lift and augmentation are frequently combined. This achieves a more youthful and more full appearance, boosting confidence.
Comprehensive Breast Enhancement in Burlington, VT
No matter what your concerns are about the appearance of your breasts, we can help you reach your body shape goals. Call and schedule an appointment today to get started. You can even reach out to our team online and someone will get back to you shortly.