There are many different types of breast lifts. You may be wondering which one will help you achieve the look you want. To answer this question, you need to be aware of what the different types of breast lifts involve, as well as their unique benefits and potential downsides. Dr. Ver Halen is Board-certified and experienced at performing all types of breast lifts. He’s 1 of only 10 surgeons trained to perform the Bellesoma™ breast technique. Before you make any decision, he’ll sit down with you and discuss your needs and expectations.
If you want less time in surgery, opt for:
- Crescent breast lift
- Peri-areolar breast lift
- Vertical breast lift
- Anchor breast lift
- Breast lift with implants, with the implants placed behind the breast tissue
If you want to increase size as well as lift, opt for:
- Breast lift with implants
- Breast lift with fat transfer
If you prefer minimal scarring, opt for:
- Bellesoma Method™ breast lift
- Crescent breast lift
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular breast lift options at DFW Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery.
The Different Types of Breast Lifts
A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that changes the shape of your breasts. It aims to raise sagging breasts by modifying their:
- Shape
- Size
- Elevation
During a breast lift, a cosmetic surgeon removes excess skin and tightens the surrounding tissue. This creates a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.
There are different breast lift techniques that a plastic surgeon may use. Here are some of the most common methods.
Bellesoma Method
The Bellesoma breast lift is an innovative type of breast lift. It is only available at 10 cosmetic surgery clinics in the U.S., one of them being DFW Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery. This breast lift technique involves the use of a computer-generated blueprint of your ideal breast profile and a 3D model of your body. The benefits include:
- No vertical breast scar
- Using your own breast tissue to restore breast projection, cleavage, and upper fullness
- Using your own breast tissue to raise your breasts, much like a push-up bra
- Shifting the weight from your breast to your chest muscle – This helps alleviate back, neck, and shoulder pain.
- Fat grafting or implants to increase breast size during a second surgery
This procedure is ideal for patients who:
- Want a lifted, fuller, more youthful breast but do not want an implant
- Want smaller breasts
- Want to remove their current implants and restore their breast shape with a lift
Breast Lift Combined with Breast Implants
A breast lift changes the position of your nipples and areolas, elevates your breasts, and removes any excess skin. The benefit is perkier breasts that look more youthful. But if you want to achieve a bigger size and more fullness, then combining a breast lift with breast implants is something to look into.
There are different types of breast implants, each with its own pros and cons:
- Saline – Saline breast implants are ideal if you want minimal scarring. A tiny incision is made in the breast, and then an empty breast implant is inserted. After this, the implant is inflated with a saline solution. The downside is that saline breast implants are more likely to rupture than other types of breast implants. Also, they tend to feel less like a natural breast.
- Gummy Bear – These implants are firm, like the texture of gummy candies they’re named after. Gummy bear implants have a low risk rupturing due to the firm interior gel. They don’t feel as natural as gel implants, but retain their shape indefinitely.
- Gel – Breast implants filled with gel are the most popular type of implants. The gel has a realistic feel and look to it. A gel breast implant also stays in place and has a low risk of rupturing.
Once you decide which kind of breast implant to combine with your lift, you should think about the placement of the implant. A plastic surgeon can place it either:
- Behind the pectoral muscle, or
- Behind the breast tissue
Breast surgery behind the pectoral muscle takes longer, with a longer healing time as well. But it provides a more natural look and feel.
Surgery for behind the breast tissue is quicker, with less healing time required. Scarring is also minimal. But possible downsides include a more noticeable, less supported implant.
Crescent Breast Lift
Cosmetic surgeons use the crescent breast lift technique for patients whose breasts sag minimally. Dr. Ver Halen will make a small incision around the top half of the areola. Also, a crescent breast lift is usually done alongside breast augmentation. This breast lifting technique is an attractive option for women who want minimal scarring.
Peri-Areolar Breast Lift
This type of breast lift is also called a ‘donut’ lift. This is because Dr. Ver Halen makes a circular incision around the edge of the areola. Similar to the crescent lift, plastic surgeons tend to combine this type of breast lift with breast augmentation. This breast lifting technique can reduce the size of the areola. It helps to correct a mild degree of sagging and involves only a single scar.
Vertical Breast Lift
A vertical breast lift is also called a ‘lollipop’ lift, due to the shape of the incision. This type of breast lift helps a plastic surgeon to easily remove excess skin and reshape the breast while leaving hidden scars.
With a vertical breast lift, Dr. Ver Halen make two incisions:
- Around the edge of the areola
- Running in a vertical line from the bottom of the areola to the bottom of the breast
The vertical breast lift is best suited to correct moderate sagging and is ideal if you want extensive reshaping.
Anchor Breast Lift
The inverted T or ‘anchor’ lift is an effective treatment for women with extensive sagging and who seek dramatic reshaping. Using this breast lifting technique, Dr. Ver Halen removes a large portion of excess skin and sagging tissues. An anchor breast lift involves three incisions:
- Around the edge of the areola
- Running from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease
- Along the bottom of the breast
Dr. Ver Halen may also use this breast lift technique if you decide to have a breast reduction combined with a lift.
Book an initial consultation today to discuss these types of breast lifts with Dr. Ver Halen, an experienced, highly trained, and experienced plastic surgeon. A breast lift can give you that boost in self-confidence and body image you’ve been looking for.
