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Do I Need Breast Reduction or Breast Lift Surgery?

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If you are considering breast reduction, you likely suffer from large or disproportionately sized breasts along with their associated discomfort and issues. 

Image of woman in purple sports bra with lines over breasts indicating a lift or surgical procedure.

Reducing the size of your breasts can bring relief in more ways than just the physical aspect. It can also provide you with a renewed sense of confidence and comfort in your appearance. 

Overly large or heavy breasts eventually lead to sagging of the breast tissue, also known as ptosis. Because of this, many women wanting to decrease their breast size also want to know if the surgery they actually need involves a breast lift.

In most cases, it’s both, as breast reduction surgery is rarely performed without the “lift” part. 

What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?

The goal of breast reduction surgery is to reduce the size of the breasts by removing excess glandular tissue, fat and skin before reshaping and repositioning tissue for smaller, perkier and rejuvenated breasts. 

Candidates for breast reduction surgery are women with large, heavy breasts or breasts that are disproportionate to their frame. It can also be a woman who just wants smaller breasts even if they are not necessarily large. 

Women who consider this procedure might also experience pain, discomfort and numerous other issues, including psychological, related to their breast size. Some of these can include neck, back and shoulder pains, skin irritation, foul odors, inability to engage comfortably in certain physical activities, clothing related issues, self-consciousness, embarrassment and even difficulty in finding bras that fit and that are comfortable.

Regardless of the reason, a breast reduction can greatly improve your quality of life and increase your everyday comfort, physically and mentally. 

What Is Breast Lift Surgery?

Women who suffer from deflated or sagging breasts due to pregnancy, weight loss, hormone fluctuations or the aging process are typically good candidates for a breast lift

The primary aim of this procedure is to lift the breast tissues to a more pleasing position on the chest. It also involves the removal of excess, lax skin. The results are raised, perky and well-shaped breasts. Your nipple-areolar complexes are typically repositioned as well. 

While some breast tissue is removed, it is not the focus of this procedure. Candidates for a breast lift are generally happy with the size or volume of their breasts but want them to be in a more youthful, perky position. 

Breast lift surgery, when indicated, can be combined with other breast related procedures including a breast augmentation, implant removal and breast revision.

Do You Need a Reduction With Your Lift?

As previously noted, it is very rare to undergo a breast reduction without having a concurrent lift. A breast reduction inherently incorporates breast lift techniques. To perform just a breast reduction without a breast lift when it is indicated is inappropriate and does not meet the standard of care. 

Because of this, the question isn’t so much, “Should you combine a breast reduction and breast lift,” but rather “Does your lift need a reduction?”

Answering this question is actually quite simple: Do you like the current size of your breasts?

If the answer is “yes,” you probably don’t want to eliminate any more tissue than necessary. In fact, you may even choose to enhance the shape of your breasts further with a small implant or fat grafting to the breast.

If the answer is “no” or “my breasts are too heavy,” then a breast reduction is right for you. 

During your consultation with Dr. Steven Turkeltaub, who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, you can express your goals for your breasts. He will discuss your options and create a customized treatment plan to suit your needs.

Interested in Learning More About Breast Reduction and Breast Lifts in Scottsdale, AZ?

Dr. Steven Turkeltaub specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgeries, bringing skill and compassion to each procedure that he performs. He is involved in every step of the surgical process, from consultation to aftercare, providing unmatched care to his patients. 

If you are interested in breast reduction surgery, breast lift surgery, or any other cosmetic breast surgery in the Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona area, call us today at (480) 451-3000 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Turkeltaub.