If you’re considering a breast lift, you’ve probably started research comparing it to implants – or heard from others that it’s safer than implants. But what exactly does that mean? And why is one procedure considered “safer” than the other?
In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure so that you can make an informed decision about which option is right for you.
Is breast lift safer than implants?
Let’s get the question answered right out of the gate.
In general, a breast lift is safer than breast implants in the sense that fewer things can go wrong. But it’s important to look at the specifics of each patient’s situation when considering whether a breast lift or a breast implant might be best.
Generally, women who are good candidates for a breast lift tend to be younger and have smaller breasts than those who are good candidates for breast augmentation.
This means that both procedures are usually performed on women between their late 20s and early 50s.
Breast lifts can also help women who have already undergone a breast augmentation that didn’t turn out as expected, as well as those who want to increase their cup size but aren’t interested in going under the knife again.
So while it’s true that a breast lift is less invasive, and has fewer risks associated with it, it’s also important to keep in mind that a breast lift is not a cosmetic procedure.
A breast lift serves to restore breasts that have been damaged by pregnancy or weight loss (or sometimes just gravity).
Implants are designed to create a larger breast size after you’ve lost weight or after your breasts have naturally shrunk due to aging.
So when deciding between these two options, you need to consider what your goal is: Do you want an increase in size, or do you want your younger breasts back?
If the latter, a breast lift might be the way to go. If the former, implants might be the better option for you.
Advantages and disadvantages of a breast lift
A breast lift involves removing excess skin from the breasts and repositioning them to provide a more youthful appearance. The surgery can be performed in one or two stages depending on how much tissue needs to be removed and how much skin needs to be repositioned. Let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of a breast lift:
Advantages of a breast lift:
- Less invasive and, therefore, less recovery time
- Breast shape and symmetry improvement
- Increased firmness
- Lower cost
- More natural looking
- The average satisfaction rate is 99%
Disadvantages of a breast lift:
- No additional volume is added to the breasts
- Scarring
- Can lead to bleeding, infection, poor wound healing
- Breast and nipple sensitivity can be lessened or lost entirely
Advantages and disadvantages of breast implants
In contrast, breast enhancement surgery involves inserting saline or silicone gel implants under your pectoral muscles using local anesthesia. Implants have their own advantages and disadvantages and are as follows:
Advantages of breast implants
- Improved size
- Implants can be removed
- Implants last a long time
- Great for underdeveloped breasts
Disadvantages of breast implants
- Higher cost
- Make detecting breast cancer more difficult
- More invasive surgery
- The wrong implant could make or break your surgery
- Implants can rip or rupture
- More variables mean more can go wrong
It should be noted that both procedures may result in some discomfort and swelling immediately after surgery; both require downtime; both may cause significant scarring if not done correctly by an experienced plastic surgeon; and both may cause complications such as infection or bleeding if they’re not performed correctly or if they’re done too quickly after another type of surgery.
The bottom line
When making decisions about breast augmentation, safety plays an important role. Asking questions like “is a breast lift safer than implants” or “what are the potential complications” makes you more informed and, more importantly, more confident about the direction you decide to move in.