Monthly Archives: March 2022

Everyone deserves to feel confident and beautiful. Sadly, many women are held back by an area of their body that makes them feel embarrassed or unattractive. One source of low self-esteem for many women is the bust line. Whether too small, too large, asymmetrical, or droopy, not many people are lucky enough to have a perfect pair! Fortunately, with the power and precision of modern plastic surgery, there are an abundance of safe and effective cosmetic procedures to change the appearance of the breasts, helping thousands of women feel confident and beautiful again each year. This blog post will introduce a few of the most common cosmetic breast surgery options: Breast augmentation with implants, breast lift, and combined breast lift with implants. We will then go over some of the similarities and differences between these procedures and who may be better suited for one over the other in order to answer the common patient question, “Should I get breast implants, a breast lift, or both?”

Let’s start with breast augmentation with implants. This procedure is the most common, with over 300,000 cases performed each year! Breast augmentation with implants is a safe and highly effective way to enhance the size and shape of the breasts. There are many types of different breast implants, including saline versus silicone, and a wide variety of different shapes and sizes to choose from. Dr. Temmen recognizes that every woman is unique, and is committed to helping every patient find their perfect match. Patients are encouraged to bring in “wish pics” of their goal, as well as “try on” different implant types in the office to find the best option for them. During the procedure itself, Dr. Temmen creates a “pocket” in the chest for the implants, and then inserts and positions them. Saline implants are made up of an outer shell and filled with sterile saline after they are inserted (similar to a water balloon), while silicone implants are solid throughout, and implanted as is. Oftentimes, Dr. Temmen is able to place the implants using a small, discreet incision under the armpit, leaving no scars on the breast. Each patient has a thorough one-on-one consultation with Dr. Temmen during which they discuss implant type, scar location, and surgical approach to form a personalized plan that takes into account the patient’s anatomy and goals to ensure they get a beautiful result!

While breast implants add volume to the breasts, a breast lift adds lift! Women best suited for this procedure are often bothered by breasts that are low or sagging. This may be due to unlucky genetics, weight changes, previous pregnancies, breastfeeding, or the effects of aging. These factors combined can cause the breasts to look “deflated”, making patients feel self-conscious. During a breast lift, this process is reversed by removing loose excess skin and superficial tissue, allowing the remaining healthy tissue to be pulled together to create a rounder, perkier breast. While some tissue is removed during a breast lift, it has a paradoxical effect of making the breasts look fuller due to this improvement in shape. The number of incisions made during a breast lift depends on the patient’s degree of sagging (also called ptosis) and goals for their appearance. The most common approach for patients with moderate ptosis is a “lollipop incision”, which includes one circular incision around the areola (the darker colored skin surrounding the nipple) joined by a vertical incision extending down the breast. While this scar may sound scary, in practice the vast majority of patients are thrilled with the beautiful perky shape of their breasts, and find that the scars fade significantly with time and are a small price to pay.

The final option we will discuss in this post is the combined breast lift with implants. Simply put, this procedure consists of the two options explained above put together. This procedure may be best for patients who want to decrease sagginess while also enhancing breast size. As we discussed above, a breast lift makes the breasts appear rounder and fuller, but does not actually increase breast size. For patients hoping to increase their cup size as well, a combined breast lift with implants is a great option. Many patients considering cosmetic breast surgery find that this combination procedure is the perfect option for them, as it creates a beautiful shape, youthful lift, and adds a little extra volume.

When it comes to cosmetic breast surgery, the options can sometimes feel overwhelming. Depending on your goals, you may find that breast augmentation with implants, a breast lift, or combined breast lift with implants is the best choice for you. A key part of making these important decisions is finding an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who is committed to working together to create a personalized plan to ensure you have the best possible result. Dr. Traci Temmen is a female board-certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in cosmetic breast surgery, and patient’s love her gentle bedside manner and perfectionism. To view real examples of amazing patient transformations, please explore the Gallery on this website. If you are interested in learning more about one of these life-changing procedures, simply call 813-877-3739 to schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Traci Temmen today!