Which Breast Surgery Is Right for You?

Choosing the “right” breast surgery depends on your goals, body, and what you’re looking to achieve — whether that means more volume, a lifted appearance, less heaviness, or reconstruction. This post from our board-certified plastic surgeon in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Dr. Jordan P. Farkas, walks you through the main types of breast surgery (augmentation, lift, reduction, reconstruction), explains what each does and for whom they tend to be best suited, and lays out key considerations, including recovery, risks, and long-term factors, so you can start thinking through what might fit your needs.

Understanding the Different Types of Breast Surgery

When we talk about “breast surgery,” we’re not talking about one single procedure. Rather, there are several different types of breast surgery — sometimes overlapping — depending on the shape, size and goals you have in mind. The umbrella term for many of these is Mammoplasty (or mastoplasty), which refers to surgical modification of the breast.

Here are the most common types:

Breast Augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty): inserting implants or using fat transfer to increase breast volume and fullness.

Breast Lift (mastopexy): removing excess skin and re-shaping the tissue to lift sagging breasts; this treatment does not change volume.

Breast Reduction (reduction mammaplasty): removing breast tissue (and often skin) to reduce size and weight — often with a lift as part of the procedure.

Breast Reconstruction: Rebuilding the breast shape (often after mastectomy), using implants or a patient’s own tissue.

Which of these is “right” depends largely on your body and what you wish to achieve.

When Each Surgery Makes Sense

Breast Augmentation — for Volume and Fullness

If you feel your natural breasts are small, disproportionately sized, or have lost volume (for example, after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging), augmentation is often the go-to. It helps restore or enhance curves and can improve symmetry.

Augmentation alone is not ideal if sagging or drooping is your main concern because adding volume won’t reposition the breast tissue or lift the nipple-areola complex.

Breast Lift — for Sagging, Drooping, or Loss of Shape

If your breasts feel “deflated,” hang lower than they used to, or your nipples point downward or sit below the breast crease, a lift can help. A mastopexy reshapes, lifts, and repositions breast tissue and the areola for a firmer, more youthful profile.

Since a lift doesn’t add volume, many people who want both lift and fullness choose a combined breast lift with implants, which addresses both sagging and lack of volume simultaneously.

Breast Reduction — for Relief, Comfort, and Proportion

For those with very large, heavy breasts that cause back/neck/shoulder pain, posture issues, skin irritation, or difficulty with physical activity, reduction mammaplasty offers functional and aesthetic benefits. By removing excess tissue (and often skin), reduction lifts the breast, alleviates discomfort, and creates a size better proportioned to your frame.

Because volume is reduced, many patients also experience relief from physical strain.

Breast Reconstruction — for Restoring After Mastectomy or Trauma

If a mastectomy or other trauma has changed breast appearance, reconstruction aims to recreate a more natural breast shape. Techniques include using implants or transferring tissue from elsewhere on the body (for example, a “flap” reconstruction).

This option is more medically oriented but also deeply personal, as the goal is restoring normalcy, symmetry, and — importantly — a sense of wholeness after a life-changing event.

Key Considerations: What to Think About Before Choosing

1. Your specific goal(s)

• Are you mainly concerned with size? Augmentation might be right.
• Is sagging or drooping the issue? Then a lift makes sense.
• Is it discomfort from weight and size, or self-consciousness about the appearance of large breasts? Consider reduction.
• Is it reconstruction after illness or trauma? — Reconstruction is the likely path.

Sometimes, more than one goal applies. In that case, a combined approach (lift + augmentation, or reduction + lift) may be appropriate.

2. What changes (or remains) in feel, function, and size

• A lift reshapes and repositions but doesn’t add volume.
• Augmentation increases size and fullness but doesn’t improve sagging.
• Reduction decreases size and weight, potentially improving comfort, but also reduces volume permanently.
• Reconstruction aims to restore appearance but may not fully replicate natural tissue feel or sensation.

3. Recovery time and care

• A lift or augmentation typically involves 4–6 weeks of healing before you resume most normal activities.
• Reduction tends to require a slightly longer healing period — often 6–8 weeks for full recovery.
• During recovery, you’ll likely experience swelling, bruising, soreness, and need to wear a supportive surgical bra. Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for several weeks.

4. Risks and trade-offs

All surgeries carry risks. For breast procedures, these may include:

• Permanent scarring (though many scars fade and can often be hidden under clothing)
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation — sometimes temporary, sometimes lasting; in rare cases, sensation loss may be permanent
• Asymmetry, contour irregularities, or differences between breasts in size/shape
• For augmentation specifically: implant-related issues (if implants are used), and the fact that implants are not lifetime devices — they may require replacement or revision down the road
• For reconstruction involving tissue transfer: more complex surgery and recovery, and limitations depending on donor-site tissue

5. Your anatomy, lifestyle, and long-term goals

Your body type, skin elasticity, amount of existing breast tissue, and overall health play a big role in which surgery will give the best result. Also consider your future: plans for pregnancy or breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, lifestyle (active vs. sedentary), and willingness to accept potential trade-offs (e.g., scarring, maintenance, future surgeries).

Common Combinations and Why People Opt for Them

Because many women have more than one concern (for example, lost volume and sagging), combining procedures can make sense. Here are some frequent combinations:

Lift + Augmentation: Restores lost volume and repositions the breast for a youthful contour.

Reduction + Lift: Not only reduces size (for comfort and proportion) but lifts and reshapes for a firmer, more balanced silhouette. In fact, reduction mammaplasty often includes a lift by default.

Reconstruction (Implants or Tissue Flap): After mastectomy or trauma, reconstruction can recreate shape and is sometimes combined with lifts or adjustments to the other (natural) breast for symmetry.
Treatment plans can often be tailored for combining techniques to best match your anatomy and goals.

How to Decide: Questions to Ask Yourself (and Your Surgeon)

Before choosing any procedure, it’s worth reflecting on a few key questions and bringing them to your consultation:

• What bothers me most about my breasts — size, shape, sagging, volume loss, asymmetry, weight?
• Do I want more volume, better shape, less heaviness, or reconstruction?
• Am I okay with permanent scars? How much scar visibility is acceptable to me?
• Am I comfortable with possible trade-offs (sensation changes, maintenance, future surgeries)?
• How important is recovery time? What’s my lifestyle like — do I need a quick return to work, exercise, or childcare?
• Do I plan on having children or breastfeeding in the future?
• What are my long-term expectations regarding appearance, symmetry, and maintenance?

Your answers, combined with a surgeon’s professional evaluation of your anatomy, skin quality, and health, will guide a recommendation tailored to you.

Final Thoughts

There is no one-size-fits-all “best” breast surgery. What’s right for you depends on your personal goals, body, and what trade-offs you are willing to accept. The most important first step is to clarify what you want — fuller breasts? less weight? lifted shape? reconstruction? — and then discuss candidly with a qualified plastic surgeon. An individualized approach, informed by your anatomy and lifestyle, will always lead to the best, most satisfying outcome.

Key Takeaways

• “Breast surgery” covers multiple distinct procedures — augmentation, lift, reduction, and reconstruction — each designed for different goals.
• Augmentation adds volume; lift (mastopexy) repositions and reshapes without changing size; reduction removes tissue and weight; reconstruction rebuilds shape after mastectomy or trauma.
• The “right” procedure depends on your anatomy, what you want to change (size, shape, sagging, volume loss), and what trade-offs you’re comfortable accepting (scars, sensation changes, maintenance).
• Combined procedures (e.g., lift + augmentation or reduction + lift) are common when patients want to address multiple concerns.
• Recovery, risks, long-term maintenance, and your lifestyle all matter: thoughtful planning and an honest conversation with a board-certified plastic surgeon are essential first steps.

Contact Us

Dr. Jordan P. Farkas is an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who has made breast surgery a cornerstone of his practice. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Farkas to explore your options and discuss your goals, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.