When should one do a breast reduction vs breast lift?

Breast Enhancement: If you like the size of your breasts but feel like you have too much skin, you need a breast lift. If you have too much breast tissue (your breast are large and heavy) then you need some breast tissue removed as well. This is called a breast reduction. Most insurance will cover a breast reduction for the related neck and back problems while a breast lift is generally cosmetic and self pay.

Size matters!: A breast lift tightens the skin on the breast, lifting the breast mound and nipple. It does not change the volume of the breast. A breast reduction is very similar; however, during a breast reduction surgery, breast tissue is removed to reduce the size of the breasts. When the breasts are too small, a breast lift is combined with breast augmentation to increase the size of the breasts.

Depends on Size: Breast reduction surgery involves reducing breast size; breast lifting happens at the same time as breast reduction surgery is performed. On the other hand, breast lifting surgery involves movement of the breasts and the nipple/areola complexes upward on the chest wall ( the breasts are not necessarily reduced during breast lifting surgery). I hope this helps.

Volume vs skin: A lift generally addresses the lose skin component and positioning the nipple and areola on the chest and may actually benefit from augmenting the breast volume with an implant or fat transfer. Therefore abreast lift does not require a breast reduction. A breast reduction however universally requires a reduction in breast volume and may involve a lift but not always.