The Different Types of Breast Surgery: The Pros, Cons, and Costs

Not too long ago, a woman may have wanted to get a boob job to change the shape or volume of her breasts. But her options were probably limited to breast implants or a breast lift.

Plastic surgery techniques and technology have really evolved over the last 20 or 30 years. Today’s woman has far more options and she is most likely going to see far better results. Anyone who goes to a reputable and respected clinic for breast augmentation in Toronto should know almost exactly how they are going to look post-op.

Our clinic offers a number of different breast surgeries, each with its own benefits and expected outcomes. They include:

•   Breast Augmentation/ Breast Implants
•   Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
•   Breast Lift
•   Breast Lift With Implants
•   Reduction Mammaplasty and Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction)
•   The Mommy Makeover

Which one is right for you? This blog will walk you through each procedure, and give you an overview of the pros, the cons, and the costs.

Breast Augmentation/Breast Implants

This is what most people traditionally associate with the term boob job, and it has consistently been one of the most popular types of breast surgery (and plastic surgery, in general) for the last few decades.

Why is that? It’s chiefly because the techniques and technology being used continue to evolve. Today, a woman can add shape and volume to her breasts with implants and they will look, feel, and move like natural breasts. There is no need for them to look like fake boobs.

There are basically two different types of breast implants to choose from:

Silicone Implants

The actual implants are pre-filled with semi-solid silicone gel, which is what gives them their feel and consistency. It’s also what makes them the most natural-looking and the most breast-like options. They are also commonly called gummy bear implants because of their ability to bounce back.

These are the most in-demand implants on the marketplace because they can mimic the way natural breasts move and feel. They are actually designed to change shape as your body moves and changes positions. For example, your implant moves down when you’re upright to create the classic tear-dropped shape. But when you lay down, their shape will take on a more rounded look.

During the actual procedure, the implants are added through an under-the-breast incisional approach, called the IMF, or infra-mammary fold incision.

Saline Implants

Saline breast implants have been on the market longer. They are made up of a silicone outer lining with a sterile saltwater (saline) solution interior. They are often surgically added in an empty state through the armpit or the areola, then filled once they are inserted to keep the size of the incision as small as possible.

The Pros:

Breast implants will most likely give you the most dramatic difference when looking to add shape and size, while giving you a more flattering profile.

Also, cohesive gummy bear implants can give you that size improvement, without sacrificing a natural look.

The Cons:

If you go with saline implants, there is a slight chance they could leak, and they would most likely have to be replaced in 10 years.

Silicone, on the other hand, is warrantied for life by the manufacturer and the implants will not have to be replaced.

The Cost:

Your price will vary, based on a number of factors. But they start at $7,999.

Explore the nuances of natural vs fake boobs in our detailed comparison article.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Of all of the different types of breast surgery, this one could definitely be considered the most natural. A fat transfer breast augmentation procedure will use your body’s own fat cells to add shape and volume to your breasts.

This is a very popular option among women who don’t love the idea of an actual implant. They’re looking for a natural solution, and it’s hard to get more natural than this.

Your surgeon will extract extra fat from an area of your body (typically tummy, legs, or hips) with state-of-the-art energy-assisted liposuction technology that keeps the fat cells intact and well-preserved for transplantation.

From there, your surgeon will prep the fat cells, add the fat into syringes, and then expertly transfer the fat cells into strategically chosen areas in your breasts. The concept is fairly simple, but it takes a tremendous amount of expertise (even artistry) to perform this surgery and create the desired results.

Dr. Tom Bell is one of Canada’s leading experts on this procedure, with incredible breast augmentation before and after pictures that can prove his mastery.

The Pros:

This is an incredibly natural and effective way to improve the body contour, while adding volume and reshaping the breasts. There is also no foreign device. You’re using your body’s own fat cells.

There is also almost no scar and this procedure has a relatively fast recovery time.

The Cons:

The results can be amazing, but less predictable than using an actual implant.

The Cost:

A fat transfer breast augmentation procedure would start at about $9,999.

Breast Lift

The traditional breast lift is a surgical procedure that improves your silhouette by correcting sagging or drooping breast tissue, while removing extra/unwanted skin that can give your bust a deflated look.

Our Dr. Bell can help you restore a youthful look, and work closely with you to choose one of the following techniques:

•   Crescent Lift. This is the least invasive option and it raises your nipple location by surgically removing a crescent-shaped section of the skin.
•   Anchor Lift: This is the most invasive option and the most popular among patients dealing with more serious sagging issues. The incision is made along the breast crease.
•   Donut Lift: This uses fewer incisions than a traditional breast lift, with just one around the areola.
•   Lollipop Lift: This is a popular option for women with downward-pointing nipples and drooping breasts. It relies on a vertical incision from the crease of the breast over the nipple.

The specific technique used on any given patient will depend on a lot of factors, such as their body type and their goals.

The Pros:

A breast lift surgery procedure can make a dramatic difference and help the patient look and feel younger! Sagging breasts are addressed to create a more youthful and perky silhouette. It also does not require the addition of an implant, unless you choose to do so.

The Cons:

A breast lift is the perfect solution for patients looking to address sagging. But the procedure cannot add more size unless combined with an implant, which we will explore in the next section.

The Cost:

The breast lift procedure (without implants) starts at about $9,999.

Breast Lift With Implants

This procedure is designed to address sagging and drooping, while also adding volume to the breast area.

Our own Dr. Bell is renowned for his mastery of this procedure. He was trained in Facelift and Body plastic surgery by the famed Orange County icon Dr. Bruce Connell during his Postgraduate Fellowship.

Since then, he has performed thousands of procedures. He also has some truly remarkable breast lift before and after photos that showcase his incredible work.

Your procedure will begin with anesthesia to make sure everything is completely painless. From there, Dr. Bell will make a small incision below the breasts to address the skin tissue. After that, he inserts the implant through the incision and contours the breast to ensure the best possible results. The implants are basically an extension of a traditional breast lift procedure and both procedures can be done simultaneously.

The Pros:

This procedure can completely revitalize the body contour. It can remove the unwanted sagginess, while adding shape and volume to the breasts. The more youthful-looking bust can also help you feel younger and more confident.

The Cons:

A breast lift with implants can be the most costly type of breast surgery, but it can also be the most impactful.

The Cost:

Starts at about $15,999.

Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction)

It’s estimated that about half of all men will experience unwanted breast growth to some degree as they age. This is not something that men love to talk about (or even acknowledge), but the dreaded man boobs or moobs is definitely an issue that impacts countless men and their self-esteem as they age.

This is why breast reduction surgery in men (gynecomastia) has grown in popularity over the last 20 years. In fact, the numbers have jumped by 22% since the year 2000, as more men learn that this surgery is an option and more plastic surgeons publicize that they offer it.

In most cases, the unwanted increase in male breast tissue will accumulate as a part of the ageing process, or through weight gain. However, moobs can also simply be in your genes, as some men are more genetically predisposed to getting them than others.

When this happens, men can often struggle to get rid of them. No amount of bench presses, push-ups, pec flys, or cardio can help fix them. Getting rid of them can be as challenging as getting 6-pack abs. In these situations, it’s best to go as far as diet and exercise can take you and then get a gynecomastia procedure to help you address the rest.

Basically, your surgeon will expertly use energy-assisted liposuction technology to remove the unwanted fat and glandular tissue.

The Pros:

Finally, a way to trim the unwanted fat and skin on your chest!

This procedure can help men restore a firm and toned chest, which gives them a more youthful and masculine appearance. Clothes fit better and patients feel better about themselves.

The Cons:

Non-surgical body contouring could be a more affordable option in some cases.

The Cost:

The procedure starts at about $8,999.

The Mommy Makeover

This is not so much a type of breast surgery, and more of a combination of procedures that could include breast implants or a breast lift.

The Mommy Makeover has really grown in popularity over the years as an amazing way to help moms regain their pre-baby bodies. It’s a bespoke combination of procedures that could include breast augmentation combined with fat loss procedures like liposuction or a tummy tuck procedure.

There is no finite list of procedures included. Your makeover will be completely customized to meet your unique body and goals.

The Pros:

This is likely the most comprehensive and effective approach for women that are looking to address unwanted fat and/or sagging in both their breasts and core areas. It’s a fantastic way to turn back the clock, while giving you a more youthful and firm silhouette.

The Cons:

If you’re looking to simply trim your core, or simply address your breasts, a single surgery may give you the results you’re looking for.

The Cost:

Prices are highly variable, based on the procedures the patient is considering. But generally speaking, prices will start at $8,999.

Let’s Talk About Your Options

We hope you found this blog helpful. But we would really love to talk to you about your various options in a one-on-one setting, so we can field all of your questions in great detail. We can even give you a digital preview of how you will look after your surgery, using 3D technology. You can try before you buy, so to speak.

We’re proud to offer one of Canada’s most respected plastic surgeons, and experts in breast augmentation procedures of all kinds. Dr. Tom Bell is widely known for his technical artistry and natural-looking results, performing thousands of body contouring procedures throughout his illustrious 25+ year career.