Interactive Augmentation vs Lift Guide

When it comes to your body, particularly after major life milestones, it is easy to feel like your breasts have a mind of their own. Whether you are browsing for answers after your last child has finished breastfeeding or you are celebrating a hard-won weight loss journey, you deserve a solution that matches your vision.

In Northwest Indiana, patients turn to Dr. Jason Petrungaro, the region’s #1 Cosmetic Surgeon, for his dual expertise as a board-certified Plastic Surgeon and a meticulous artist. Dr. Petrungaro specializes in “restorative” breast surgery—helping women regain the shape, volume, and confidence they feel they’ve lost along the way.

The Science of “The Drop”: Why Your Breasts Change

Before diving into the quiz, it is helpful to understand the anatomy of why breasts change. Your breasts are held up by Cooper’s Ligaments—thin, fibrous bands that act like internal suspension cables.

• Multiple Pregnancies: Each pregnancy causes the breasts to enlarge significantly due to hormonal shifts. This puts immense strain on those ligaments, often stretching them beyond the point of “bouncing back.”
• The Breastfeeding Cycle: As milk supply comes in and then eventually recedes, the skin envelope expands and then suddenly deflates.
• Significant Weight Loss: Fat is the primary volume in the breast. When you lose 30, 50, or 100+ pounds, that fat disappears, but the skin that was stretched to hold it remains.

This often leads to breast ptosis (pronounced “toe-sis” — the clinical term for sagging), which usually requires more than just a simple implant to fix.

The “Upper Pole” Myth: A Critical Distinction

One of the most frequent conversations Dr. Petrungaro has during consultations is debunking the “Lift Only” myth.

Crucial Fact: A breast lift alone is a “repositioning” surgery. It removes excess skin and moves your nipple higher, but it does not add volume. If you feel “hollow” or “empty” at the top of your chest—an area surgeons call the upper pole—a lift alone will not fix that. Breast implants are required to fill that space and create the rounded, youthful “push-up” look.

Interactive Quiz: Augmentation, Lift, or Both?

Grab a mirror and answer these five questions honestly to see which path likely leads to your goal.

1. The Nipple Test

Look at your nipples in the mirror. 

• Are they pointing straight ahead or slightly upward? (Augmentation)

• Are they pointing downward toward the floor? (Lift)

• Do they sit below the natural crease (inframammary fold) of your breast? (Lift)

2. The “Pencil Test”

Place a pencil horizontally under your breast fold.

• Does the pencil fall to the floor because your breast is firm enough to not hold it? (Augmentation)
• Does your breast tissue “hang” over the pencil, pinning it against your chest? (Lift)

3. The “Upper Pole” Check

Look at the space between your collarbone and your nipple.

• Does that area look full, or is it flat/concave?
• If you want that area to be round and full again: (Implant Required)

4. The Skin Elasticity Test

Gently pinch the skin on the top of your breast.

• Does it snap back immediately? (Good candidate for Augmentation)
• Does it feel thin, “crepey,” or take a moment to settle? (Likely needs a Lift to tighten the envelope)

5. Your Size Goal

Think about your current cup size.

• Are you happy with your size but hate the “hang”? (Lift Only)
• Do you want to be a full cup size or two larger? (Augmentation required)

Understanding Your Recommendation

Option 1: Breast Augmentation (Implant Only)

Best for: Women who have “small” breasts but no sagging.

If your nipples are in a great position and your skin is tight, Dr. Petrungaro can use silicone or saline implants to give you the volume and shape you’ve always wanted. This is a shorter surgery with a very straightforward recovery.

Option 2: Breast Lift (Mastopexy Only)

Best for: Women who have plenty of natural volume but are “heading south.”

If you are already a D-cup but your breasts are sitting low on your ribcage, Dr. Petrungaro can remove the “extra” skin, tighten the internal tissue, and move the nipple to a more youthful position. Note: A breast lift alone does NOT increase upper pole fullness and it does NOT change the size of your breasts.

Option 3: The “Combo” (Lift with Implants)

Best for: The “Mommy Makeover” patient or significant weight loss patient.

This is Dr. Petrungaro’s specialty. By combining these two procedures, he can solve two problems at once: the lift removes the sagging skin, and the implant fills the “empty” space (upper pole) created by breastfeeding or weight loss. It provides the most dramatic, “wow” factor transformation.

Why Choose Dr. Jason Petrungaro?

As the #1 Cosmetic Surgeon in Northwest Indiana, Dr. Petrungaro doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. He understands that every woman is her own unique case with her own unique anatomy — therefore each surgery is custom designed to accommodate your specific wishes and goals.  

During your private consultation, he will explain all of your options in detail combined with an extensive physical exam and breast implant sizing to show you what is possible. He is a “perfectionist” regarding scar placement, ensuring that your results look as natural and seamless as possible.

Ready to stop guessing and start glowing?

Take the next step toward the best version of yourself. Schedule your personalized consultation with Dr. Petrungaro today.