So many of our feminine beauty ideals stem from the look of a woman’s breasts. If your breasts have begun to droop or sag due to weight fluctuation, pregnancy or gravity, * you may be acutely self-conscious about the way they look, both with and without clothing.
When you’re considering surgery to reshape your breasts for a more uplifted, youthful appearance, you want to make sure you are getting outstanding results you can feel satisfied with for years to come. Ultimately, choosing an excellent cosmetic surgeon is a highly personal decision.
With the increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery – especially breast procedures ** – more doctors than ever are claiming to be “the best” at what they do. But what does that mean, and how can you separate the marketing hype from reality? Here are some tips for choosing the best breast lift surgeon for you.
1. Do Plenty of Research
Your first step is to do your homework to find the ideal surgeon to perform your breast lift. Not only will you want to visit multiple websites, read online reviews and look at before-and-after photos, Try asking friends or relatives to see if they have any recommendations. Though the surgeon who ended up being a great choice for your cousin may not be your eventual top pick for you, you’ll at least have a starting point if you ask for referrals.
2. Verify Surgeons’ Experience
As you are narrowing down potential surgeons to perform your ideal breast lift, the most important criterion to look for is board certification. Achieving board certification proves a surgeon is exceptionally well-qualified to specialize in cosmetic surgery, and has all the training and experience necessary to provide consistently excellent results.
While anyone with a medical license can begin advertising their skills as a plastic surgeon, board-certified cosmetic surgeons are the only ones who have completed a residency or fellowship in the discipline of aesthetic surgery, and have also passed rigorous written and oral exams proving they have mastered all the minutiae of their field.
Because an expert technique is crucial for helping you achieve your desired results, you’ll also want to interview potential breast lift surgeons about how long they have been performing breast surgery. It takes several years of hands-on training and experience to become an expert in this field, and a qualified surgeon should be proud to share how long they have been doing breast lifts.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure your surgeon specializes in the specific procedure you are interested in. For example, if your goal is to get a breast lift, but a surgeon’s website makes it seem as if they only perform facial surgeries, it may be better to keep looking.
3. Meet With Surgeons
The goal of doing all this research should be to develop a short list of candidates for performing your breast lift surgery. You will then need to set up in-person meetings with these breast specialists to ask plenty of questions and get a feel for their character, technical skill and demeanor. Even if you meet with a surgeon who isn’t the best fit to perform your breast lift, don’t consider a face-to-face breast lift consultation a waste of time – instead, think about how much you can learn during the meeting.
Ask for Advice
You have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to breast lift surgery. You’ll want to choose a surgeon you can trust completely to advise you on complex topics like whether to get your areolas and nipples resized and repositioned during the procedure, or if you should consider getting your breast lift in conjunction with a breast augmentation or breast reduction. While the final decision is yours to make, your plastic surgeon’s insight and experience will be vital.
The best cosmetic surgeons take a highly personalized approach to breast surgery, and will work hand-in-hand with you as a trusted partner to tailor a plan that addresses all the goals you wish to achieve with your surgical outcomes.
5. Look at Artistic Philosophy
When you meet with your potential surgeons, ask to see before-and-after pictures of patients with a similar body type as yours who have gotten a breast lift. The more photos they can provide, the better. You’ll want to evaluate these photos with a keen eye – not only to make sure the doctor has achieved consistently beautiful results for patients who share your concerns, but also to determine whether the surgeon’s aesthetic approach aligns with what you are hoping to achieve in terms of proportion and balance.
6. Value Honesty and Good Communication Skills
Honesty and openness between you and your cosmetic surgeon are essential for helping you achieve your surgical goals. 
Your plastic surgeon should be up-front with you to help you go into the surgery with realistic expectations for your breast lift.
Good two-way communication between you and your surgeon will help ensure you get the outcome you wanted from your breast surgery. Conversations with your surgeon will help you gauge their commitment to careful planning and their understanding of what you’re looking for, and it will also give you an idea of whether they have the talent and artistic vision necessary to achieve it.
7. Go With Your Gut and Take Your Time
If you ever feel uncomfortable or hesitant, even if you can’t pinpoint exactly why, you don’t have to follow through with a specific office, doctor or procedure.
The relationship you have with your plastic surgeon is intensely private and personal. It takes a certain level of connection to find the right match. That’s why it’s perfectly OK to take your time when choosing a doctor. After all, this is someone who will be privy to some of your deepest personal concerns – some of which you may not have ever told anyone else before. Since breast surgery is an investment in yourself, you owe it to yourself never to rush into a decision.
Set up a Breast Lift Consultation With Dr. Michael Kulick
Getting breast surgery can be an incredibly satisfying experience, boosting your self-esteem and allowing you to look and feel your best. By taking time to find the best breast lift surgeon for you, you will avoid regret, as well as additional risk and expense.
When you’re ready to find a surgeon who will become your expert partner in your breast surgery experience, look no further than Dr. Kulick. He is a board-certified San Francisco plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of providing natural-looking breast enhancement to his patients. Call 415-956-2550 to schedule your personalized breast lift consultation.
* Source: mayoclinic.org
** Source: plasticsurgery.org, 2017 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report
Dr. Michael Kulick, MD is a leading board certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco, California. During an initial consultation, he’ll examine your individual anatomy, discuss all your options, and create a unique treatment plan along with any other necessary procedures. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of plastic surgery and are looking for a qualified cosmetic surgeon, use this online form to request a consultation with Dr. Kulick or call 415-956-2550.
