October 24, 2026 | Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift
Byrdie published a first-person review of a “ballerina boob job” in September. The writer had tuberous breasts, chose a surgeon in New York, and described a subtle, proportionate result and a recovery that asked for more patience than pain.
It is a good read. My longer take on it is on drworldwide.com. This post is the surgical half: how the look is actually built, in the order I decide it in my consult room.
Step One: What Are You Asking For?
“The patient that comes in looking for the ballerina look is usually asking for a subtle augmentation with an upper pole slope, without too much upper pole fullness, and an overall natural, not done look. This is usually a look that is achievable with a patient that is not very large breasted to start with.”
The upper pole is the top half of the breast. The slope is the line from collarbone to nipple, and the ballerina result keeps it gentle.
Step Two: Fat Transfer, Implant, or Both
Fat alone, when the shape is already right: “If the patient is already happy with their breast shape and they just want a little bit more fullness, then this can be achieved with fat transfer alone. It usually gives you at least a cup size, preserves the current breast shape, and just augments the volume by 100 to 200 cc.”
An implant, when you want predictability: “It can also be achieved with implants for a more predictable result. To achieve the ballerina look, we often use the Motiva Preserve technique, which preserves the arteries, the nerves, and the ligaments of the breast without performing any cutting, and the implant is placed just under the gland, above the muscle. It can also be done with a traditional breast augmentation.”
Which implant: “The implant of choice here would be a lower profile implant, like a Demi or a Mini, and the Motiva Ergonomix implant, which flows with the breast and lends itself to more movement. Because of this, the upper part of the implant becomes tapered when the patient stands and takes on a teardrop shape, which is the more natural ballerina look.”
Both, for the thinnest patients: “At times, if the patient has a small amount of subcutaneous fat and breast tissue, then the implants can be complemented with fat as well, to even and smooth the edges and create that natural contour.”
| Starting point | Usual plan |
|---|---|
| Happy with shape, wants a little fullness | Fat transfer alone |
| Wants a predictable, natural increase | Preserve or traditional augmentation, lower profile Ergonomix |
| Very little tissue to cover an implant | Implant plus fat at the edges |
| Nipple at or below the fold | A lift, with or without an implant |
Step Three: The Measurement That Decides the Lift
“The level of droopiness determines whether the patient will require a lift or not. If the nipple areola complex is below the inframammary fold, then a full lift, anchor type incision, will be necessary. If the nipple areola complex is at or slightly above the inframammary fold, I will often recommend a circumareolar lift or donut lift.”
The nipple areola complex is the nipple and the pigmented skin around it; the inframammary fold is the crease under the breast. The anchor lift runs around the areola, straight down, and along the fold. The donut lift is a circle around the areola only.
The number I measure first: “The ideal sternal notch to nipple areola distance is anywhere from 19 to 22 centimeters.” Any patient measuring more than that should consider some type of lift.
Skip it and here is what happens: “If the lift is not performed during the augmentation and there is considerable sagging, then the implants will appear to be higher up, even though they are in the right place, and the nipple areola and breast tissue will hang over it.”
A word on the vertical, or lollipop, lift, which many patients ask for because it has a smaller scar: in my experience it has a high rate of bottoming out, where the tissue settles below the implant. “Nevertheless, it is a good procedure on very select patients.”
“Although most of the patients seeking a ballerina breast want to avoid scars, a lift is necessary for optimal results when it is indicated. A lot of the patients seeking the ballerina look are already happy with their breast shape, therefore a simple augmentation is possible.”
Step Four: Is This Look Right for Your Frame?
“The ballerina look is very appropriate for patients that already have a ballerina type structure. These are patients that are usually thin and athletic, so a ballerina breast is very proportionate in these cases. The ballerina breast can look disproportionate in heavier set patients, or those with wider bony structures. But in all reality, it really just depends on what the patient wants and what they will be happy with.”
“One of the advantages in my practice is that we can simulate the results using the Vectra 3D system and the Crisalix system to visualize the results even before the surgery. This really helps the patient decide on the look, the size, the profile, and whether or not a lift will make the final results look better. So this takes away a lot of apprehension or anxiety.”
The Line Every Review Skips
“What a first-person review usually leaves out is that the writer’s result started with the writer’s anatomy. A thin, athletic patient with good nipple position and a little breast tissue will get the ballerina look with a small implant or fat transfer alone. A patient with more sagging, a wider chest, or a longer sternal notch to nipple distance will need a lift or a different implant to get anywhere close, and the review will not tell you that. The other thing missing is the measurements. A consultation with 3D imaging and actual numbers tells you what is achievable on your body, which no review can.”
What It Costs
No prices here. The fees page lists starting prices for augmentation, fat transfer and lift, and your quote follows the consultation, once the plan is one operation or two.
Why Choose Dr. Agullo
Double board-certified, by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. Mayo Clinic plastic surgery fellowship. Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 13 consecutive years. Trained by Motiva on Preserve, and I perform fat transfer, traditional augmentation and every type of lift, so the plan follows your anatomy rather than one technique.
Ready to Talk?
The ballerina look is a measurement before it is a style. Come in, get measured, see it in 3D, and decide.
Call the office at (915) 590-7900, text us at 1-866-814-0038, or book a consultation at agulloplasticsurgery.com/appointments. #StayBeautiful
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