Breast Surgery
Breast Augmentation
Breast enlargement, known as augmentation mammoplasty, can enhance the body contour of a woman who is unhappy with her breast size.
This procedure may also be used to improve the loss of breast volume following pregnancy and nursing.
Additionally, the operation may help balance breast asymmetries.
Saline or silicone gel implants may be surgically implanted by two routes with placement either above or below the chest muscle.
The standard routes are periareolar (around the areola) and inframammary (lower breast folds).
The implant is composed of an outer flexible, silicone shell and filled with either saline or silicone gel.
The outer surface may be smooth or textured.
Implants also have various sizes, profiles and shapes to meet the individual needs of each woman.
While breast augmentation will enlarge the breasts, the surgery will not alter underlying basic defects in breast shape and form.
Major asymmetries may be improved but will not be completely corrected with breast enlargement alone.
A noticeable difference in the size, shape or orientation of the two breasts is considered normal and is actually the rule.
If breast size and/or nipple position asymmetries are severe, additional procedures to further improve symmetry may be necessary.
Long-term experience with breast enhancement surgery has demonstrated that this operation has a high patient satisfaction rate.
Intended Results
- Larger and shapelier breasts.
- Less asymmetry and size difference.
Recuperation & Healing
- Discomfort is controlled with oral medications.
- A soft bra or compression garment is usually worn for several days postoperatively.
- Patients are usually discharged to the care of a responsible adult and recover at home.
- Light activity may be resumed in 7 days.
Breast Lift
As women age, the breasts lose shape and firmness. The skin gradually loses its elasticity and no longer holds the breasts in a youthful, upright position. Pregnancy, breast feeding, weight gain and loss also add to the tissue burden of loss of skin elasticity. Women who have sagging breasts my benefit from breast lift (mastopexy). If there are also problems of excess volume or size of the breasts, a reduction may also be done at the same time. Volume loss may be corrected by breast augmentation at the same time. Asymmetries may also be improved.
Excess skin is removed, the nipple areolar (dark skin around the nipple) complex is lifted and the breasts are recontoured to create a more youthful appearance with firmer breasts. Depending on preoperative size, appearance and asymmetries, the nipple areolar complexes may also be reduced. There are incisions made directly on the breasts which may extend around the nipple areolar complex, into the front of the breast and into the breast fold, depending on the degree of droop, asymmetry and volume considerations.
Intended Results
- Higher breasts (lifted).
- Tighter breast envelope (increased skin tightness).
- Improved breast symmetry.
- More pleasing breast shape.
- More youthful appearance.
Recuperation & Healing
- Postoperative discomfort is usually controlled with oral medication.
- A soft bra or compression garment is usually worn for at least several weeks postoperatively.
- Light activity may be resumed in seven to 10 days.
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction is designed to reduce the size of a woman's breasts. It may also improve the overall appearance or shape of the breast and help balance breast asymmetries. It helps in treatment of physical complaints such as neck, shoulder and back pain experienced by many women with large breasts.
Skin, along with breast tissue and fat are removed to create smaller, shapelier breasts. An added benefit where drooping exists is a simultaneous uplift of the nipple areolar complex to a more normal position. The areolae (darker skin which surrounds the nipple) may also be reduced in size and made more symmetric.
Intended Results
- Smaller breast size.
- Improved breast contour.
Recuperation & Healing
- Postoperative discomfort is controlled with oral medications.
- A special postoperative support bra may be worn after surgery for several weeks.
- Light activity may usually resume in less than 10 days.
* Information courtesy of American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
* Photos courtesy of American Society of Plastic Surgeons