Breast

We perform an array of mammoplasty procedures (cosmetic breast surgeries) including augmentation, reduction, lifts, and reconstruction. It’s common for a few breast procedures to be performed in conjunction with each other to achieve symmetry, proportionality, and the desired results. Patients seek cosmetic breast surgery for different personal reasons, usually related to either health or aesthetics. It’s common for patients to return to work between 3 to 5 days after surgery without requiring pain medication.

Breast augmentation procedures increase breast volume and enhance shape and symmetry. Augmentation requires the insertion of implants, either silicone or saline, via incisions in both breasts. Patients seek augmentation to treat sagginess, increase volume after childbirth and breastfeeding, or to alter contour and improve symmetry.

Breast lifts, or mastopexy, is a cosmetic procedure utilized to minimize sagging, enhance volume, and create perkier breasts. Mastopexy is broken up into minor and major procedures. The deciding variable is often related to the age of the patient. Minor breast lifts require small circular incisions around both areolae. Major breast lift procedures utilize horizontal and vertical incisions on both areolae to gain access to the breast tissue. This type of incision is known as the “Keyhole,” “T-incision”, and “Anchor” because of the shape created. Gaining access to the breast tissue allows the surgeon to rearrange the structure of the breast.

Breast augmentation and lift procedures are often performed simultaneously. Often, augmentations are unsuccessful without a lift, especially when treating sagging skin. At the same time, breast lifts will not increase volume nor create perky breasts without the use of implants. This is decided on a patient-to-patient basis and depends on the wants of the patient, and the recommendations made during a series of consultation appointments.

Breast reduction is achieved by extracting breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin through incisions around the areola and breast contour. The ultimate goal is to decrease volume and size. Patients seek reductions to ease pain caused by large breasts that stress their bodies, to achieve proportionality, and to maintain a natural look.

Patients who experience breast asymmetry, back, neck, or shoulder pain, irritation and outbreaks underneath their breast folds, shoulder grooves caused by tight bra straps, or any physical limitation caused by their breasts, are all good candidates for breast reduction.

There are a few different ways to perform this type of surgery. The most common one use three incisions; one around the areola, a vertical incision from the areola to the fold below the breast, and a third that follows the breast contour.

Before receiving breast reduction, it is important that patients understand the ability to breastfeed afterward is not guaranteed. They may also notice that their nipples appear smaller. This is because they’ve been stretched before the reduction. It is recommended that all patients wait to receive reductions until their breasts have fully developed.

Breast reconstruction procedures consist of a series of plastic surgery techniques to alter breast shape, size, and appearance. There are a couple of different ways to perform breast reconstruction. One method utilizes tissue from the back, abdomen, or buttocks. The tissue is formed into a mound and acts as an implant. The most common method of reconstruction is a lift and augmentation (or reduction) combo that includes silicone or saline implants. Two or more follow-up operations to may be required to achieve the desired results.

Reconstruction can replicate a natural looking breast in shape and appearance, but will not do so in touch. Many patients who seek breast reconstruction have just undergone a mastectomy or childbirth and are looking to regain the natural look of their breasts.