Breast Surgeries
Breast re-shaping surgeries include Breast Augmentation mammoplasty, Breast Reduction surgeries, and Mastopexy (Uplift), Breast Reconstruction, Latissimus Dorsi flaps, TRAM/DIEP flaps (using the patient’s own tissue to provide optimum results.
Breast Augmentation
- Breast augmentation is performed to enhance the appearance, size and contour of a woman’s breasts.
- Indications: if breast is too small in relation to their body contour, some other women desire augmentation after size loss associated with pregnancy and lactation & others desire to correct an asymmetry in breast size.
- Breast augmentation is performed with implants that can be placed over or under the pectoralis chest muscle.
- The incision can be placed in the axilla (armpit), areola or lower breast.
- Breast augmentation can be assisted with endoscopes.
- Women should be aware, however, that breast implants may interfere with the detection of cancer and that breast compression during mammography may cause implant rupture.
- A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either saline (a salt water solution) or silicone gel. A woman determines her desired size by fitting trial implants. Currently, saline filled implants are used on an unrestricted basis.
- Breast augmentation is a relatively straightforward procedure. As with any surgery, some uncertainty and risk are associated with breast augmentation surgery.
Breast reduction
- Indication: Large, heavy, pendulous breasts can be uncomfortable. The excess weight can cause neck pain, back pain, skin irritation, bra strap indentations, numbness or weakness.
- Breast reduction is known as reduction mammoplasty. The procedure involves removal of excess skin, fat and glandular tissue.
- With this type of surgery, scarring can be extensive.
- Normal breast sensation, nipple-areola sensation and milk production are usually preserved.
- Possible side effects include: pain and lumpiness from scar tissue and the inability to breastfeed
Breast reconstruction
- Breast reconstruction seeks to recreate a breast with the desired appearance, contour and volume. The nipple-areola component also is recreated.
- Normal breast sensation and the ability to breastfeed are lost when the sensory nerves or milk glands and ducts have been removed or significantly injured.
- The appearance, contour and volume of the breast can be recreated with implants or with a woman’s own tissue.
- If an implant is used, the implant is sized to match the opposite breast.
- A breast also can be recreated using a woman’s own tissue. At times, a segment of the lower abdominal wall can be used. Other tissue options for autologous (using your own tissue) reconstruction include the back muscle and skin or a segment of a buttock.
Breast lifts
- In some women, the skin is not strong or resilient enough to support the weight of the breast, causing the breasts to sag.
- With this condition, called ptosis, there is too much skin compared to breast tissue. To give the breast a lift, or what is known as mastopexy, the excess skin must be removed.