Beauty Doc Blog

August 27.08

There are three basic types of breast surgery options in plastic surgery.  Breast plastic surgery may be an enlargement, reduction or reconstruction.  What are the differences?

Breast enlargement is formally referred to as breast augmentation.  Women who feel their breasts are too small or who may find their breasts smaller after childbirth or time may decide to get breast enlargement surgery.  During an augmentation mammaplasty, a silicone implant is placed behind the natural breast tissue.  The implant is put either under or on top of the pectoral muscle in the chest.  The result is breasts that look filled out, lifted and enlarged in a natural, visually appealing way.

Women seeking breast enlargement should want improvement rather than perfection.  Breast enlargement is a commonly requested surgery. Some women feel their breasts are simply too small.  Breast may lose volume after pregnancy, whether the woman decides to breast feed or not.  Breast augmentation may also be done for reconstruction purposes.  If breasts a uneven, breast reconstruction may be done to correct their asymmetry.  After a mastectomy, breast reconstruction is done to recreate the natural appearance of the breast.

On the other end of the spectrum, breast reduction is done for those with overly large and pendulous breasts.  Large breasts can cause neck, back and shoulder pain.  A reduction mammaplasty sculpts and lifts the breasts to be more comfortable and visually appealing.  Various techniques are used to achieve breast reduction, including the specialized SPAIR technique.  In certain cases, breasts are reduced with liposuction, usually for younger women with excessive breast tissue.

Women seeking breast reduction surgery are often suffering from headaches and back pain.  Their breast skin may be thin and stretched, making it quite fragile and even numb.  Grooves form on their shoulders where breasts straps cut in to support heavy breasts.  These pressure grooves can even cause the skin to permanently discolor.  Women may even have arthritic changes along the back and neck with poor posture and trouble breathing.  Additionally, irritation and rashes may develop under the drooping breast skin, which worsens during warm weather.  Breast reduction is also reconstruction to correct uneven breasts to make them more asymmetrical.

Whether women seek breast enlargement, reduction or reconstruction, it is essential to have plastic surgery for the right reasons.  Candidates should be in a good physical and emotion health.  Their expectations of plastic surgery should be realistic.  Patients considering breast surgery should discuss their goals and options with a licensed, competent plastic surgeon.  In just a few weeks, patients can be enjoying more attractive, comfortable breasts.