BREAST
BREAST AUGMENTATION
Augmentation Mammaplasty
Breast augmentation involves using breast implants or fat transfer to increase the size of your breasts. This procedure can also be used to restore breast volume lost after weight loss and pregnancy, to achieve a more rounded breast shape or help improve natural breast size asymmetry.
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Breast augmentation is also referred to as augmentation mammoplasty. When fat from another part of the patient's body is used to create the improved breast volume, the procedure is referred to as fat transfer breast augmentation.
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Breast augmentation surgery can:​
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Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
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Improve the balance of breast and hip contours
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Enhance your self-image and self-confidence
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Breast augmentation surgery can't do:​
Breast augmentation will not correct severely drooping breasts. A breast lift may be required along with a breast augmentation for sagging breasts to look more full and lifted. Breast lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation. Your plastic surgeon will assist you in making this decision.
BREAST IMPLANT REVISION
Implant Replacement
The goal of breast implant revision surgery is to replace old breast implants with new implants. Often the goal is also to change or improve the appearance of the breasts while updating the implant material, which could include a concurrent breast lift or reduction, reshaping the breast implant pocket to reposition the implant on the chest or either increasing or decreasing the size, shape, or style of the breast implant.
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The desire to have breast implant revision surgery can be because of any of the following reasons:
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Desire to change the size of the breasts
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Pain from capsular contracture
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Concern about rupture or migration of implant
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Change from saline to silicone or different style of implant
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Over time, breast implants can change shape or size, and the overlying breast tissue can also change, creating an appearance or feel to the breast that is less desirable than the original result. Because of this, many women will elect to replace or update their breast implants at or around the 10-year time frame.
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Breast implant revision surgery is not a standard or routine procedure and needs to be tailored specifically to the patient's goals and desires. Therefore, this surgery should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon who is well-trained and experienced in all types of breast surgery and who will listen to the patient's goals and desires and will develop a surgical plan specifically to address all of the issues at the time of surgery.
BREAST REDUCTION
Reduction Mammaplasty
Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a procedure to remove excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size more in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with excessively large breasts (macromastia).
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Disproportionately large breasts can cause both physical and emotional distress for patients. Patients with macromastia may experience physical discomfort resulting from the weight of their breasts. The resulting pain can make it challenging for some patients to perform common physical activities. Along with the physical ailments of macromastia, some patients may suffer from emotional distress or more significant mental health problems as a result of their large breasts.
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Although breast reduction is often performed to address medical issues, patients who do not have the symptoms of macromastia but are unhappy with the size of their breasts can still pursue breast reduction as an aesthetic procedure. Patients choosing to undergo breast reduction surgery for cosmetic reasons may cite any number of factors, including social stigmas and wardrobe concerns.
BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL
Explant Surgery
The goal of breast implant removal surgery is to remove breast implants from breast augmentation or breast reconstruction patients. During these procedures, the surgeon may also remove silicone material from implant leaks and the breast capsule, which is the scar tissue that forms after the placement of a breast implant.
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Often, the scar tissue that forms after the placement of an implant is soft and does not need to be removed, but it may harden, causing pain and discomfort. This is often a reason to have the implants and scar tissue removed.
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Breast implants are not lifelong devices and it is important to have them exchanged or removed approximately every 10-15 years. This decision is typically based on the individual and the patient's needs and desires.
In some cases, the outside shell of the implant breaks down causing silicone to leak and the scar tissue around the implant to harden. It is important to understand that your implants should be removed for this reason.
BREAST LIFT
Mastopexy
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.
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New statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show breast lifts have grown 70% since 2000, outpacing breast implants 2-to-1. Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged over time, and a breast lift will reduce this as well.
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A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is more youthful and uplifted. A woman's breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. These changes and loss of skin elasticity can result from:
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Pregnancy
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Breastfeeding
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Weight fluctuations
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Aging
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Gravity
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Heredity
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Breast augmentation surgery can't do:​
Breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of your breasts or round out the upper part of your breast. If you want your breasts to look fuller, consider breast lift and breast augmentation surgery.
FAT TRANSFER BREAST AUGMENTATION
Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting
Fat transfer breast augmentation essentially uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body and inject it into your breasts. This is a breast augmentation option for women who are looking for a relatively small increase in breast size and would prefer natural results.