Breast surgery encompasses a variety of procedures aimed at enhancing, reshaping, or reconstructing the breasts. Each procedure is tailored to meet individual aesthetic goals, whether it involves increasing breast size, reducing it, lifting sagging breasts, or reconstructing breasts after mastectomy. Below is an overview of the most common breast surgery procedures, detailing the process and reasons why individuals choose them.
1. Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammaplasty)
Procedure Overview:
Breast augmentation involves increasing the size of the breasts using implants or fat transfer. This procedure is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries and is often chosen to enhance breast volume and improve symmetry.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia.
- Incisions: Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas, such as under the breast fold (inframammary), around the areola (periareolar), or in the armpit (transaxillary).
- Implant Placement: Implants, which can be saline or silicone, are placed either under the pectoral muscle (submuscular) or directly behind the breast tissue (subglandular).
- Closure: The incisions are closed with sutures, and the area is bandaged to minimize swelling and support healing.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To enhance breast size and volume.
- To restore breast fullness lost after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging.
- To achieve better symmetry if breasts are naturally uneven.
- To boost self-confidence and improve body image.
2. Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Procedure Overview:
A breast lift, or mastopexy, raises and reshapes sagging breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. This procedure does not significantly change the size of the breasts but can be combined with augmentation or reduction.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: The surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia.
- Incisions: Incisions vary based on the degree of lift needed and may include patterns around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease (lollipop incision), or horizontally along the breast fold (anchor incision).
- Tissue Repositioning: The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve contour and firmness.
- Skin Removal: Excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened.
- Closure: Incisions are closed with sutures, and the breasts are bandaged.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To correct sagging breasts caused by aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or significant weight loss.
- To improve the shape and firmness of the breasts.
- To restore a more youthful breast profile without increasing breast size.
- To regain confidence in body appearance.
3. Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammaplasty)
Procedure Overview:
Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to achieve a breast size that is in proportion with the body. This procedure is also known to alleviate discomfort associated with overly large breasts.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: Performed under general anesthesia.
- Incisions: Common incision patterns include a circular pattern around the areola, a keyhole-shaped incision, or an inverted T (anchor-shaped) incision.
- Tissue Removal: Excess breast tissue and fat are removed, often with liposuction, and the remaining tissue is reshaped.
- Nipple Repositioning: The nipple and areola may be repositioned to a higher, more natural position.
- Closure: Incisions are closed with sutures, resulting in a lighter, firmer, and more proportionate breast shape.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To relieve physical discomfort such as back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by large breasts.
- To improve the ability to participate in physical activities without discomfort.
- To achieve a breast size that is proportionate to the body.
- To enhance overall body confidence and comfort.
4. Breast Reconstruction
Procedure Overview:
Breast reconstruction restores the shape, appearance, and size of the breast following a mastectomy or lumpectomy. This procedure can involve implants, autologous tissue (using the patient’s tissue), or a combination of both.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: Performed under general anesthesia.
- Implant-Based Reconstruction: This method involves inserting a breast implant, often preceded by tissue expansion, to recreate the breast mound.
- Flap Reconstruction: In this method, tissue is taken from another part of the body, such as the abdomen (TRAM or DIEP flap) or back (latissimus dorsi flap), and used to reconstruct the breast.
- Nipple and Areola Reconstruction: This can be done using local tissue or by tattooing to recreate the appearance of a natural nipple.
- Closure: Incisions are closed with sutures, and the reconstructed breast is dressed and supported during the healing process.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To restore the breast’s appearance and symmetry after breast cancer surgery.
- To regain confidence and a sense of wholeness following mastectomy.
- To avoid the need for external prosthetics.
- To improve quality of life and emotional well-being.
5. Revision Breast Surgery
Procedure Overview:
Revision breast surgery is performed to correct or improve the results of a previous breast surgery. This may involve changing or removing implants, correcting complications, or refining the breast shape.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: Typically performed under general anesthesia.
- Procedure Tailoring: The exact steps depend on the issues being addressed. This may include implant removal or replacement, correction of capsular contracture, or addressing issues like asymmetry or implant malposition.
- Tissue Adjustment: If necessary, surrounding tissue may be repositioned or tightened to achieve the desired outcome.
- Closure: Incisions are closed with sutures, and the breasts are bandaged to support healing.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To correct complications from previous breast surgery, such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, or malposition.
- To change the size, type, or shape of breast implants.
- To improve the aesthetic outcome of previous breast augmentation, lift, or reduction surgery.
- To restore confidence and satisfaction with breast appearance.
6. Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Procedure Overview:
Fat transfer breast augmentation, also known as autologous fat grafting, enhances breast size and shape using the patient’s own fat, rather than implants.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia.
- Liposuction: Fat is harvested from areas of the body with excess fat, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, using liposuction.
- Fat Purification: The harvested fat is processed and purified to prepare it for injection into the breasts.
- Fat Injection: The purified fat is carefully injected into the breasts in layers to create the desired volume and shape.
- Closure: Incisions from liposuction are closed with sutures, and compression garments may be applied to the donor areas.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To enhance breast size using a natural substance (their own fat).
- To achieve a subtle, natural-looking increase in breast volume.
- To improve breast symmetry or refine the results of previous breast surgery.
- To contour other areas of the body through liposuction at the same time.
7. Breast Implant Removal (Explant Surgery)
Procedure Overview:
Breast implant removal, or explant surgery, involves removing breast implants with or without replacement. It may be chosen for personal reasons, due to complications, or as part of a revision procedure.
Steps:
- Anesthesia: Typically performed under general anesthesia.
- Incisions: Incisions are usually made along the previous scars to minimize new scarring.
- Implant Removal: The implants are carefully removed, and if necessary, the surrounding scar tissue (capsule) is also excised (capsulectomy).
- Closure: The incisions are closed with sutures, and dressings are applied. If not replacing the implants, a breast lift may be performed to tighten the skin.
Why Patients Choose It:
- To remove implants due to personal preference or lifestyle changes.
- To address complications such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, or breast implant illness.
- To return to a more natural breast size and shape.
- To improve comfort and overall well-being.
Breast surgery Like Breast augmentation offers a range of options tailored to individual needs, from enhancing size and shape to addressing medical conditions and improving quality of life. Each procedure is designed with the patient’s goals in mind, ensuring a personalized approach that balances aesthetic desires with safety and health considerations. Whether for augmentation, reduction, lifting, or reconstruction, breast surgery can provide transformative results that enhance both appearance and self-confidence.