Breast Augmentation
Breast improvement surgery can encompass a variety of different procedures for a patient depending on their goal. These surgeries can augment (make bigger), lift, reduce or reconstruct after a trauma or catastrophic illness.
Breast augmentation is the process of making the breasts larger and or fuller. This can be achieved with implants or by fat transfer. The surgery is done to restore volume that may have been lost after weight loss or pregnancy or to make a fuller appearance that did not occur during the normal growth process. Augmentation may also be performed in conjunction with reconstruction surgery after a trauma or a catastrophic illness such as cancer.
The augmentation is done by inserting implants either submuscularly or subpectorally. Both of these terms refer to the implants being placed under the chest muscle. This often gives a more natural look with less chance of the implant being noticed under the skin. An alternative to this is to insert the implant subglandularly or above the chest muscle. This is generally done for women with a fair amount of breast tissue to begin with and can be done as part of a breast lift.
When performing augmentation the surgeon has 4 techniques available to insert the implant. The inframammory crease is the incision made is placed under the fold of the breast. The areolar incision is the incision is done around the nipple. A transaxillary incision is made in the crease of the armpit. And the transumbilical breast augmentation otherwise known as a TUBA is when the incision is made inside the belly button and the implants are guided up through the abdomen and placed above the muscle.
The implants can be made of silicone or saline. Silicone implants are filled with a silicone gel. These tend to cost more and can have a more realistic look and feel to them. Saline implants start out as an empty shell, once inserted into the breast area are filled to the desired size with sterilized normal saline prior to the completion of the surgery. Both silicone and saline implants come in several sizes and shapes for a customized fit that is agreed upon by both the patient and the surgeon.
A breast lift or mastopexy is a procedure that raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin, reshaping and tightening the surrounding tissue. The causes for the need for this surgery include childbirth, weight loss and aging. The surgeon elevates the breast on the chest wall and repositions the nipple and areola. A breast lift can be done alone, or in conjunction with implants.
Breast reduction is done to reduce the size of the breast by removing excess fat, skin and glandular tissue for a result of smaller firmer and lighter breasts. Reduction surgery can be done for both cosmetic and medical reasons.
Breast reconstruction may be done after illness or injury where the breast tissue was removed, as in the case of a cancer. The surgeon recreates or makes a new breast with implants or fat injections into the areas. Depending on the removal surgery this may also involve rebuilding a nipple and areola to restore the body to a more ‘normal’ state. |
