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Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty) enlarges the size of the breasts to improve their shape. Women wish to do this for various reasons: small breasts, lost breast volume after pregnancy, after weight loss, effects of aging, different sized breasts, and those who seek breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery.
Salt water solution (saline implants) and silicone implants are both available.
Breast augmentation is relatively a safe procedure, but as with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and specific complications known with augmentation that you should discuss with your surgeon. To date, there is no evidence that breast implants will adversely affect your fertility, pregnancy, ability to nurse and no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer.
Breast implants can make it more difficult to get or read mammograms, and special mammogram views or ultrasound tests may be needed. Soya-bean oil filled implants do not interfere with mammogram. They are not available yet in the USA.
Breast augmentation is usually performed in an office facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital outpatient facility. Local or general anesthesia are used for this procedure. Several well concealed incisions are used: around the areola (periareolar), in the armpit (transaxillary), under the breast (inframammary) or by using an endoscope to place the implant through a minimal incision through the armpit. The surgery usually takes 1-2 hours. Most patients will be able to return to work in a few days.
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Breast Lift
Breastlift, or mastopexy, is a procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Sagging breasts may results from many factors; pregnancy, nursing, aging and gravity over time, are just a few. During a mastopexy, the plastic surgeon can also reduce the size of the areola (the darker skin around the nipple) or insert implants to increase breast firmness and size.
A breast lift is normally safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. However, as with any surgery, there is some risk involved. Check with your surgeon about the details of any risk or complication involved with this procedure.
Breast lift is performed as an outpatient procedure, in an outpatient surgery center, a surgeon's office or a hospital.
Breast lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia. Some surgeons using a small incision may prefer local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. A mastopexy procedure usually takes 1 1/2 - 3 hours.
Some patients will be able to return to work in 2 weeks but should avoid lifting anything over their head for about 4 weeks.
Breast Recontruction
Reconstruction of the breast is usually needed after a mastectomy other disease such as severe fibrocystic disease, or from distortion of the breast due to trauma or burns. It is possible to create a breast that can closely resembles and feels like the natural breast.
With the rising awareness of possible immediate breast reconstruction, more patients are now requesting this procedure. This option is not the best for every patient but you should discuss it with your plastic surgeon.
Breast reconstruction has no known adverse effects on detection of breast cancer recurrence. It should not interfere with either chemotherapy or radiation treatment. If you have an implant as part of your reconstruction, there may be some interference with the reading of your mammogram that may require that you take special views or extra procedures like ultrasound, to examine your breasts.
Breast reconstruction is usually performed in a hospital. General anesthesia is usually used for this procedure.
Like any surgical procedure, there is some risk and possible complications involved. Discuss these risks and complications in details with your plastic surgeon.
There are many options for breast reconstruction:
(1) Skin Expansion: Skin expansion and insertion of an implant. This is a two stage procedure which requires placement of an expander at the first stage followed by serial expansions with saline injections. The second stage is removal of the expander and placement of a permanent implant;
(2) Flap reconstruction: This procedure involves creation of a skin flap using your own tissue taken from the back, abdomen, or buttocks,...etc. In many cases, placement of an implant will not be necessary as the tissue will provide enough bulk by itself for the newly constructed breast;
(3) Follow-up procedures: If desired, these may be needed to reconstruct the nipple and the areola, modify the shape or size of the other breast, or replace a tissue expander with an implant. Your surgeon will explain to you the details of these follow up procedures.
Your hospital stay will vary from 1-5 days. You may need about six weeks of recovery before going back to work.
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Breast Reduction
Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is designed for women with very large breasts causing them medical or psychological problems.
Women with very large breasts may experience various medical problems. Common complaints are back and neck pain, breathing problems and irritation/maceration of the skin under the breasts. Breast reduction will reduce or cure most of these symptoms by reducing breast size. Breast reduction can also reduce anxiety in women with very large breasts. The procedure removes skin and breast tissue which makes the breasts smaller and firmer.
Breast reduction is normally safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. However, as with any surgery, there is some risk involved and possible complications. Please check with your surgeon regarding the details of these risks and complications.
Breast reduction is usually done as an outpatient procedure in a hospital, surgery center or office. The surgery usually takes 2-4 hours. Breast reduction surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia.
Some women can return to work in about 2 weeks and others may take as long as 4-6 weeks depending on their job requirements.
Most patients are very satisfied with their operation and most are symptom free compared to their preoperative condition.
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