Which Breast Procedure Is Right for Me?
When deciding to have enhancement surgery, there is always the question of what size and shape are right and appropriate for each person; each individual’s needs and desires will be slightly different. Therefore, being well-informed is paramount in order to choose the right board-certified plastic surgeon and ensuring the patient gets the desired results.
When choosing to undergo breast enhancement surgery, the question is the same: which breast procedure is right for me? Only you and your board-certified plastic surgeon can make the final determination on the procedure, or combination of procedures, that is right for your individual situation.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is the number one cosmetic surgery performed in the United States with 300,378 performed in 2017. This procedure increases breast size, restores the natural shape, and improves symmetry. Breast implants made of saline or silicone gel are commonly used to increase the size of the breast or to replenish lost volume due to pregnancy or weight loss.
Patients who want a subtle increase in size, don’t require a breast lift, and have fat tissue in other areas of the body like the thighs and abdomen, may have the option of a fat transfer breast augmentation. Fatty tissue is removed via liposuction from an area of the body and then transferred to add volume to the breasts.
For patients with sagging breasts or have severe drooping, a breast lift in conjunction with breast augmentation may be needed to obtain desired results.
Breast Lift
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure that lifts the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding breast tissue to provide support. Breast lift surgery is performed on patients who have severe sagging or drooping brought on by pregnancies, weight fluctuations, gravity, and sometimes heredity.
Breast Reduction
When you think of a breast enhancement procedure, enlargement is the typical assumption made by most people. However, many women suffer from neck, back, and shoulder pain, as well as experience rashes under the breast where heat is trapped, shoulder grooves from bra straps, numbness in the fingers, shortness of breath, and inability to exercise. When these symptoms affect the patient’s quality of life, a breast reduction is the only viable solution.
During a reduction, skin and glandular breast tissue are removed. Surgery allows the patient to reduce the size of the breasts in order to eliminate excess weight and any related symptoms.
For more information on what breast procedure is right for you, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, contact Del Mar Plastic Surgery at 858-450-9100 .