How to: Breast Surgery Explaination

Breast Augmentation

Sometimes referred to as "augmentation mammaplasty", this procedure involves the use of a saline breast implant through an incision in one of three places, depending on the individual patient. The implant may be inserted into:

• below the breast
• around the nipple
• in the armpit

The saline breast implant is inserted below the breast, around the nipple, or in the armpit (through the incision made) and placed either behind the breast tissue or under the chest. Typically, the goal of a breast augmentation procedure is to both increase the size of the breasts, and improve the overall shape.

Breast Lift

Often due to pregnancy and/ or aging, patients wish to have their breasts lifted back to where they originally came from. There are a number of techniques used to raise a drooping breast gland, but they will generally involve removing tissue from the top of the breast in order to 'pull' the breast back up (similar to a facelift).

Breast Reduction

Patients often choose to have their large breasts made smaller to relieve symptoms of back and neck pain. Often, women with large breasts also suffer from painful bra straps, which struggle to support breasts which can be extremely heavy.

This is the most invasive breast surgery. To make large breasts smaller, incisions are made underneath the breast, and tissue is removed. Unlike the other breast plastic surgery procedures, breast reductions are often covered by insurance due to the serious physical implications of carrying large, weighty breasts.

Breast Surgery Risks

There are risks associated with any surgery. Possible complications of breast surgery include:

• reactions to anesthesia
• blood clots
• infection
• changes in breast or nipple sensation
• capsular contracture (hardening of scar tissue around the implant)
• swelling
• bruising