Not All Breast Procedures are the Same, So Which One is Right for Me?
In the plastic surgery world, there are three major types of breast surgery: augmentation, reduction, and lift. Each procedure is different and has different benefits for your body. In order to choose your breast surgery, you need to understand how each one helps you and why you should choose one over the other.
What a Breast Reduction Does
In case it wasn’t already clear, a breast reduction is a procedure that makes your breasts smaller by removing excess breast tissue. The remaining breast tissue can then be shaped so that it matches the appropriate size. Typically, the surgery involves making incisions from the bottom of the areola straight down the underside of your breast to where it connects to the rest of your chest. Fat deposits and breast tissue can be removed through the incisions and the areola can be repositioned if necessary. Once the appropriate amount of tissue has been removed, the incisions are closed with sutures.
Reasons to Get a Breast Reduction
A proper breast size is all about proportion. You want your breasts to be just right for your frame: not too big or too small. For breast reduction patients, the problem is having breasts that are too large. These patients usually have other issues that directly result from overly large breasts, including:
- Pain in the upper back and shoulders
- Finding clothes and lingerie that flatter your figure
- Stretching out shirts and sweaters around the breasts
- Difficulty exercising
If you struggle with any of these particular issues or others that might be related to having too much breast tissue, then a breast reduction can help.
What a Breast Augmentation Does
On the flip side, a breast augmentation is all about making your breasts larger. Instead of reducing the tissue volume, implants are used to increase the volume. The implants can be one of two options. The first is a saline implant, which is a silicone shell that is placed in the breast and then gradually filled with a saline solution until the desired volume is reached. The second is a silicone implant, which has a flexible shell that contains silicone gel. Both options have a well-established history of reliability and safety for breast augmentation patients.
For this procedure, the incisions can be made in the breast crease, under the armpit, or on the areola. The implants are carefully placed and then the breasts can be tweaked a little bit to make sure the implants look natural.
Reasons to Get a Breast Augmentation
It might seem like women get breast augmentation just to have larger breasts and, for some patients, that’s true. Some women have naturally small breasts that just don’t look right on their frame. There are other reasons that women choose a breast augmentation, including:
- Lack of self-confidence in their bodies
- Difficulty filling out clothes and lingerie
- Breast asymmetry, a condition in which your breasts are two different sizes
- Restoring your breasts after a medical procedure or illness
If you have experienced these types of problems, the implants used in breast augmentation can give you the size and shape that you really want for your breasts.
What a Breast Lift Does
Sometimes the problem isn’t that your breasts are too large or too small. Instead, your breasts might need a little boost. There are a lot of different things that can affect the condition of your breasts during your lifetime, from gravity and age, to pregnancy, breast feeding and weight fluctuations. By the time you’ve reached your 40’s, you might find that your breasts could use a little maintenance. A breast lift basically tightens everything back up again so that your breasts look normal and younger.
The procedure can be done in different ways depending on the kind of work your breasts need, but the incisions are the same as those used in a breast reduction. The breast tissue can be lifted and reshaped. The areola can also be lifted higher or centered better on your breast if needed.
Reasons to Get a Breast Lift
Breasts age in different ways for each patient, but there are a few issues that are common. These include:
- Breasts that look deflated, which can occur after breastfeeding or major weight loss
- Areolas that are low on the breast tissue (ideally, they should be in the center of your breast facing forward)
- Breasts that are sagging or hanging loose on your frame
- Breasts that need a fuller shape
Whichever way your breasts age, if you are generally satisfied with the size and shape of your breasts, a breast lift will help restore your breasts so they are positioned well and have a perkier look.
Still Aren’t Sure What You Need?
Even after reading through this, you might still be unsure which breast surgery is right for you. Maybe you have problems that can be addressed by more than one procedure. Maybe each of your breasts have different needs. Or maybe you just have no clue what to choose. You are not alone! A lot of patients are not really sure what they need but know that they want to improve their breasts.
This is where the patient consultation comes in. Before you can get breast surgery, you have to schedule a patient consultation with a plastic surgeon. Your consultation is the time for the surgeon to assess your breasts and discuss your concerns with you. Once they have an understanding of what you would like to improve, the surgeon can develop a plan for your surgery. Getting to sit down with an actual doctor and talk about the different procedures will give you a much better sense of what you can do for your breasts and ultimately for yourself.
To schedule a breast surgery consultation at Spalding Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA, you can call our office at (310) 275-2467 or send us an email with your information through the Contact page.