August 2020 Q&A: Is Breast Surgery Right For Me?

Posted July 29, 2020

Breast surgery continues to be one of the most commonly sought-after plastic surgery procedures. Most patients are interested in getting more information on one of the following areas:

• Adding volume or fullness to the upper breast
• Fixing asymmetry between both breasts
• Breast augmentation

Volume or fullness can be lost to the upper breast because of weight loss or hormonal changes after pregnancy or aging. The breasts can appear smaller and sagging. A padded bra can help but many women are still unhappy with the gap that occurs between their breast and the fabric. This is a very common complaint as we move into the warmer months with bathing suits, summer clothes, and intimate apparel. Many women, as they age, have similar complaints regarding the loss of fullness and the inability to maintain the upper pole fullness of the breast. A common misconception is that a breast lift is needed to restore fullness to the breast when in actuality, a lift is used to reposition the breast on the chest wall and an implant, or fat transfer, is needed to add volume. It is very common to use a combination of an implant with a type of breast lift to achieve the desired results. There are several different types of breast lifts that can be done by the surgeon, the correct procedure will be determined based on the amount of sagging to the woman’s breasts. 

Slight asymmetry is very common; however, significant asymmetry is not uncommon. The problem is most women are not sure how to address asymmetry and are often uncomfortable discussing it during their developmental stages. Significant asymmetry is challenging because in most cases the breasts are not only different sizes but also different shapes, almost as if they are on two different people. In these cases, it is common to need a combination of a breast lift and an augmentation. In many cases, two different types of lifts may be required to achieve the desired result. The end goal is to provide symmetry between the breasts and help the patient to achieve confidence in their appearance.

Breast augmentation is generally used to restore breast volume and shape. Women of all ages, breast sizes, and shapes may consider this procedure. Typically, a breast augmentation is used to increase breast size, but it can also restore lost volume due to pregnancy or weight loss, improve breast symmetry, correct elongated breasts, or fight the effects of aging. Implant shapes and sizes have changed over the last 5-6 years and are now better designed to fit the shape and curvature of the female body. 

Breast shape and size do not define a woman but can certainly affect self-esteem and confidence. Acceptance is important in life as we make our own choices and determine how we define ourselves.