Breast Surgery: Three Common Procedures Explained And The Risks
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 involves 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