There are many myths and misconceptions about breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. One is that only single 20-somethings have breast augmentation surgery. In fact, many women who seek breast augmentation are mothers who have experienced a loss of breast volume after having children, or women who have lost a significant amount of weight. Both are looking to restore the volume and shape of their breasts.
Another misconception is that breast reconstruction after a breast cancer diagnosis is not covered by insurance and that symmetry cannot be achieved. At the Golden Isles Centre for Plastic Surgery, we understand that the decision to have any type of breast surgery can be overwhelming. Should we or shouldn’t we tinker with our ta-ta’s? This is the million dollar question.
An essential part of cosmetic breast surgery is a thorough evaluation that discusses a woman’s goals and desires regarding the size and shape of her breasts. A consultation with Dr Diane Bowen, a board-certified plastic surgeon, can be very helpful in determining if cosmetic breast surgery is right for you. There are several surgical options for a woman to choose from. For some women, they like what they have, but it just needs to be repositioned.
In this scenario, a breast lift would be a viable option. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and reshapes the existing breast tissue to return the breasts to a ‘perkier’ position. Other women want to be bigger than they are. In this scenario, breast augmentation would be a viable option. Breast augmentation, or mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure in which breast implants are placed under the breast tissue or pectoral muscles to create the desired shape and size. In some cases, small, sagging breasts may require both an implant and a lift, which can be done in the same operation.
The right surgical procedure for you depends on the shape of your breasts and your desired results.
Is bigger better? Many women feel that if they are going to spend time and money on breast augmentation surgery, they want to get their money’s worth. Our society and social media also encourage this “pump ’em up” attitude. As a plastic surgeon, Dr Diane Bowen’s job is to listen, assess and then recommend an appropriate course of action. The goal of breast augmentation is to have natural looking breasts that are in harmony with the rest of a woman’s body shape and size. This means that a tall woman with a large frame will look more proportional with a larger implant than a petite woman with a slender frame. If implants are too large, they can also cause unwanted neck and back problems. Bigger is not always better, especially if they look out of proportion to the rest of the body.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you have had breast cancer and had part or all of your breast removed, or if you are unbalanced after radiation, thankfully a federal law requires insurance to cover the reconstruction of the affected breast, as well as the surgery needed to reshape the other breast to achieve symmetry. Breast reconstruction with implants can also be done after a mastectomy or injury.
New technology allows breast cancer to be diagnosed earlier and needle biopsy techniques allow diagnosis without surgery. Many advances have also been made in breast reconstruction to reduce recovery time and optimise long-term symmetry. In the past, mastectomy was a disfiguring guillotine operation, but now the breast tissue can be removed, leaving behind the breast skin envelope, sometimes even the nipple.
This can be filled in at the time of the mastectomy using a direct-to-implant procedure, avoiding the many stages of reconstruction that were standard five years ago. This results in a very natural looking breast. Partial mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy has become a routine way of treating many breast cancers. In the past, this could leave a woman with a “sunken cupcake” look, resulting in asymmetry.
As innovators, plastic surgeons are using their unique skills to develop oncoplastic reconstruction. In this technique, the breast is reshaped and lifted at the same time as the lumpectomy. This means that a woman’s results can be just as good, and sometimes even better, in size and shape. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, insist on a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon before any surgery so that you can make the best, most informed decision for you, based on all the modern reconstruction options available.
