Breast Procedures
Age, heredity and changes in weight can all affect the appearance of a woman’s breasts. While many parts of the body can be changed and improved with exercise, a woman can do little to change the shape and size of the breasts naturally. Augmenting, lifting or reshaping the breasts can have a profoundly positive influence upon a woman’s self-image. At Duet Plastic Surgery, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub offer San Jose and San Francisco Bay Area residents a woman's perspective on the breast contouring procedures that can help you improve the balance of your figure.
Breast Augmentation - Breast Lift - Breast Reduction
Breast Augmentation
Women undergo breast augmentation for a variety of reasons, including a desire to balance their figures as well as to improve breast asymmetry. If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, breast augmentation is an option to consider. Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammaplasty, uses implants to increase breast size or restore breast volume that has been lost after weight loss, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Breast augmentation adds fullness to the breasts and increases projection.
At Duet, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub pride themselves on achieving natural-looking results that fit each patient’s individual body type. During your consultation with Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub, you will discuss several factors related to breast implant surgery.
Location of Incision
An important decision you will make with the plastic surgeons of Duet is the location of the incision. The common incisions are inframammary, axillary and periareolar. The incision placement is determined by the size and type of the implant, your skin and the preference of you and your surgeons. Drs. Lim and Weintraub will talk to you about the advantages of the different approaches and help you decide which is best for you.
Type of Implant
Another factor to consider is the type of implant to be used. Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. They can be filled with varying amounts of saline which can affect the shape, firmness and feel of the breast. If the implant shell leaks, a saline-filled implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. Saline-filled implants are safe and currently approved for woman 18 years and older.
Silicone implants are filled with a smooth silicone gel. The gel feels and moves much like natural breast tissue. However, if the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket. A leaking implant filled with silicone gel may not be obvious as it will not collapse. If you choose these implants, you should visit your plastic surgeon regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. An ultrasound or MRI screening can assess the condition of breast implants. Silicone gel-filled implants are currently FDA-approved for women 22 years and older.
Location of Implant
During your consultation with Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub, you will also discuss the location within your breast for placement of the implant. After the incision is made, the breast implant is placed into a pocket either beneath the pectoral muscle (subpectoral) or over the muscle but beneath the breast tissue itself (subglandular). The method for inserting and positioning implants depends on the type of implant, degree of enhancement desired and your body shape.
Breast augmentation typically takes between 1 and 2 hours. Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub perform this operation together, which shortens your time in the operating room. Most patients go home the same day and require only oral pain medications for comfort. You will return to see your surgeons the following day, at which time they will place you in a supportive post-surgical bra to wear for 2 weeks.
While you will notice the results of your breast enhancement immediately, over time the swelling will resolve and your scars will lighten. Most women are extremely happy with their choice to undergo breast augmentation and find their self-confidence is boosted as well.
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Breast Lift
Time, gravity and childbearing can make a woman’s breasts lose their fullness, causing them to sag. While implants are used to make the breasts larger, implants alone may not adequately lift the breasts or correct the stretched skin. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is performed to reshape and lift the breasts. A breast lift restores the breasts to a more naturally rounded shape and also repositions the breast and nipple to a more youthful position. During your consultation at Duet, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub may suggest combining a breast lift with an augmentation to increase the fullness of the upper portion of the breasts.
Depending on the degree of sagging, there are several different ways to perform a breast lift. Some women need only an incision around the nipple to lift the breast, while others require a vertical incision below the nipple as well to obtain an adequate lift. The most significant lift is achieved through a full anchor incision. Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub will discuss with you these options and recommend the approach that best suits your needs.
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Breast Reduction
Women with disproportionately large breasts can experience neck and back pain, shoulder grooving, difficulty exercising and personal discomfort. Having overly large breasts causes some women to feel self-conscious about their bodies, detracting from their self image. While fat is a component of breast tissue, for many women, losing weight does not significantly affect the size of their breasts.
Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a procedure that removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.
Several techniques exist for breast reduction, all of which necessitate incisions on the breasts. Some women will require an incision around the nipple with a "lollipop" type vertical component, while for others a full "anchor" incision is appropriate. These scars fade with time and are concealed beneath a bra or bathing suit. Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub will discuss these options for breast reduction in detail with you during your free consultation at Duet.
A breast reduction will create scar tissue and may affect your ability to breastfeed, as some of the milk ducts are altered or removed. Patients are generally able to go home the day of surgery and can return to work after 2 weeks. Most women are pleased with their decision to undergo breast reduction and feel more comfortable with their bodies as a result.
Gynecomastia
Sometimes men, too, can develop disproportionately large swellings on their chest, which affects personal confidence and self-image. The contour changes may be due to increased fatty deposits in the male breast area, or even prominent breast tissue. Often this is hormonally or medication related, and the condition resolves with the passage of puberty or discontinuation of the offending drug. When the problem persists despite thorough medical evaluation and treatment (a familial pattern is often detected), gynecomastia surgery, or "male breast reduction", can be performed. Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub will evaluate you and determine what type of procedure is warranted.
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