Breast surgery: A small step towards a fulfilling life

Dr. Srijana MuppiReddy
Consultant Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad

Cosmetic surgeries on breasts aim to increase the size, shape or fullness of breasts. Some ladies suffer from having underdeveloped, poorly-developed or over-developed breasts due to genetic makeup, hormonal imbalance or diseases. While undeveloped or inadequately developed breasts can cause emotional, social or breast-feeding issues, overdeveloped or hypertrophic breasts can cause embarrassment and medical conditions such as pain in the breasts, neck, shoulder and back. Moreover, in some patients, when benign or malignant tumours are found on breasts, they can end up having mutilated, misshapen or painful breasts. Correction of these conditions is possible by reconstructive surgery by qualified plastic surgeons. Cosmetic surgery on breasts, also called mammoplasty, is divided into these four categories:

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Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammoplasty):

This process involves using implants or fat transfer to enhance breasts. It can also restore volume of breasts lost after weight reduction or pregnancy, achieve rounded breast or improve their natural symmetry. Fat grafting (lipo-modelling) may be considered for breast augmentation and correction of defects associated with medical conditions and previous surgeries. This technique has excellent results, low complication rate and patient acceptance. Lipomodelling is the new alternative in the treatment of conditions such as pectus excavatum, tuberous breasts and breast asymmetries. Many studies have also shown that women who get implants are not at an increased risk of getting breast cancer.

Breast reduction surgery:

The best candidates for breast reduction surgery are women who are experiencing symptoms such as back and neck pain and rashes beneath the breasts due to their over-developed breasts.

During this procedure fat, excess skin and breast tissue are removed. After surgery, most women report relief from symptoms. Patients may experience a change in breast sensation as well as the inability to breast feed depending on the technique used. This procedure has excellent long-term patient satisfaction.

Breast Reconstruction:

Breast reconstruction surgery is generally done in women who undergo mastectomy as treatment for breast cancer. The procedure recreates a breast with desired appearance, contour and volume with implants or with woman’s own tissue taken from lower abdominal wall, back muscle or fat. The nipple and the areola are also recreated. Breast reconstruction can be done any time after mastectomy and some forms of reconstruction can also reverse the ill effects of radiation and previous surgery. Completion of breast cancer surgery is typically to be considered incomplete without giving the benefit of reconstruction to make the patient feel normal once again.

Breast lifts (Mastopexy):

In some women, when their skin is not strong or resilient enough to support the weight of breast, it leads to sagging. To give the breasts a lift, the excess skin must be removed or sometimes augmented at the same time. Patients must know about their concerns and expectations, review the benefits, risks and alternatives.