Breasts

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BREAST AUGMENTATION

Enlargement of the breasts or to provide lost fullness, is provided by inserting silicone gel implants. Silicone has been proven to be safe and the implants used have been approved by the FDA in the USA. This procedure is usually performed on patients in whom the breasts did not develop to an acceptable volume, patients with abnormally developed breasts (such as tuberous breasts), involution of breasts after pregnancy or due to menopausal changes and patients who lost volume after weight loss.

Incisions are usually made in the fold under the breast called the infra mammary fold. This and the size of the implant is finally decided after examination  of the patient.

There is no effect on future pregnancy, breastfeeding, self examination, breast cancer risk or detection of breast cancer.

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BREAST LIFT

MASTOPEXY

Mastopexy aims to tighten floppy breast skin ( that leads to saggy/hanging breasts ) and elevate the position of the nipple-areolar complex to the acceptable level on the breast. Patients usually require this procedure after weight loss or pregnancy where the breasts have been expanded and after involution, the skin could not shrink back at the same rate, leading to a relative excess of skin in relation to the breast volume.This then causes the nipple to be lower on the breast than normal.

The excess skin is excised, and the remaining skin tightened,  thereby pushing the nipple higher to the normal level on the breast.This unfortunately leads to more scarring on the breasts.

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BREAST LIFT AND ENLARGEMENT

MASTOPEXY WITH AUGMENTATION

This combines the two above-mentioned procedures. Patients who experienced loss of volume and saggy breasts, which is mostly the case after pregnancy and weight loss, benefit from this combined procedure.

The above information on the individual procedures apply in the same way when the two are combined.

This combination is sometimes performed simultaneous with abdominoplasty (Mommy-tuck) to restore body contours that were distorted by pregnancy.

BREAST REDUCTION

Some women experience over-development of their breasts. This causes severe negative impact on their quality of life both physically and psychologically. These patients present from an early age as fourteen years up to their sixties. In young girls, it is important to establish that the breast growth has stabilised before considering this type of surgery for the possible risk that the breasts might enlarge again in future. If this does happen, a second breast reduction is possible, but associated with more risk than the first.

With this procedure, excess skin is removed similar as with mastopexy, thereby leaving the same scars and also elevating the nipple to a higher normal level on the breast. Excess breast tissue is then additionally removed here to reduce the volume of the breasts. Body proportions are used to decide how much breast tissue should be removed.

The ability to breast feed in future is unpredictable and patients are prepared that they will not be able to breast feed. There is also no interference, positive or negative, with the risk of developing or detecting breast cancer in future.

Information & Risks