Breasts

What is a Breast Reduction?
Large breasts can pull the neck and shoulders forward causing pain in the spine and shoulders. Breast reduction procedure to alleviate this may qualify for a Medicare rebate.

The classical breast reduction removes volume and some skin to tighten and lift. This results in an anchor shaped scar and often loss of nipple sensation.

Removing skin around the areola procedures a lift with a scar on the border of the areola only. The associated purse string pleating reduces over the ensuing months and can leave a very satisfactory result.

Liposuction of the breast has the advantage of no scars, no cutting but does not lift the breast. The breasts will be the same shape but 50% smaller.

What is a Breast Augmentation?
Breasts can be enlarged using silicone, saline, or fat transfer. Silicone implants have a very natural feel. The 'allergic' and metabolic 'problems' thought to be caused by them have not been shown to be caused by silicone. The problems of silicone implants relate to the rubbing between the implant and the surrounding breast. This causes an irritation, which can result in scarring forming a hard capsule around the implant. This needs to be broken up and may need surgical removal. Fifteen percent of implants are associated with loss of sensation around the nipple. The other problems of implants are common to all surgical procedures - infection, scars, etc.

Saline implants are not as soft. They are easier to feel through the skin and feel less natural.

Fat transfer has many advantages over silicone and saline prostheses. With fat there are no foreign bodies. It is all you. There are two 2mm canula scars. The breasts feel soft and totally natural - it's all normal breast, all normal you.

Fat transfer is a two-stage process with a top up one month after the initial procedure. Rarely a third top up is needed.

All augmentations are limited by the amount of droop present. If droop is too great some skin will need to be removed.