Which Breast Procedure Is Right for You?

In 2018 there were around half a million breast surgeries in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). From augmentations to reductions, you have options to change the look, shape, or feel of your breasts. If you're not sure which surgery is right for you, take a look at the questions to ask first.

Do You Have Discomfort?

Are your breasts too large for your frame? If you have chronic back pain, nerve pain, or feel discomfort when you're active, you may need a breast reduction surgery.

Not only can this surgical option improve how you feel physically, but it can also help to improve your self-image. Before you decide on this procedure, talk to the doctor about:

• Size . How much tissue do you want to remove? The surgeon can help you to choose the ideal size and explain how the procedure will help you to achieve it.
• Expectations . Make sure your expectations are realistic. The surgeon can take you step by step through the process and discuss what the results are.
• After-care . The pre-surgery discussion shouldn't end at what to expect from the procedure itself. Talk to the doctor about how much recovery time you'll need and what you can expect from your breasts after they heal.

If size and discomfort aren't issues for you, read on to learn more about other questions to ask.

Are You Uncomfortable with Your Size?

While a breast reduction can help you to achieve a smaller size, an augmentation will have the opposite effect. Breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2018. According to ASPS's statistics, more than 313,700 augmentations were performed in one year alone.

As you try to decide if this surgery is right for you, consider:

• The reasons for choosing this surgery . Why do you want larger breasts? If this is something you're doing for yourself, is well thought out, and will truly make you happy, you're on the right track. But if you want larger breasts to please someone else, you need to reconsider.
• The realistic expectations . An augmentation can give you fuller and larger breasts. Talk to the surgeon about size and your frame. The large-sized breasts you want, may not fit naturally on your body.
• The confidence connection . Even though augmentation can help to improve your self-image, larger breasts aren't the path to complete confidence.

Discuss the procedure, your options (in terms of type of implant and size), and recovery time with the surgeon prior to deciding. This information will help you to better understand your own needs and how this surgery will impact your life.

Do You Need a Lift?

Even though augmentation can change the look of your breasts, it won't lift them or stop them from sagging. Childbirth, breastfeeding, weight loss, age, and genetics can cause breasts to sag. If this is an issue for you, a breast lift:

• Can remove excess skin . To raise the breasts and tighten the area, the doctor will remove the extra skin and reshape the area.
• Can reduce the areola size . If you're uncomfortable with the size of your areola, the surgeon may give you the option to reduce the area during your lift procedure.
• Can give you a more youthful appearance . If you miss the way you looked years ago, a breast lift can give you back your former frame and add perkiness to your appearance.

A breast lift is not the same as an augmentation procedure. While the doctor reshapes the area (after removing the excess skin), this won't create a fuller look. If you want to reduce sagging and increase the overall size, you may need a combination breast lift and augmentation.

Do you want to change the size and shape of your breasts? Contact the office of Ronald C. Barry, MD, FACS for more information.