Breast Procedures

Breast augmentation

What is breast augmentation surgery?

Breast augmentation surgery (augmentation mammaplasty) uses implants to fulfill your desire for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy. Implants also may be used to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy or injury.

Before and after

If you are dissatisfied with your breast size, breast augmentation surgery (either breast enhancement or breast enlargement) is a choice to consider. Breast augmentation can:

• Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
• Improve the balance of your figure
• Enhance your self-image and self-confidence

Many patients find it helpful to review breast augmentation before and after photos.

What it won't do

Breast augmentation does not correct severely drooping breasts. If you want your breasts to look fuller and to be lifted due to sagging, a breast lift may be required in conjunction with breast augmentation.

Breast lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation. Your plastic surgeon will assist you in making this decision.

Is it right for me?

Breast augmentation is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. It may be a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy
• You have realistic expectations
• Your breasts are fully developed
• You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small
• You are dissatisfied with your breasts losing shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss, or with aging
• Your breasts vary in size or shape
• One or both breasts failed to develop normally

Where is it performed?

Breast augmentation is routinely performed on an out-patient basis at a fully accredited nearby outpatient surgery center.

What to expect

Post-operative drains are usually not required. Rarely a temporary drain may be left in place, which is then easily removed in the office during a post-operative visit. Post-operative scarring is rarely visible. Multiple international studies on breast implants have proven that breast implants are safe and reliable. Findings of these studies concluded that breast implants do not cause breast cancer or any other systemic disease. Over 90% of women report no compromise in nipple sensation following breast augmentation. Although it is very unlikely, breast implants can rupture. A ruptured breast implant is easily removed and replaced with a new one. This does not generally cause any long-term complications.

Anesthesia and Medication

Breast augmentation does not necessarily require general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep). General anesthesia is recommended, however, if the breast implants are to be placed beneath the chest wall muscle.

BREAST LIFT SURGERY

What is breast lift surgery?

Breast lift, or mastopexy surgery, raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.

Enhancing your appearance with a breast lift

A woman's breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. These changes and loss of skin elasticity can result from:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Weight fluctuations
• Aging
• Gravity
• Heredity

Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged over time, and a breast lift will reduce this as well. A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is youthful and uplifted.

What breast lifts won't do

Breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of your breasts or round out the upper part of your breast. If you want your breasts to look fuller, consider breast lift and augmentation surgery. If you want smaller breasts, consider combining breast lift and reduction surgery.

Is it right for me?

Breast lift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

A breast lift is a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy and maintain a stable weight
• You do not smoke
• You have realistic expectations
• You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts sag, have lost shape and volume
• Your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous
• When unsupported, your nipples fall below the breast crease
• Your nipples and areolas point downward
• You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas
• One breast is lower than the other

Where is it performed?

Breast lift surgery is routinely performed on an out-patient basis in a fully accredited nearby outpatient surgery center.

What to expect

Post-operative drains are not necessarily required. If drains are used, they are removed easily in the office during a post-operative visit. Although this procedure will result in a visible scar, the surgical scars are placed underneath the lower parts of the breasts and are hidden from view. Breast lift surgery involves re-contouring and reshaping the breast tissue only. The breast muscle itself will not be suspended upward.

Anesthesia and Medication

This procedure is frequently performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.

Breast Reduction

What is breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammaplasty) 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.

Where is it performed?

Breast reduction surgery is routinely performed on an out-patient basis in a fully accredited nearby outpatient surgery center or at a local hospital surgery center with an overnight stay for observation.

Anesthesia and Medication

Breast reduction surgery requires the use of general anesthesia.

Nipple/AREOLA Enhancement

What is nipple/areola enhancement

Nipples that are unusually large (due to genetics or breast feeding) or are inverted or retracted can be resized and reshaped as you desire with little to no visible scarring. Larger nipples can be trimmed to appear more natural and less aged. Flat or inverted nipples can be enhanced or corrected by either releasing scar tissue at the base of the nipple or by inserting a small cartilage stent.

Where is it performed?

This procedure is routinely performed on an out-patient basis, either in Dr. Glafkides’ office or in a nearby fully accredited outpatient surgery center.

Anesthesia and Medication

This procedure is frequently performed under local or intravenous "twilight" anesthesia.

Breast Reconstruction

What is breast reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction involves several plastic surgery techniques that attempt to restore a breast to near normal shape, appearance and size following mastectomy.

Used to reconstruct your breast, the results can vary

• A reconstructed breast will not have the same sensation and feel as the breast it replaces.
• Visible incision lines will always be present on the breast, whether from reconstruction or mastectomy.
• Certain surgical techniques will leave incision lines at the donor site, commonly located in less exposed areas of the body such as the back, abdomen or buttocks.

A note about symmetry: If only one breast is affected, it alone may be reconstructed. In addition, a breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation may be recommended for the opposite breast to improve symmetry of the size and position of both breasts.

Techniques of Breast Reconstruction

• Implant reconstruction with saline or silicone
• Tissue expander reconstruction
• Placement of allograft with implant or tissue expander
• Latissimus dorsi muscle reconstruction
• TRAM Flap reconstruction
• DIEP reconstruction
• Nipple/areolar reconstruction

The procedures listed above can be performed immediately during the time of mastectomy or delayed, after breast cancer surgery is completed.  Dr. Glafkides works closely with general surgeons to help plan the procedures that will benefit each patient.

Where is it performed?

Breast reconstruction surgery is performed  at any of the hospitals where Dr. Glafkides has surgical privileges. A hospital stay is often necessary. Secondary procedures may be performed at a nearby fully accredited outpatient surgery center.

Anesthesia and Medication

Breast reconstruction surgery usually requires general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep).

Male Breast Reduction

What is male breast reduction?

Breast reduction surgery (surgery for gynecomastia) removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body. Very often special liposuction techniques can be used to limit the scars and remove excess fatty tissue. Direct excision of breast tissue may be necessary through small incisions around the areola. For significant weight loss, additional incisions may be necessary to remove excess skin.

Where is it performed?

Gynecomastia surgery is usually performed at a nearby fully accredited out patient surgery center.

Anesthesia and Medication

Gynecomastia surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.