An Overview of Mammoplasty
This article discusses how surgery is used to alter the breasts.
As cosmetic surgeries go, mammoplasty is among the most popular. Many woman want to change the size and sometimes the shape of their natural breasts. It might be vanity, health issues, or reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy that cause a woman to choose this surgery. Mammoplasty is used to accomplish several different purposes.
Mammoplasty is used for breast augmentation.
Breast augmentation or enlargement is by far the most frequent use of mammoplasty. Using implants with a silicon shell, they can be filled with a saline (salt water) solution or silicon. Because of all of the health issues arising from leaky silicon filled implants, they were removed from the market for several years. Recently, these have been improved and are not being used in some research studies to verify their safety.
Women are sometimes asked to wear external augmentation for a few days or a week.
This is done to determine if the breast size desired will work for them in appearance and lifestyle. The actual breast implant itself can be inserted in several ways. This depends on the surgeon and the situation. Regardless of how the implant is inserted, every effort is made to conceal any scarring that might occur. The three primary approaches to the insertion site are to make an incision at the crease formed where the lower breast meets the chest wall. For some women, the incision is made around the perimeter of the areola. Finally, breast implants can be put into place from the armpit.
Breast implants can go under or above the chest muscles.
Depending on the desired outcome and the choice of the surgeon, implants can go under the chest muscles or above them. The placement of the implant can influence the appearance of the completed augmentation. It can also affect how the body adjusts to the implant. Either way, a small pocket is created for the implant to be inserted.
Breast reductions are usually done for health reasons.
While some women actually want to have smaller breasts to change their appearance, the reason most women are brought to this decision has more to do with health. Heavy breasts can create problems for a woman’s shoulders, her posture, and spine. Removing some of the weight by reducing her breasts to a size that is more natural in appearance for her body size can relieve much of the stress created by the excess tissue.
This procedure usually aims to reduce the size of the breast and reshape them to a contour that is not defined by gravity. Often, breasts are reduced by cutting around the areola and making an incision on the underside of the breast from the areola to the chest. Breast tissue and skin is removed to reduce the breast size and maintain its shape.
Breasts can be augmented and reduced to make them the same size.
Some women develop breasts with large differences in size. This is uncomfortable for them physically and mentally. These women are aware that their chest may appear strange to others. The situation can present problems in clothing styles and choices. By having one breast either enlarged or reduced to match the other one, these women can feel better about their bodies and usually get a boost in physical condition.
Breast lifts are another form of mammoplasty.
In a breast lift, the breasts are not augmented or reduced. The tissue surrounding the breasts is altered by surgery to pull the breasts upward and reduce the sag. The sagging may be caused from childbirth, nursing, age, weight loss, or other reasons. Following the lift, the breasts should have a more youthful appearance and most clothing will fit more comfortably.
Breast reconstruction is another important form of mammoplasty.
When a woman has to undergo a mastectomy to remove a breast cancer, in order to restore her previous appearance, breast reconstruction is performed. Muscle, skin, implants are used to build a new breast to replace the one lost to cancer. Even the nipple and areola can be reconstructed by a skillful surgeon. Most women find the results of this surgery to be satisfying.
Insurance will usually pay for mammoplasty that is health related.
Far more breast reductions and size adjustments are paid by insurance than breast augmentations. The first two procedures are designed to restore a woman’s body to a natural condition. Federal law requires insurance companies to pay for reconstruction after a mastectomy. Breast augmentation is considered to be much more an issue of vanity than medical necessity.
Resource for this article:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=43249
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