Breast Augmentation
Also known as augmentation mammaplasty, breast augmentation involves using implants to fulfill your desire for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy.
Breast Reduction
Also known as reduction mammaplasty, breast reduction 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.
Breast Revision
Revision surgery is for women who want to correct or modify an original breast implant surgery through the removal and replacement of the breast implant device. Reasons for breast revision surgery may include any one or a combination of the following: areolas too large, asymmetry, breast lift (mastopexy), change of implant type or size, or displacement.
Breast Reduction for Men
Also known as gynecomastia, breast reduction for men is the surgical correction of over-developed or enlarged breasts in men.
Breast Lift
Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.
Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction is achieved through several plastic surgery techniques that attempt to restore a breast to normal shape, appearance and size following mastectomy.
Although breast reconstruction can rebuild your breast, the results are highly variable:
- 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 from a variety of techniques.
- 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.
Breast Implants
Women consider breast aesthetic surgery for numerous reasons such as to reconstruct breasts after losing them to breast cancer or to restore breast shape and form following childbearing, breastfeeding, or significant weight loss, or simply because she’s unhappy with her breast size and/or shape. Although the desired outcome for each individual may differ, there is a common thread among women who choose breast surgery – their fundamental desire to restore and enhance their personal sense of self and femininity.
If you are considering breast surgery, for either reconstructive or augmentative reasons, you may have questions about breast implants and the safety of those medical devices.
Again, it is important that you visit Dr. Herrmann to discuss your options and expectations in detail, so that you can make an informed decision. Find information about breast implants on the FDA’s website.
All breast implants are made of a round or shaped silicone elastomer (rubber-like) outer shell. Breast implants can either be saline filled or silicone gel filled.
- Saline breast implants have a self sealing valve that is used to fill the implant with sterile saline solution (salt water) at the time of surgery.
- Silicone implants are pre-filled with a cohesive silicone gel. Silicone is derived from silicon, an element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silica. Beach sand, crystals and quartz are silica; in fact, silica is the most common substance on earth.
In addition to silicone gel-filled breast implants, silicone is used safely in the body in many medical devices and products, including pacemakers, replacement heart valves, artificial joints and baby pacifiers.
In the past, there has been some controversy surrounding the use of gel-filled silicone breast implants, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the medical devices in November 2006. Silicone gel-filled breast implants are among the most studied FDA approved devices in existence, with hundreds of peer-reviewed and published reports, including robust epidemiological studies supporting their safe use.
To meet each woman’s individual needs, breast implants come in a variety of shapes, sizes (volume), textures and projection profile combinations. This vast array of options, combined with your body type, physical characteristics and goals for surgery, helps you and Dr. Herrmann arrive at a decision about implant size and placement that is right for you specifically. Prior to surgery, it is important to candidly discuss your expectations. Dr. Glenn Herrmann is your most valuable resource to help you achieve realistic expectations and to make your surgical experience a pleasant and safe one with the results you desire. Ask Dr. Herrmann if you can view photos of previous surgical results, and ask to tour his office surgical center and boutique.
Implant Options
- Volume Options: There are a variety of widths and volumes available. Size is evaluated based on a woman’s existing breast tissue. For example, implants that are too big can result in excessive skin stretching and can require future corrective surgeries.
- Shell Options: There are two shell options available, textured or smooth. Surgeons can determine which option is best for an individual patient based on their technique and the shape of the breast implant chosen to best fit the needs of the patient.
- Filler Options: Women in the United States currently have two distinct filler options approved by the FDA. The FDA has approved both saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants after determining that each are safe and effective options for women undergoing breast aesthetic surgery, breast reconstructive surgery or revision surgery. Ultimately, it is up to each woman, along with her surgeon to decide what breast implant option will provide the look and outcome desired from the surgery.
The Natrelle® Collection
The Natrelle® Collection from Allergan, Inc. is a product line of silicone gel-filled and saline-filled breast implants, approved by the FDA that range in volume, shape, texture, and implant filler – saline or silicone gel – providing you and your surgeon an array of options to achieve a personalized result that is in line with your expectations of surgery. For more detailed information about breast implants, please read the complete patient information on the Natrelle® website.
Important Implant Product Information
For more information about having breast surgery in the Denver area or Colorado, contact Coal Creek Plastic Surgery today.