There are many reasons why women have plastic surgery performed on their breasts using procedures such as Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, Breast Lift and others.  For some women, their breasts may be too small, for others it may be a need to correct an imbalance or perhaps reconstruct their breasts after a mastectomy.

Whatever your decision, your consideration of breast implants, for either reconstruction or augmentation, should be based on realistic expectations of the results.

With that in mind, please review the list of several procedures below performed by Manhattan - New York City Plastic Surgeon, Dr Richard Swift.

Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty)

Large breasts may cause physical and mental discomfort and can even harm the women who have them -- the size and weight of large breasts can result in self-consciousness, improper posture, pain in the back and neck, indentations from bra straps, skin rashes, breathing problems and skeletal deformities. Breast reduction surgery is usually done to provide physical relief from these symptoms, not for cosmetic reasons. Performed under general anesthesia, the two- to four-hour procedure removes fat and glandular tissue and trims resultant excess skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.

Breast reduction surgery is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed, since many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples are removed.

During the procedure an anchor-shaped incision is made from the new location of the nipple down to and around the crease beneath the breast. The surgeon removes excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, relocates the nipple and areola, and reshapes the breast using skin from around the areola before closing the incisions with stitches. Liposuction may be needed to remove excess fat from the armpit area, and in some cases when only fat needs to be removed from the breasts, liposuction alone is used for breast reduction.

For a few days after surgery the breasts are bound with an elastic bandage or a surgical bra and you may be given surgical drainage tubes for fluid removal. Stitches come out in a week and the surgical bra must be worn for about a month.

A little pain is normal after surgery, whether it's mild discomfort, swelling during menstruation, a measure of numbness or sensitivity, or random, shooting pains that may last for a few months. Swelling, bruising, crusting and slight changes in breast size are also common. Most patients return to work in about two weeks, although you should avoid heavy lifting for three to four and only gentle contact with the breasts should occur for six weeks.

Scars fade with time but will not disappear, although they can be hidden with a bra, bathing suit or low-cut top.

Risks are rare and usually minor but may include bleeding, infection, reaction to the anesthesia, small sores around the nipples, slightly mismatched breasts or unevenly positioned nipples, and permanent loss of feeling in the nipple or breast.

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Inverted Nipple Correction

Nipples may be either naturally flat or indented or, not project to the desired position. Repair of inverted nipples, in order to achieve a more natural and proportioned bustline, is an option you may want to consider.

The surgical procedure to correct the inverted nipple can be separated into two cases; one that leaves the milk ducts intact or one that does not. In either case, the objective is to reshape the nipple and areola so that the nipple projects out from the breast, enhancing the appearance of the breast while preserving sensitivity of the nipple. The technique that leaves the milk ducts intact can also help preserve a woman's ability to breastfeed.

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Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction)

Although rarely discussed, enlarged male breasts is a common condition.  Gynecomastia affects approximately 40 to 60 percent of men.  There is no known cause for gynecomastia, although there has been some correlation with various drugs or medical conditions.

Men who feel self-conscious about their appearance are helped with breast-reduction surgery. The procedure removes fat and/or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a contoured chest that is flatter and firmer.

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