Here are 3 common breast-related surgeries:

Breast Lumps

Whenever lumps appear on a woman’s breast, the primary concern is always whether we’re dealing with a benign or malignant process. So the first thing that should be done, as far as your case is concerned, is to rule out a malignant disease. A mammogram and ultrasound examination may be needed to screen out malignancy, and to determine whether the lumps we are dealing with are solid or cystic. If signs suggestive of a malignant process are seen on mammogram, and ultrasound, then biopsy to establish a definite tissue diagnosis is imperative. If the mammogram is negative and the ultrasound shows multiple cystic masses, then it is very likely that what you have are cystic formations. In some cases, however, the breast becomes studded with multiple cystic masses of vary-in- sizes, making their removal impossible without removing the breast tissue itself. In such extreme cases, subcutaneous mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue, saving the skin. nipple, and areola), and reconstruction with breast implant may have to be done.

Gel-Filled Implants

Salt water or saline filled silicone breast implants have several disadvantages compared to the more popular silicone gel-filled implants. The implants can often be felt when one touches the breast and the ripples you experience are due to the ripples of the implant bag that has become under-filled from leakage of the saline from the bag. This happens especially if the implant is placed behind the breast and not behind the muscle behind the breast.

In almost all cases like this, changing the implant to a gel-filled one will correct the problem easily. Plastic surgeons would usually charge the same package as the first surgery.

Areolar Reduction

The nipple and areola, like the rest of the breast, are responsive to the hormonal changes of pregnancy. The degree of response varies from patient to patient, and for some the changes do become bothersome. There is nothing we can do to bring them back to their pre-pregnancy state as the changes brought upon by pregnancy are more or less permanent. What the plastic surgeon can do is to reduce the size of the nipple and areola to at least approximate the appearance that you desire. The nipple area scars very well and rarely cause patients a lot of problems. With areolar reduction, an incision is made around the entire circumference of the areola to remove the excess. Some corrugations appear at first, but this flattens out over time. A thin scar remains around the areola, at the point where it blends with the skin of the breast. Sensation is not affected, and most patients are satisfied.

Filed under: General Health by Don