What is mammaplasty?
Mammaplasty is a type of surgery that changes the size, shape, or position of your breasts to achieve the look or comfort you desire. It can involve reducing the size of large breasts (breast reduction) or enhancing their size with implants (breast augmentation).
Mammaplasty can be performed for cosmetic reasons, like improving symmetry or restoring volume, or for medical concerns, such as relieving pain caused by overly large breasts. It’s also a common part of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.
Types of mammaplasty
There are two main types of mammaplasty, depending on your goals:
- Breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty):
- Removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to reduce the size and weight of your breasts.
- Can relieve discomfort caused by large breasts, such as back, neck, and shoulder pain.
- May improve posture, reduce skin irritation under the breasts, and make physical activities more comfortable.
- Breast augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty):
- Enhances the size and shape of your breasts using implants or fat transfer.
- Often chosen for cosmetic reasons to restore volume lost due to pregnancy, weight loss, or ageing.
- Can also address asymmetry or be part of reconstruction after a mastectomy.
Why might you choose mammaplasty?
Mammaplasty can be life-changing, whether you’re addressing physical discomfort or making a cosmetic improvement. You might consider mammaplasty if:
- You experience physical discomfort: Large, heavy breasts can cause chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain, as well as skin irritation. Breast reduction can relieve these symptoms.
- You want to enhance your appearance: Breast augmentation can improve breast symmetry, restore lost volume, or help you feel more confident about your shape.
- You’ve had a mastectomy: Mammaplasty can be part of breast reconstruction, helping to restore your breast’s appearance after cancer treatment.
- You want more freedom in physical activities: A breast reduction can make sports and other physical activities more comfortable and enjoyable.
What happens during mammaplasty?
Mammaplasty is performed under general anaesthetic and typically takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure.
- Consultation and planning: Before surgery, your surgeon will discuss your goals, assess your breast anatomy, and plan your treatment. This might include choosing the size and type of implants for augmentation or deciding how much tissue to remove for a reduction.
- Surgery:
- For breast reduction, excess tissue, fat, and skin are removed, and the breasts are reshaped.
- For breast augmentation, implants are placed under the breast tissue or chest muscle to achieve the desired size and shape.
- Incisions: The type of incision depends on the procedure. For reduction, incisions are often made around the areola and down to the breast crease (anchor or lollipop incision). For augmentation, incisions may be in the breast crease, around the areola, or in the armpit.
- Closing the incisions: Once the surgery is complete, the incisions are closed with sutures, and dressings are applied to support healing.
Recovery after mammaplasty
Recovery depends on the type of mammaplasty you’ve had. Most people go home the same day or after an overnight stay. Here’s what to expect:
- Pain management: It’s normal to feel mild discomfort, swelling, or bruising after surgery. Pain relief medication will help keep you comfortable.
- Wound care: You’ll need to keep the incision site clean and dry and follow your surgeon’s instructions for changing dressings.
- Activity restrictions: Avoid heavy lifting, vigorous exercise, or strenuous activities for several weeks. Most people can return to light activities within 1-2 weeks.
Your surgeon will provide detailed aftercare instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing.
What are the risks of mammaplasty?
While mammaplasty is generally safe, all surgeries carry some risks. These may include:
- Infection at the incision site.
- Scarring, which usually fades over time.
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or, rarely, permanent.
- Implant complications, such as rupture or capsular contracture.
Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you and provide guidance on how to minimise them.
Why choose Birmingham Breast Clinic?
At Birmingham Breast Clinic, you’ll receive expert care in a supportive and welcoming environment. When you choose us, you benefit from:
- Personalised care: We tailor every treatment plan to suit your individual goals and needs.
- Experienced surgeons: Our skilled team has extensive experience in breast surgery, ensuring you’re in safe hands.
- Comprehensive support: From your initial consultation to your final follow-up, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
We’re committed to helping you achieve the best possible results with care that’s focused entirely on you.
Contact us
IIf you’re considering mammaplasty for medical or cosmetic reasons, we’re here to help. Contact Birmingham Breast Clinic today to book a consultation and take the first step towards feeling more confident and comfortable in your body.