Cosmetic Breast Surgery
Through breast surgery – whether functional or cosmetic – SLUCare Physician Group plastic surgeons help women achieve the shape they want to feel healthy and confident. Our services also include corrective breast surgery for teens and men.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation can help a woman achieve a curvier appearance. SLUCare plastic surgeons can increase breast size using either saline or silicone breast implants. Women seeking enhancement may also benefit from a breast lift at the same time or through a staged process, depending on the desired correction. Fat grafting techniques can also be used to achieve natural-appearing breast enhancement.
Breast Lift
Aging and weight loss can cause breasts to sag or become loose. A breast lift repositions the breasts by removing excess skin and returning the nipple to a more normal position. When breasts are excessively large, the breast can be reduced (see below). Breast lifts are typically considered a cosmetic procedure and may not be covered by insurance – except when performed on one side to achieve symmetry with a reconstructed breast. This procedure can sometimes be combined with breast augmentation.
Breast Reduction
Excessively large breasts can cause a woman to have pain and other lifestyle limitations. A breast reduction can provide relief by surgically removing excess breast tissue. In the case of morbid obesity, patients receive weight loss counseling first, so that surgery may be covered by insurance and also to reduce problems with healing following surgery. SLUCare plastic surgeons use a variety of reduction procedures to provide patients with a shape that is balanced to their body frame.
Developmental Growth Problems
In developing adolescent girls, breasts may appear unbalanced or unusual in shape. This can be upsetting and socially disabling for some young women. SLUCare plastic surgeons work closely with pediatricians or other primary care physicians to develop a comprehensive plan for staged reconstruction. Typically, we wait for the breasts to achieve full development and then perform a final balancing procedure to help the patient achieve as normal an appearance as possible.
Post-Cancer Breast Reconstruction
After removal of one or both breasts, women may desire breast reconstruction to preserve their sense of female self. There are a variety of flap procedures that transfer skin, fat, and at times, other tissues to the chest to recreate the lost breast. In cases of dual mastectomy, many women opt for placement of breast implants to limit the reconstructive surgery to the chest region alone. These procedures are often staged and involve placement of a preparatory implant that expands the chest tissues, allowing reconstructed breasts of the size the woman desires. SLUCare plastic surgeons work with a care team that includes oncologic surgeons and internists to provide patients with the latest in breast cancer care.
Learn about specialized treatment of cancerous and benign breast conditions.
Gynecomastia
Male breast enlargement can be an embarrassing, socially disabling problem of young boys and men of all ages. SLUCare plastic surgeons work with primary care physicians to exclude treatable medical conditions and then plan removal of the excess tissue to help restore a normal male chest appearance.
