Breast Enhancement Procedures in El Paso, Texas — Breast Lift, Reduction, Reconstruction, and Augmentation

There are many reasons why women, and some men, seek breast surgery. A woman might be unhappy with the appearance of her breasts due to sagging from pregnancy, weight gain or loss, or the natural aging process, or she may feel that her breasts are too small or are asymmetrical, while some men may feel self-conscious about overly prominent breasts. We offer a range of breast enhancement options at our El Paso, Texas practice, including breast lift, reduction, and reconstruction, and our surgeons work closely with each patient to tailor each breast procedure to his or her goals.

• Breast Augmentation (Breast Enhancement and Enlargement)
• Breast Lift
• Breast Reduction
• Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Treatment)
• Breast Reconstruction

Breast Augmentation (Breast Enhancement and Enlargement)

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular procedures performed at our El Paso, Texas, practice, and in 2008, more than a quarter of a million women underwent the procedure nationwide. Breast augmentation, also known as breast enhancement or  enlargement, involves the placement of a saline or silicone implant either under the breast tissue or under the muscle to enhance the size and shape of the breast. Breast augmentation may also be combined with a breast lift to improve the shape as well as the size of the breasts.
Visit our breast augmentation page to learn more about this breast enhancement procedure.

Breast Lift

Throughout their lives, women are exposed to multiple factors that can negatively impact their breast appearance. Genetics, gravity, loss of skin elasticity from aging, weight gain and loss, pregnancy, and breast-feeding can all negatively affect breast shape and firmness. The solution to these problems is a breast lift. Offered at our El Paso, Texas, cosmetic surgery practice, breast lift can reverse the effects of time, giving you the breasts you had when you were younger.

Breast Lift Candidates

Women who are happy with the size of their breasts but not their current breast shape are good candidates for breast lift. For patients who desire changes in both the shape and volume of their breasts, a breast lift procedure can be done at the same time as breast augmentation. A breast lift can be performed for patients at any age, but we usually recommend waiting until breast development has stopped.

Breast Lift Scarring

Various breast lift techniques can be utilized depending on each patient's breast size and shape. Our surgeons will choose the technique most appropriate for the individual patient. Although each technique leaves a different kind of scar, the scars of a breast lift procedure usually depend on the shape of the breast and the amount of sagging. In mild cases, the incision can be made just around the areola. In more advanced cases, the incision may be around the areola with a straight scar going down. In the most extreme cases, incisions will be made around the areola with a reverse T-shaped scar.

Your surgeon will discuss the details of your procedure with you during your consultation. We will also gather some information from you regarding family history, medications used, and other medical factors. Like breast augmentation, a mammogram before the surgery is beneficial.

Breast Lift Risks

Risks of breast lift may involve bleeding, infection, adverse reactions to anesthesia, or change or loss of the sensation of the nipples or other areas of the breast skin.

Patients can usually return to regular activities in a week, but they should avoid activities involving their arms, including most sports, for four to six weeks. Patients usually can go home the same day of the breast lift surgery, however, on occasion, we may ask you to stay overnight.

Breast Lift Results

If patients do not gain a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, the new breast shape should remain fairly consistent after breast lift surgery. However, gravity and the effects of aging will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually every woman's breast. If a woman gains weight or becomes dissatisfied with the appearance of the breast, it is possible to undergo a second breast lift procedure

Breast Reduction

Women with excessively large breasts that are too large in proportion to their body frame can greatly benefit from breast reduction. These women not only complain about their appearance but they also suffer from physical symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, bra marks on the shoulders from the excessive weight, and recurrent skin rashes. Breast reduction surgery can solve these problems and dramatically improve the appearance of the breast.

Breast Reduction Techniques

With multiple breast reduction techniques available, the plastic surgeon will choose the one that is best for the size and the shape of the individual patient's breasts. At the initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your breasts, take measurements and photographs, and discuss the most appropriate technique, as well as factors such as medical history, medications used, and any allergies. The physician will also provide information about the operation and subsequent scarring. Like most breast surgeries, a mammogram before the procedure is beneficial.

Breast Reduction Risks

Women who plan to breastfeed in the future should postpone this operation because breast reduction can interfere with breastfeeding. Some techniques may be able to preserve the ability to breastfeed, but it is not guaranteed. Other possible risks of the operation include infection, bleeding, problems with scar formation, and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. It is important to stop smoking at least two weeks before the surgery. Any non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, which may increase the bleeding, should be stopped as well.

Insurance

For some, insurance coverage may be available for breast reduction surgery. Many factors determine eligibility, including the type of insurance policy and the amount of tissue that needs to be removed during the surgery.

Breast Reduction Recovery

Most patients are able to go home the same day as their breast reduction surgery, but some may need to stay the night. After the surgery, you may be asked to wear a special brassiere for four to six weeks.

Patients are usually able to return to normal activities in a week, but should avoid rigorous exercises, especially those involving the arms, for at least four weeks. Usually, patients will be able to return to their sports activities in four to six weeks.

Results

For most patients, the results of breast reduction will last for a long time. However, gaining or losing a significant amount of weight, pregnancy, and breastfeeding may affect the shape of the breast and the breast reduction results. In these cases, the patient may choose to undergo a breast lift operation to restore the breast's shape.

Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Treatment)

Gynecomastia (abnormally large male breasts) is more common than many people may realize, affecting 40 to 60 percent of men. Certain medical conditions, medications, and anabolic steroids can lead to gynecomastia, but the cause of most cases is unknown.

Male Breast Reduction Candidates

Men of any age who have excess breast tissue, who are healthy and emotionally stable are generally good candidates for male breast reduction. Men who have firm, elastic skin are often the best candidates for the procedure because the skin will easily reshape to the body’s new contours, producing optimal results.

Male Breast Reduction Technique

Gynecomastia can sometimes be treated with liposuction alone, but direct excision may be required for some patients, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed. The results of male breast reduction are permanent; however, subsequent weight gain can increase the amount of breast tissue and recreate the previous appearance.

Breast Reconstruction

For a woman who has had a breast removed due to breast cancer, reconstruction can renew her sense of femininity and self confidence. At El Paso Cosmetic Surgery, we offer several breast reconstruction techniques – using a breast implant or the patient’s own tissues – that produce natural-looking results. Breast reconstruction can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy (breast removal) or after healing is complete.

Breast Reconstruction Techniques

The most common breast reconstruction method involves the use of a tissue expander and the placement of a breast implant. For patients who undergo reconstruction after the skin has healed from breast removal, the expander will be used to stretch the skin and make room for the implant. The expander is a silicone balloon that is placed under the skin and will be gradually filled with a saline solution over a period of weeks. Once the skin has expanded to the desired amount, our surgeons will replace the expander with a breast implant, and reconstruct the nipple and areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple) to complete the reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction can also be performed using the patient’s own tissues. This flap reconstruction method uses skin, fat, and muscle from another part of the patient’s body, usually the chest, to reconstruct the breast.

Contact Our El Paso, Texas Practice for Breast Enhancement Surgery

If you would like to learn more about any of the breast enhancement procedures available at our West Texas practice, including breast lift, reduction and reconstruction, contact El Paso Cosmetic Surgery to schedule an appointment today.