Encounter twenty women on the street in the USA, and the chances are that one of them will have breast implants. That’s right. Just under 5% of women in the USA have had some type of breast surgery, and Australia isn’t far behind.
Size Matters
Breasts that are too large can cause significant problems for a woman’s health. The heavy breast tissue can cause neck and back pain and can actually create problems for your spine as well. Large breasts make strenuous physical activity and sports difficult, so a woman with over-large breasts is more susceptible to a range of other physical problems. Breast reduction surgery removes a significant amount of the breast tissue and reshapes the remainder. The nipple and areola need to be repositioned so they sit in the correct place on the ‘new’ breast. Often the areola will be reduced, in proportion to the new breast shape.
Shape Matters
Breasts that have been impacted, particularly after breast-feeding, can cause similar physical problems, making it difficult to exercise or to find clothes and swimwear that are comfortable. If you have breasts of uneven size, you’re not alone. Bear in mind that most women have breasts that vary slightly in size, just as most people’s faces are not completely symmetrical. It’s only when the size difference (‘asymmetry’) is obvious and affects your ability to wear clothing that it becomes an issue. Breast implants are often used to correct significant size imbalance. This requires careful planning by the cosmetic doctor – and possibly implants of different sizes – to ensure that the end result is as symmetrical as possible.
Detail Matters
Abnormal size or shape of the nipples is a breast problem that’s often overlooked. This might be caused by breast-feeding, or it could simply be the natural shape of your nipples. Unusually long nipples can be obvious under clothing. Nipple reduction surgery reduces the size of the nipple. It also reshapes the nipple if better proportions are needed. A common abnormality is ‘nipple inversion’. This means that instead of protruding from your breast, the nipple is held or pulled towards the inside of your breast. Surgical correction of inverted nipples is a relatively minor and straightforward surgery.
Dr Georgina Konrat says that nipple surgery can be performed alone, but it’s often combined with other types of breast surgery, such as breast reduction, breast lift, or even breast enlargement. All breast surgery carries an element of risk, and you should be aware of these risks before you decide to undertake any procedure.
If you would like to discuss the different types of breast surgery, call Brisbane Cosmetic Clinic on 07 3391 5710 to book a confidential consultation with our cosmetic doctor, Dr Konrat.