Breast Surgery: Types and Which One is the Right One for You

Our breasts are such an integral part of our appearance as women, that this area of the body is one that many women want to enhance or improve. If you want to change the appearance of your breasts, there are a variety of procedures that you can consider, depending on what you seek.

At Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, you can be confident that Dr. Olga Bachilo, a board-certified female plastic surgeon with extensive experience working in the greater Houston area, will be sensitive to your desires and help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Dr. Bachilo is an expert on cosmetic and reconstructive breast procedures.

The following are among the most frequently-performed breast enhancement procedures here at Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa:

Breast augmentation

You may desire a breast augmentation procedure to enlarge your breasts, and potentially also to change their shape. Breast augmentation may also be used in some cases to correct extreme asymmetry between the breasts.

Breast Implants

Most breast augmentation procedures are performed using either saline or silicone breast implants, which are inserted through miniscule incisions.  Implants come in various sizes and shapes, and allow you to customize the look of your new breasts. Dr. Bachilo can help you select the best implants to help you achieve the look you want.

Fat Grafting

An alternative to breast implants is the fat transfer procedure, which harvests fat from certain areas of the body, such as the abdomen, flanks or inner thighs, using liposuction.  This fat is then liquefied and injected into the breasts, producing a natural enhancement. Fat grafting yields a more natural look and feel than implants, but has the drawback that the body may absorb some of the transferred fat, so the procedure may have to be repeated to obtain maximum results.

Scarless Breast Augmentation with Transaxillary (TEBA) Technique

Dr. Bachilo is also specialized in the Scarless Breast Augmentation procedure using the Transaxillary Endoscopic Breast augmentation, or TEBA technique for patients who select breast implants.  This is an advanced surgical technique that prevents visible scarring during the breast augmentation procedure.

Breast lift

Sagging breasts can detract from an otherwise youthful figure and can make wearing certain fashions utterly unflattering. Breasts may become lax and sagging for a number of reasons, ranging from genetics to such life experiences as pregnancy and weight loss.  A breast lift is a surgical procedure that lifts the breasts so that the nipples point outward instead of pointing at the floor.  The breasts become firmer and perkier, producing a more youthful and flattering appearance.

Breast reduction

Many women opt for breast reduction surgery because overly large breasts are an uncomfortable burden that can put extreme strain on the back and shoulders, causing problems with posture, as well as painful chafing under the breast. Additionally, when the breasts are extremely large, the entire silhouette seems out of proportion.  A breast reduction procedure can restore a more balanced appearance to your overall figure.  In fact, a breast reduction procedure can literally change a woman’s life, enhancing her quality of life as well as her confidence.

Surgical mesh

In some cases, Dr. Bachilo may opt to use a tissue matrix or mesh implant to provide support for new tissue growth, so that the regenerating skin cells have something to attach to.

Surgical mesh, typically consists of thin flat sheet, made of flexible material similar to absorbable sutures, that fully integrates and dissolves after a period of time and is FDA-approved and deemed safe for use in human surgical procedures. Surgical mesh may be used if you are at risk for any the following complications with your breast implants:

Bottoming out

This condition refers to breast implants that peek out from beneath the original pocket, creating more volume underneath the nipple than above it.  Surgical mesh may be used to support a new implant.

Synmastia

This condition is often called uniboob or breadloafing, and occurs when the breasts appear as one lump across the chest, typically because the implant has slipped from its pocket. Surgical mesh may be used to construct a new pocket.

Implant Wrinkling & Rippling

In patients with very thin skin, sometimes the wrinkling and rippling of the breast implant become visible through the skin. The use of surgical mesh provides an extra layer of covering so that the implant is less visible under the skin.

Implant malposition

Surgical mesh provides added strength when re-positioning implants.

Mastopexy Augmentation

The condition of drooping breasts or breasts that overlap the inframammary fold is known as ptosis, and is caused by the pull of gravity over time and in cases where the patient has implants that are too large for her natural frame.  Surgical mesh is used to provide extra strength and support to surgically lifted breasts, particularly in cases where the breast lift is combined with breast augmentation.

Capsular Contracture

Capsular contraction is characterized by an abnormally thick, hardened tissue that forms around breast implants.  To correct this procedure, Dr. Bachilo will perform a capsulectomy, which typically involves simply removing the breast implant and replacing it. The use of surgical mesh in breast implant surgeries typically reduces the risk of capsular contracture and displacement of implants.

Breast Implant Removal

Some patients eventually change their mind about their breast implants and choose to either remove or replace them. In some cases, women opt for removal of breast implants and choosing a fat transfer procedure instead.  Dr. Bachilo will safely remove your breast implants and help you determine the best next step for you to enhance the appearance of your breasts.

Non-surgical breast enhancement options

In addition to surgical procedures, there are also a variety of options that you can consider for breast enhancement that do not involve going under the knife.  While non-surgical procedures produce less dramatic results than surgery, they have the advantage of being less expensive, less invasive to the body, and you won’t have to plan for any recovery or downtime.

Some of the nonsurgical breast enhancement procedures that Dr. Bachilo recommends and performs for her patients include the following:

Sculptra

Sculptra is an injectable treatment composed of poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible and biodegradable substance that triggers collagen production. Sculptra is especially formulated to restore lost facial volume, but may also be used to produce natural-looking breast augmentation. Sculptra differs from other Hyaluronic acid injectable fillers because the formulation doesn’t provide immediate results, but rather stimulates your body’s natural production of collagen, which produces a gradual and natural enhancement with no visible signs of cosmetic improvement.

Renuva

Renuva is a synthetic alternative to autologous fat transfer. It is an adipose allograft injection that is specially processed to preserve the extracellular matrix found in adipose tissue that contains essential collagens, proteins, and growth factors. Renuva is typically used to restore lost volume in the face, hands, and body, and produces natural-looking breast augmentation without surgery.

Microneedling RF

Microneedling with RadioFrequency is a minimally-invasive technique that can produce a natural breast lift by tightening the skin of the breasts as well as the underlying tissue.

This procedure combines two treatments:  Microneedling tightens the skin and triggers the production of collagen, which will naturally thicken and strengthen the skin over time, while Radiofrequency (RF) energy delivers controlled heat to stimulate collagen production and tightening and firm the skin and underlying tissue. This type of breast lift produces a moderate lift and results look totally natural.

If you want to enhance the appearance of your breasts, don’t hesitate any longer to contact Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in the greater Houston area and schedule your free intake consultation with Dr. Bachilo, who will help you get started on your journey to a new you!