The Management of Breast Asymmetry

Breast asymmetry is an extremely common problem amongst women. In most cases, this is relatively minor and women aren’t bothered by it. Occasionally, it can be severe and treatment is necessary.

A multitude of options can be used to treat this problem. These may include breast reduction, breast lift, breast augmentation, or various combinations of these procedures.

It’s important to realize every patient is unique. They have specific aesthetic goals and unique anatomic findings. The specific treatment for any individual patient will depend entirely upon these issues.

Mini Tummy Tuck vs. Full Tummy Tuck

Pregnancy has a significant impact on a woman’s body, and nowhere is this more noticeable then the abdomen. This area develops excess, saggy skin, weakened muscles, and stretch marks. Despite diet and exercise, most women are unable to reverse these changes and this ultimately affects their self-image and self-esteem. Treatment options are limited and in most cases involve either abdominoplasty or mini abdominoplasty.

Abdominoplasty is performed by making a lower abdominal skin incision and then lifting the skin and subcutaneous tissue to the level of the rib cage. This typically requires detaching the belly button, which allows more skin to be removed. The muscles are then tightened, excess skin removed, and the belly button re-attached in proper position.

Recovery Following Facelifts

Facelift recovery varies from patient to patient and depends on a large number of variables. Just as every patient is unique, the chosen procedure for he or she is unique as well. The differences in wound-healing characteristics and the type of procedure performed account for variations in facelift recovery.

Most patients feel pretty good in about four to five days, but their primary concerns are when they will look good enough to go out in public. Recovery following facelift surgery may last for months, but most patients feel they can go out in public in about two weeks. At this point, most of the bruising and swelling have resolved. Many patients adjust their hairstyle to hide their incisions and use make-up as well.

Breast Augmentation & Under Wire Bras

We generally avoid using under wire bras for six to eight weeks following breast augmentation. There are two reasons for this approach. First, when patients undergo sub muscular placement of breast implants, the pectoral major muscle may undergo spasm in the early post-operative period. This may force the implant in an upward direction and lead to malposition. When this situation arises, we utilize compression to force the implant in a downward direction. An under wire bra would have the opposite effect.

Another reason for avoiding under wire bras in the immediate post-operative period is the potential for the bra to irritate a fresh surgical incision.  An infamammary incision would be directly beneath the under wire bra and this might lead to irritation of the incision.

Signs of Breast Implant Leakage

In the majority of patients undergoing breast augmentation, implants last a lifetime. Occasionally, implants deflate and need to be replaced.

Current data suggests that implants deflate at a rate of 1% at one year and 3% at three years. Over time, this number can be expected to grow. Implants may deflate with no apparent cause or may deflate secondary to trauma.

When saline implants deflate, the diagnosis is relatively easy to make. These implants lose volume and flatten quickly. Silicone implants present a much more difficult problem when they deflate. Rupture of silicone implants may not be apparent for years.

Signs of deflation include soreness, redness, loss of volume, change in shape, and sometimes, capsular contracture. These signs may be subtle and a history of trauma may be the only early indicator.

Does Computer Imaging for Cosmetic Surgery Make a Difference?

At Aesthetic Surgical Images in Omaha, Nebraska we feel that computer imaging is an important component of any cosmetic surgery consultation. We currently utilize both the “Mirror” and “Vectra 3D” imaging systems.

Computer imaging provides extremely important information for both the patient and the plastic surgeon. The surgeon is better able to understand the patient’s goals for a certain procedure. In many cases, the physician can determine whether the patient goals are realistic or obtainable. It may also, in many cases, determine the patient’s preferences.

The patient, on the other hand, is able to see what the surgeon feels he can reasonably deliver. In addition, the patient can visualize how these changes affect surrounding anatomic structures.

We feel that imaging is especially helpful for facial rejuvenation procedures, such as: eyelid surgery, brow lift, and facelifts. It’s also helpful for rhinoplasty and genioplasty. Computer imaging is also used, with success, for body contouring procedures, including: tummy tucks, liposuction, and brachioplasty.