When Bigger is Too Big

Many women have breasts that are so large that they disrupt the quality of their lives. In 2011, the American Society of Plastic Surgery reported that over 63,000 breast reductions were performed in the United States. Patients with large breasts not only have an aesthetic deformity, but the condition frequently results in a functional disability as well.

Women with large breasts complain of back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, and pain within the breasts themselves. They often have skin rashes and skin breakdown beneath the fields of their breasts. Many women have decreased exercise tolerance, and because of this, they have to give up activities that they have historically enjoyed and as a result, gain weight elsewhere. They have difficulty with finding clothes that fit and are relegated to wearing loose fitting garments, such as sweaters and T-shirts. They feel that people frequently stare at them and this adversely impacts self-esteem, self-image, and self-confidence. It can result in anxiety and depression which can cause sexual and social inhibition. It can also significantly impact the quality of day-to-day life.

Is Bigger Better?

Many people say that breast size isn’t important, but is this statement really true, or does breast size make a big difference? In 2011, over 316,000 breast augmentations were performed in patients who were unhappy with their breast size. This made breast augmentation the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery performed in the United States last year.

Recently, a study was done at the University of Florida, which looked at perceptions of sexuality and self-esteem before and after breast augmentation. This study demonstrated a significant increase in sexual activity and self-esteem following breast augmentation. Patients had an 81% increase in sexual arousal, a 78% increase in sexual desire, and a 57% increase in sexual satisfaction.

At Aesthetic Surgical Images, we find that patients seeking breast augmentation often complain of lowered self-esteem, self-image, and self-confidence. They feel that their breast size affects feelings of feminity, sexuality, and how clothes fit. These women are dissatisfied with their breast size and feel insecure about their bodies. They frequently request breast augmentation, not to draw attention to themselves, but instead, so that they fit in. They desire breasts that have harmony, balance, and proportion with other anatomic features. In our experience, this operation results in some of the highest satisfaction rates that we see.

Breast Augmentation with Breast Lift, One or Two Procedures?

At Aesthetic Surgical Images, we frequently see women who have breast hypoplasia associated with breast sag. The majority of these women present because of changes in their body which occur because of pregnancy. During pregnancy, their breasts increase in size and after pregnancy they shrink. This often leads to loss of breast volume and resultant skin sag.

To correct this problem, patients will require breast augmentation with a breast lift. There are basically two approaches to performing these two procedures. The first involves a single-stage procedure in which breast lift and augmentation are performed simultaneously. The second involves a two-stage procedure in which the breast augmentation and breast lift are performed at two separate settings.

The issue of one or two stages for breast augmentation with breast lift continues to represent an area of significant controversy in plastic surgery. This appears to be driven by the large number of variables involved with breast augmentation and breast lift. Some surgeons feel that the additive impact of these variables result in a high revisionary rate. Some surgeons feel that this may be as high as 20%.

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Male Botox Injections Increasing in Popularity

It’s safe to say that Botox injections are no longer just for the ladies. At Aesthetic Surgical Images, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of men who request Botox. Recent data from the American Society of Plastic Surgery has demonstrated a 258 percent increase in the use of Botox amongst men in the past ten years. Between 15 to 30 percent of all Botox users are now men and it is the most popular cosmetic procedure amongst men.

Male Botox injections have popularly become known as “brotox.” Men typically have a different set of aesthetic goals when compared to women. Most men are not interested in looking different following Botox injections and therefore request subtle changes.

How Long Does a Facelift Last?

A variety of factors affect how long a facelift lasts. These include: the type of procedure performed, the skill of the surgeon, the genetics of the patients, the amount of sun damage, and the patient’s lifestyle decisions such as cigarette smoking. All of these factors impact the result of facelift procedures and their longevity.

It’s important to realize that facelifts turn the clock back, but don’t stop the clock from ticking. Most surgeons will tell you that the procedure will generally last about ten years. We feel that if a facelift makes you look 15 years younger, you should be back to your original starting point in approximately 15 years.

Using this logic, more aggressive procedures will set the clock back further and hence tend to last longer. A SMAS procedure (where the deeper tissues are tightened) would be expected to have a greater impact than a mini-facelift and would therefore be expected to last longer.

Five Benefits of Breast Reduction

Patients who undergo breast reduction surgery for breast hypertrophy have extremely high satisfaction rates. At Aesthetic Surgical Images, we feel that this operation may be a life-changing experience for some women. There are five major reasons for this significant improvement in quality of life:

1. Patients who undergo breast reduction have significant improvement in their symptoms.

Symptomatic breast enlargement is associated with: back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, bra strap indentations, numbness on the inner aspect of the arms, areas of chafing and infection beneath the folds of the breast, and pain within the breast themselves. Most women see significant improvement in their symptoms following breast reduction.

2. Increase in exercise tolerance.

Many patients who undergo breast reduction report improved exercise tolerance. Many ultimately lose weight elsewhere as they resume activities that they have historically abandoned. 

3. Breast reduction results in improved breast aesthetics.

The aesthetic goals of breast reduction include balance and harmony with the surrounding anatomic structures, reduction in areola size, and correction of breast sag, which typically occurs with breast hypertrophy. Scarring can occur but over the course of time these usually fade and become acceptable to patients.