Aesthetic surgery of the body silhouette
Breast hypertrophy
Hypertrophied breasts are too large in comparison with the rest of the patient’s overall shape. This condition is almost always accompanied by a certain degree of ptosis. It can be observed at any age but often becomes a complex for a 17/18 year old girl. It may cause back pain and bad posture (round back, falling of shoulders). Surgical goals are to reduce the size and correct the ptosis.
The consultation
The surgeon evaluates the size if the breasts, the skin quality, the degree of ptosis and in particular the position of the nipple, the size of the areola and the eventual asymmetry.
During the visit, important points of the patient’s history are noted :
- obstetrics (number of pregnancies, breast feeding),
- gynecology (regular menstruation, menopause),
- surgeries (type, scar quality),
- every day life (eating habits, diets).
The techniques
- The inverted T technique is the common procedure. The surgeon will try to make the incision as short as possible and place the transversal portion in the infra-mammary fold.
This technique results in stable breasts usually with agreeable scars. - The periareolar incision technique, either alone or in association with a small vertical incision, is indicated in case of firm breast skin and in minimal glandular tissue resection.
- There are other techniques for rare and particular cases.
These techniques preserve breast and areola sensitivity as much as possible. In three out of four cases, breast feeding is normally possible.
It is recommended not to start a pregnancy during the 12 months following the surgery in order to allow the skin and the gland to heal properly.
