Breast Procedures (Cosmetic)
Breast surgeries include many types of procedures for both medical and cosmetic reasons, such as to help treat breast cancer, enlarge breasts, or reduce breast size. Below, we focus on breast procedures that are cosmetic surgery for breasts rather than ones medically necessary.
Breast Procedure Overview
Breast surgery is any procedure performed on a male or female’s breasts, whether for medical or cosmetic reasons. For cosmetic breast surgery, the goal is to change the size, shape, or appearance of a person’s breasts for aesthetic reasons. Some are surprised to learn that breast plastic surgery is available to males. Some men have a condition called gynecomastia, where they develop larger breasts and choose to have them reduced. Also, those assigned male-at-birth can develop breast cancer, which requires breast surgery.
General Breast Procedure Steps
Before any cosmetic breast surgery, a patient has a consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss whether it’s safe to pursue the surgery and the preferences for size, feel, and appearance. If having breast implant surgery, the surgeon will describe the different types of implants, and if a breast reduction or lift, they’ll discuss recovery and desired appearance outcomes.
Whether numbed with local anesthesia or placed under general anesthesia depends on the type of surgery being performed and whether the surgery is performed at a surgical center or hospital outpatient facility; most patients go home the same day as their surgery.
Following breast surgery, patients will be sore and there will be swelling for a few weeks following the surgery, along with bruising. Scars from the surgery will fade, but may not disappear entirely. The plastic surgeon may advise a compression bandage or sports bra for extra support and better positioning of the breast implants, if that is the surgery performed, and pain medication will likely be prescribed as well.
It is very important to follow the surgeon’s instructions regarding when it is safe to return to normal activities or work, though activities that raise blood pressure should be avoided for at least two weeks.
