What Is The Difference Between Breast Augmentation & Breast Reconstruction?
Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Reconstruction –
One of the many questions we are asked at Amae Plastic Surgery Center is “What is the difference between breast augmentation and breast reconstruction?” In this article Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali, explains these two different sugeries.
Breasts are usually a significant source of self-esteem for most women. Women who feel good about the size and shape of their breasts, also tend to feel better about themselves.
Conversely, when a woman is disatisfied with her breasts – whether it’s the size, shape, or position – feelings of frustration and low self-esteem can result. And the pressure put on women today by celebrity standards and social media posts can make a woman even more self conscious about areas of her body that she doesn’t like.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures. “Augmentation” is simply defines as the process of making or becoming greater in size or amount. So a breast augmentation involves increasing the size of a woman’s breasts. Typically, breast augmentation involves the use of implants to enhance the shape and size of the breasts.
Breast augmentation can help women who feel that their breasts are too small in size, and can also help women who wish to restore their breast’s fullness following pregnancy, weight loss, and aging.
Breast implants can be saline or silicone and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. We have several articles in this Blog on breast implant size and shape:
- Choosing Your Breast Implant FAQs
- Size vs. Shape in Breast Implants
- Round vs. Teardrop Breast Implants
- Types of Breast Implants
Download our free white papers on breast reconstruction and breast augmentation.
Detroit area board-certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali will help you determine which type, size and shape of breast implant is best to obtain your desired appearance results.
During breast augmentation surgery, the incision will typically be put in an inconspicuous area (such as the armpit or lower half of the areola) so there is no need to worry about significant scarring.
During breast augmentation surgery, in addition to breast implants, a patient may also desire a “breast lift” to correct sagging skin and raise the breasts upweards to a more youthful looking position.
Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is aimed at restoring the breast(s) as closely as possible to its original appearance and size. This procedure traditionally follows a mastectomy (the surgical removal of one or both breasts) as a way to treat breast cancer.
Breast reconstruction surgeries may also follow mastectomies performed for other medical purposes such as the prevention of disease, and can be performed to correct a genetic mutation. In rare cases, burns or other trauma may have damaged or destroyed breast tissue. These situations can also be treated with breast reconstruction surgery.
Breast implants may or may not be needed or desired by a breast reconstruction patient. During a breast reconstruction procedure, the nipple and the darker area around the nipple (called the areola) can also be restored or added to the new breast.
For most patients, breast reconstruction is a physically and emotionally rewarding procedure that improves the patients’s self-esteem, self-image, and quality of life.
Top Detroit Breast Augmentation & Reconstruction Surgeon
The vast majority of women who choose to get breast augmentation or reconstruction report that their new breasts help them feel more self-confident, feel better about their bodies, and/or give them a greater feeling of well-being.
Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali offers a breast implant consultation to help you learn about your options and decide if breast implants are a good option for you.
