Breast Questions and Answers

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A: Hi Irigo, These are common concerns. Unfortunately, there are no universal solutions. The best way to keep your body in good shape before and after giving birth is to be healthy and height/weight proportionate. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle including a good diet and exercise are crucial. If aesthetic damage is done after childbirth, then surgery is usually the best and most effective way to correct it. Just remember that cosmetic surgery has risks and must never be taken lightly. Best, Eve

Q: I have one breast bigger than the other by one size. one is a C and the other a D. This bothers me a lot and I want them both to be a size C. Does it cost less if I only want one breast to be worked on. Is there another way to go about making the bigger one smaller? Rachel

A: Hi Rachel, It is a case by case basis. Most surgeons would recommend a conservative reduction and lift, working on both sides to achieve ideal symmetry. Some might agree to work on just one side at a decreased cost. It would probably be worthwhile to try conservative reduction using diet and exercise, if you have not already attempted this. This would be possible if one breast has a higher fatty tissue content, but will not help if the glandular tissue is larger in one than the other. The alternative is to try and increase the smaller breast using a non-invasive method such as BRAVA. This would be the least expensive and risky option. Best, Eve

Q: I had 18 pounds removed from my breast 6 weeks ago and I still have an open incision wound and i'm still uncomfortable when walking. Is this normal? Ronda

A: Hi Ronda, No, it does not sound normal to me. I recommend consulting with your surgeon. Best, Eve

Q: Adams apple enhancement, implant . . . Is it possible? I would like to see if is possible to make my Adam's apple more prominent (bigger) thanks in advance for your research and response! I'm a healthy 30y/o male. Carlos

A: Hi Carlos, Yes, this surgery is performed, often as part of female to male transgender transformations. It utilizes a silicone implant which is very convincing or organic anatomical alteration. Best, Eve

Q: How long does it take to heal after having breast implants done? What is the lifting capacity after the procedure? Does that change once you heal? Thank You, Misti

A: Hi Misti, Healing time depends greatly on the type of approach used to place the implants and the persons own anatomy. It typically takes about 12 weeks for preliminary healing to occur and up to a full year for the scars to mature and stop changing. Once healed (within several months), you can lift normally, but until then, you must go easy or risk damaging the incisions. Best, Eve

Q: Hello, I am a male to female transsexual and I am looking for a plastic surgeon that will perform breast augmentation on me. I live in Bloomington, IN I would prefer to find someone that was close. Thanks Amber

A: Hi Amber, We do not make recommendations for individual surgeons, as it taints the objectivity of our site. I recommend you contact several and choose the one who best satisfies your expectations. Best, Eve

Q: hi my gf has just had a breast enlargement and has just fallen out with me out of the blue and i've been told that it will be her hormones. is this true and if it is then could you please tell me how long it will last for and they will get to normal again. scott

A: Hi Scott, there is no reason to believe that surgical augmentation causes any hormone issues. Sounds like an excuse to me... The procedure can be traumatic, so maybe she just needs more support or some time to adjust to her new body. Best, Eve

Q: Hello, I would like to know... i have large breasts but mostly the skin around the breast is more than the breasts themselves, is it possible to just remove the excess skin? will this be like a surgery that needs too much time to heal. Thanks in advance - Fatma.

A: Hi Fatma, Yes, skin excision can be performed, but is usually integrated into a breast lift operation for best results. Best, Eve

Q: I have silicone implants and after a mammogram they noticed that I have bilateral consistent fibrous capsule ruptures. My health insurance does not cover plastic surgery. Please advise me what to do. Thank you, Marga

A: Hi Marga, Removing potentially dangerous implants is not a plastic surgery procedure. It may be covered. Additionally, if your implants are not decades old, they are likely covered by a replacement warranty. I advise that you consult with your original surgeon to find out more about this possibility. Best, Eve

Q: I had a breast lift up operation two months ago . as i did the operation abroad i'm not too sure about what kind of bra i should wear for support. can u please advise me? i also have constant pain in my right breast. is that normal or did anything went wrong. please help me and tell me what i need to do. thank u very much. kind regards, elena

A: Hi Elena, Being that you had your surgery so recently, I advise you to contact your surgeon directly to ask them these questions. Some pain may be normal after 2 months, but severe or chronic pain does not sound typical. Best, Eve

Q: I am planning to have breast augmentation in 2 months using Mentor Gummy Bear round silicone implants, sub-muscular. MD leaning towards sub-mammary incision although offered me trans-axillary or peri-areolar if I preferred. I am 5'5", 115lbs, currently a 34A. I recently lost 90lbs and was a 38C at my heaviest. I breastfed 2 kids and have little breast tissue. My breast base width dimension is 15cm on both sides. I am looking for a perky but natural look - not overly large - I'd like to be a 34C when all is done. MD says proportionately he thinks 250cc would be a good look but in order to fill out the laxity of the skin he'd like to use 300cc. I am torn about which "profile" to go with: I'm leaning towards Moderate Plus but in the 300cc size the base of the implant is 12cm...3cm smaller than my BWD (15cm)-Would this difference end up giving me that grapefruit look I don't want? Or is this a normal difference between the space available and the implant base? (the moderate profile has a 13.5cm base in 300cc but the projection drops from 3.6cm to 3cm). Any thoughts on how to choose the correct model? What do most people go with? I'm 52 and don't want to look ridiculous! Also any thoughts on which access site is preferred for aesthetics and low complications? Thank you so much! Diane

A: Hi Diane, It is quite difficult, if not impossible, to help women size implants without actually being there with them. This is understandable. I advise that you discuss this particular issue with your doctor and take your time in making the best decision as to the profile and size that will serve your preferences best. Your doctor should be patient and supportive and be able to provide all the help you need to make this choice. AS far as incision placement, the inframammary choice is known to be a contributor to breast fold degeneration and therefore I am not overly partial to it. Periareolar is best with saline implants. The transaxillary choice is great, as long as the surgeon is familiar and comfortable with placing implants this manner. This way, no scarring on the breast at all... I wish you all the best for a successful procedure! Eve

Q: I am in the process of reconstruction after breast cancer. I have an expander in place. However my surgeon now has informed me that they cant custom order large implants. After reading on your site it states that you can get custom implants. Where can you get these at and can you give me names of Doctors that implant the larger breast implants. Thanks for your help. Suze

A: Hi Suze, Any surgeon can get custom sizes, within reason. It is whether they care to go through the bother that is the real question. Best, Eve

Q: Hello, I recently had a saline breast augmentation. My left breast healed perfect. My right breast incision was not healing and eventually opened so that you could actually see the implant. I was also having large amounts of green discharge. So my doctor sent me to an infusion clinic and it turned out that I had an infection. I was immediately placed on IV antibiotics and had my right breast implant removed. In 6 months I will have the right breast augmentation again (per my doctor's advice to make sure the infection in completely gone). He did an inframmary incision. I was wondering if I should go through the areola for my next surgery. I am afraid my skin is too weak and will not heal properly under the breast. Can you give me advice on what to do? Thanks Karen

A: Hi Karen, Your doctor is familiar with your exact case, so I recommend asking them about this issue. Generally, it is best to re-use incisions whenever possible, to minimize scarring on multiple areas of the breast. However, this is only when the area is satisfactory in its ability to handle to new trauma. If not, another answer is simply to wait a bit longer. I hope it all works out for you. Best, Eve

Q: I have had reconstructive surgery after partial mastectomy and radiation. i have silicone implants. I now have developed capsular contractures in the right breast. My question is how does Accolate help the contractures. Thank in advance for your answer. karen

A: Hi Karen, There is some info on using Accolate for contracture here:
http://www.breast-plastic-surgery.org/accolate.html
Best, Eve

Q: Can I buy the implants and bring them or have them sent to the doctor to be used? Keri

A: Hi Keri, This depends on the doctor you use for your procedure. In most cases, doctors will want to provide the implants themselves, to assure their quality. However some may be open to the idea of using ones you acquire on your own. Best, Eve

Q: Hi. My name is Kaitlin and I have severely asymmetrical breasts. I started developing late at the age of 16 and by the time I hit puberty I was horrified to realize that my right breast was growing while my left was not. I now have to deal with one breast that is an A cup and one that skirts the line between C and D. It has caused severe self esteem issues and NO ONE, not even my family, knows my secret because I hide it with padding. Although this is the the number one cause of all of my self image issues I feel powerless to change it because I am a poor college student. Does anyone know what I can do to fix my breasts?? I need help, please.

A: Hi Kaitlin, There are different treatments available, ranging from non-invasive to surgical. If the smaller breast never grew at all, it may be a condition known as hypoplasia, which is detailed on the website. This may be harder to treat than if it is simply much smaller, but demonstrates some development. I advise that you see a doctor to discuss therapy options. Besides the obvious surgical correction, there are other options which may be useful, including hormone therapy. Best, Eve

Q: I had silicone implants under the muscle in the '80s and enjoyed feeling normal and my clothes fitting.In 2002 I noticed the top of my left breast was hard. I went to my gyno and a woman plastic surgeon and both assured me it wasn't cancer. In 2005 I had an A Fibs procedure and given an emergency pacemaker. This whole episode has traumatized me so much that I fear any medical procedure as I almost died from bleeding out. Heaven only knows what they did to the implants as they in the way, I guess, and one breast has a long scar and the pacemaker probably ran into the silicone problem.

I'm sorry this is so long and hope the place to get some advice. My breasts now gets sharp pains and my left one goes under my left arm as it is now longer than the right one. I have been back to the plastic surgeon but to "fix" the problem is very involved and I felt no way was I having more surgery pain. Now I'm 79 and I just want that glop out of my body as heaven knows where it is going and possibly why I feel so lousy all the time. I don't care if the stretched skin just hangs there from both of the girls, I just want them out. A nurse friend told me she saw an operation and the silicone was sticky and all over the place.I expect your only answer can be to go back to the plastic surgeon and bite the bullet despite the cost. I'm just so afraid it's all run down into my body and I'll be in terrible pain and is it worth it healthwise. Cosmetically I don't care what they will look like. - Alicia

A: Hi Alicia, This is something many women in your position struggle with. It seems that the implants should indeed come out. You may qualify for financial help from the manufacturer, especially if you have can show that these old implants may have been defective in some way. If not, your health insurance coverage may help with the costs for simple removal. I advise you to discuss these options with your doctor. I send you my best, Eve

Q: I live in Thailand and want to do the natural breast surgery in Japan. As I know that TUBA provides the scarless surgery, thus I want to know the best TUBA doctors in Japan/world who can provide the natural soft breast. Your information is valuable for me! Best Regards, Yaowaluk

A: Hi Yaowaluk, We are based in NY and Thailand (as well), so Japan is a bit out of our knowledge. I can tell you that there are many fine surgeons there. Since it is not a long trip, I advise that you might want to go in person and consult with several prior to making your decision. This is the best way to assure quality results and also get a good price. Best, Eve

Q: Hi, I'm a journalism student and I would greatly appreciate answers to two quick questions. I really like your website and I know you've already answered these questions, but so that I can have an 'exclusive' answer, please could I ask you to answer these similar questions...?! 1. Why do women want to have breast augmentations? 2. Who, if anybody, do you think should be held responsible (i.e. the media, society, celebrities) for women feeling unhappy with the size of their natural breasts?Thanks so much, Rebecca

A: Hi Rebecca, These are not simple questions to answer. Women want to undergo augmentation for a plethora of different reasons ranging from career aspirations to poor body image issues. There is no universal scenario which applies to all. However, the majority of women desire implants to solve emotional concerns, not physical ones. I do not think anyone should be held responsible for women wanting to change their anatomy. Obviously the media contributes, but then it always has and always will. In some cases, the contributing factors are external and in others, they are purely internal. I write about these topics extensively throughout the site. Best, Eve

Q: hi. i'm 15 years old. i'm really tall and skinny.... my mom was also skinny and tall during her childhood days, but now i'm taller than her.... i've started my periods at the age of 14. My breast development started at the the age around 13-14.... But still they haven't grown and appear to be the same size(small-growing stage).One of my breast is bigger than the smaller one... the bigger breast pains if i touch it.. it tells that it is growing but the smaller one doesn't.... my mom developed breast growth at the age around 15-16... but now her's is fine.. i dont know whether her breast growth was unequal.. but they seem to be of same size... i'm really depressed with my looks.... no dress suits me... because of my body shape..... tell me whether will my breast grow normally and turn out to be of same size?? please please please answer my question... i have hopes on your answer...... please.... thanx and regards..vijayashree

A: Hi Vijayashree, At your age, your body is still changing rapidly and considerably. I know it can be difficult to deal with these changes now, but hopefully, things will all even out and you will feel relief as you get older and grow into an adult woman. If not, you can always seek help from your doctor after the age of 19 or 20. Best, Eve

Q: hi my name is Stephanie and i have hypomastia, as i am going on 18 and haven't developed breasts whatsoever... this greatly affects my personality and self-esteem. honestly, i'm not enjoying my teenage years a.k.a the best years of my life all because of the fact that i don't have breasts, not even small breasts. i would be happy even if i had a small A but i don't even need to wear a bra. i've heard guys comment about me and laugh because i'm the only 18 year old flat chested girl in the class,if not the whole school. i don't want to talk about this with my dad, i only live with him and my mom lives out of the country. can i go to a doctor and ask for hormone therapy? i know there are risks for using hormone therapy but that's a risk i'm willing to take. what should i do? Stephanie

A: Hi Stephanie, Yes, you can talk to your doctor about hormones and other possible solutions to your problem. Hypomastia can be very difficult to treat non-surgically. I send you my best, Eve

Q: hi I am interested in non surgical breast enhancement can u tell me how to find Brava system in middle east, Mona

A: Hi Mona, I recommend that you consult with a local plastic surgeon who can tell you where to buy it or you can purchase it online as an alternative option. Best, Eve

Comment: Thank you for your excellent site and Sensei's book. These sources of information were very useful for me while finishing my doctoral thesis in psychology. There is no other website with the same clarity of information on the mindbody aspects of aesthetic surgery out there. Keep up the good work. Paul Rubinoff, PhD

A: Hi Dr. Rubinoff, Thanks for the very kind comments. We are happy that the site was helpful to you. Best, Eve

Q: I want to know where to buy Brava system in Dubai UAEThanks, Jessica

A: Hi Jessica, I recommend contacting a local plastic surgeon for information about purchase in Dubai. Alternately, you can also purchase the system online. Best, Eve

BREAST Q & A ARCHIVE