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Cosmetic Surgery Involving the Breast

There are several procedures done on the breast including breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, and also male breast reduction.

Breast augmentation is a pretty common cosmetic surgery and can be done for various reasons including having underdeveloped breasts, or uneven breasts, or when women just want to have fuller breasts. Sometimes changes that occur to breasts during pregnancy or breast-feeding may prompt a woman to seek help by using breast augmentation.

You are usually a good candidate for breast augmentation if you are bothered by the size of your breasts being too small, or if your clothes do not fit well, or if you are self-conscious wearing a swimsuit or other form-fitting top. Sometimes breasts will lose their firmness after having children as well as when a woman loses weight.

You will need to have a personal consultation with the doctor you would like to do your surgery in order to have all your questions answered about the procedure, and about the risks and benefits associated with the surgery. Also, ask about the recovery period and what you should expect.

A breast lift is often performed when gravity and aging have caused the breast tissue to lose their elasticity. Breasts may also sag after weight loss, pregnancy and also from breast-feeding. Breast lifts are done to raise or firm breasts. A breast lift can bring about a more youthful appearance in your breasts that may be pleasing to you and to your partner.

Individuals may be good candidates for a breast lift if they have "pendulous" breasts or if their breasts lack substance or firmness. They may also benefit from breast lift if they have nipples or areolas that point downward, and if they are positioned below the breast crease. A good candidate is one in which her breasts are different in that one may be firm and positioned corrected and the other one is not firm and drooping.

Typically doctors will ask patients to wait until the breasts are fully developed before having a breast lift, but a lift can be done at any age.

Breast lift surgery generally does not affect your ability to breast-feed later.

A breast reduction is usually done to bring relief to overly large breasts when physical symptoms occur due to the sheer weight of the breasts. Breast reduction allows for an improved size and shape of the breasts as well as to look more proportional and to have your clothes fit better.

You may be a good candidate for a breast reduction if you have overly large breasts for your frame, if one breast is larger than the other, if you experience back or neck pain as a result of the weight of your breasts, if you experience skin irritation beneath your breasts, and if your bra straps leave indentations in your shoulders. You may also be a good candidate for breast reduction if the size of your breasts keeps you from participating in physical activity or if you are dissatisfied or self-consciousness about the size of your breasts.

Male breast reduction also called gynecomastia is done on approximately 40% to 60% of the male population and can be caused by certain drugs such as anabolic steroids, medicines containing estrogen, from alcohol usage, and from using marijuana other medical conditions can also cause enlarged male breasts such as cancer, impaired liver function. Most cases have unknown causes. Sometimes male breast reduction is done in combination with liposuction.