Breast reduction
Breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty, is an operation to reduce the weight and volume of the breasts. Fat, glandular tissue and skin are removed from the breasts, which are then reshaped and the nipples repositioned. Men can also have breast reduction surgery to treat enlarged breasts, known as gynaecomastia. Bilateral breast reduction surgery (reduction of both breasts) takes two to four hours under general anaesthetic. You will need to be careful for two to six weeks while you recover from the operation, but recovery time depends on your age and general fitness. It is likely you will have sore breasts for a few weeks.
Breast uplift
In a breast lift, or mastopexy, the surgeon removes excess skin from underneath your breast or from around the area of dark tissue that surrounds the nipple (areola) and moving the nipple to ‘perk up’ sagging breasts. Because the nipple and areola typically need to be repositioned there will probably be some scarring.
Breast augmentation
There are four categories within this kind of surgery, under which many companies offer different procedures and products.
- Breast enlargement surgery is the most commonly performed procedure for women. There are different ways to insert breast implants (which can be either silicone gel or saline), which should be discussed in consultation.
- Breast reduction is often performed when women want breasts that are in proportion with the rest of the body, or who want relief from back or neck pain caused by overly large breasts.
- Breast uplift surgery (mastopexy) is most commonly performed on older patients whose breasts have lost their fullness due to the natural ageing process, and on mothers whose breasts have lost their shape and support due to breast-feeding.
- Breast enhancement surgery, also known as fat transfer or stem cell breast enlargement, can be a great option for those women who wish to increase the size and fullness of their breasts while removing fat from another area of the body.
The following products and procedures are currently available in the UK.
Natrelle (Allergan)
The Natrelle® Collection offers women the industry’s widest range of safe and high-quality breast implant options. From saline and silicone gel filler, to smooth and textured surfaces and varying shapes, to low, moderate and high profile (projection) and a range of volumes
Cristalline Paragel (Euromedical Systems Ltd)
Crystalline paragel silicone implants are available in the UK in sizes ranging from 60cc to 300cc. These implants incorporate a low-permeability barrier layer within the shell structure in order to suppress any gel bleeding.
Eurosillicone (Euromedical)
Eurosilicone are one of the market leaders in cohesive gel implant manufacture and offer the largest variety of implant sizes and profiles available today.
Mentor Breast Implants (Mentor)
Mentor implants are available with both smooth and textured shells and a variety of different profiles, sizes and in round or anatomical styles.
Motiva Breast Implants (Tekno Surgical)
Silicone filled breast implants using the highest grade FDA-cleared and CE marked medical implantable grade silicone.
Nagor Breast Implants (Nagor)
Nagor is the only British manufacturer of silicone-gel-filled breast implants that offer a lifetime guarantee. All implants are manufactured with a high- performance silicone elastomer to enhance shell integrity and have a unique 360-degree barrier layer to minimise gel diffusion.
General link
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency information on breast implants.
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/dts-bi/documents/websiteresources/con2022634.pdf