A Breast Reduction in Lubbock Can Help You Get Your Life Back

Sometimes it seems that society has a fixation on large breasts. What many don’t realize, however, is that having large breasts creates a lot of discomfort and can drastically decrease your quality of life, both physically and emotionally for many women. Being “well-endowed” can mean physical discomfort, unwanted attention, embarrassment, and an inability to do normal things like exercise or find clothes that fit well. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

Experts estimate that close to a million women nationwide experience physical problems due to larger breasts. If you are among them, then a breast reduction in Lubbock may be for you. Here are a few things to think about when deciding if a breast reduction is right for you.

  • How is your Posture? As women age, their shoulders tend to roll forward. Shoulders of women with larger breasts can roll even further forward, causing problems with posture that can contribute to back, neck, or shoulder pain. Some may even feel numbness in the body caused by nerve damage from poor posture. If large breasts are affecting your posture, consult a doctor about the benefits of a breast reduction. With this procedure, women can stand a little straighter with a lighter chest.
  • How is your Activity? We all know the benefits of exercise and living an active lifestyle. Larger breasts make some exercise difficult, or even painful to carry out. If you feel your breasts get in the way, or make normal activities difficult, consider the liberating effects of breast reduction plastic surgery. Women can move around with more freedom when a heavy chest is lightened.
  • How is your Self Image? Having larger breasts can have adverse effects on your self-esteem and contribute to having a bad body image. If you feel self-conscious about your looks because of larger breasts, talk to your doctor about the advantages of having a breast reduction. Women who go through the procedure often have a better body image and rebuild their self confidence.

If you have overly large breasts, you know for yourself that these problems are real. Because larger breasts can create legitimately difficult life experiences, breast reduction surgery may be covered by your insurance, unlike other breast procedures which are more aesthetic. So cost may not even have to be a factor when deciding whether you can move forward with this procedure.

What is a Breast Reduction?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a breast reduction is “a procedure to remove excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size more in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with excessively large breasts.” Sometimes your areola (the darker area around your nipple) is also made smaller and may need to be repositioned. In practical term, according to Dr. Jane Rowley, a breast reduction in Lubbock, generally takes approximately two hours under general anesthetic in the office operating suite or a surgicenter. Most patients are typically off work for 10 to 14 days, but may require up to three weeks, with six weeks before a return to full activity. The procedure may also be combined with a breast lift.

Benefits of a Breast Reduction

Women who have had a breast reduction procedure are among the most highly satisfied of all people who get plastic surgery. In fact, 97% of women who’ve had their breast size reduced say that they procedure was worth it.

Among the many benefits are an improved ability to move and to be more active. Exercise will be less restricted. Breast reduction can help alleviate back pain and neck aches. Some women have even reported fewer headaches. Even your sleep quality may be improved. This is important, because with better sleep and exercise, your general health and well-being will improve. Many women with larger breasts also suffer from painful shoulder indentations from bra straps. This will be alleviated with smaller and lighter breasts.

And don’t overlook the emotional impact of a breast reduction. Women with large breasts can suffer from anxieties and depression caused by insecurities in their self image. When you no longer feel self conscious about large breasts, you can feel an emotional freedom as well as a physical freedom. Whether while wearing a swimming suit or just shopping for clothes that fit, this freedom is emotionally healing. Mental health is an important part of our overall health and quality of life and should not be overlooked or underestimated.

Where to Get a Breast Reduction in Lubbock

The benefits of a a breast reduction procedure include less back pain, greater mobility, and increased self confidence. For women considering a breast reduction in Lubbock, they also have the added benefit of Dr. Jane Rowley. As one of the top plastic surgeons in Lubbock and Texas itself, Dr. Rowley has considerable experience in carrying out successful breast reductions. Plastic surgery is a personal decision and can be a life changing experience.

If you are experiencing difficulties because of overly large breasts, contact Rowley Plastic Surgery and learn about what options are available to you. Call today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.

What You Could Gain From a Breast Lift in Lubbock

When people think about breast enhancement plastic surgery, the most common thing people think of is breast enlargement. This is understandable, as breast enlargements are the most popular plastic surgery procedure. If you are happy with the amount of natural breast tissue that you have, but are less happy with your shape, asymmetry, or an overall lack of perkiness, a better option may be a mastopexy, or breast lift. In Lubbock, Dr. Jane Rowley offers this plastic surgery procedure to women looking for a breast lift to restore their youthful shape in a way that it still all you.

While breast implants are popular, breast lift procedures are on the rise. Since 2000, breast lifts have seen an increase in frequency of 70% since 2000, outpacing the increases in breast implants by 2-to-1. This may reflect the parallel trend that women getting breast implants are choosing smaller, more natural-looking sizes. It indicates that more women are satisfied overall by their breast size, and are simply looking to restore the perky fullness that they may have enjoyed when they were younger.

What is a Breast Lift?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a mastopexy is a procedure that “raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.” As part of the procedure, the areola and nipple are also repositioned. It’s typically an outpatient procedure, taking about 90 minutes to two hours, but performed under general anesthetic. It can performed in an office operating suite, surgicenter, or hospital. Most patients can expect to need about 5 to 10 days off work and 4 to 6 weeks for a full recovery and return to full activity.

Why Consider a Breast Lift in Lubbock?

As women age, breasts will naturally begin to change, losing their youthful look and feel. This may be caused by:

  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Weight loss
  • Aging
  • Genetics
  • Gravity

While some of these factors only affect some women, no one is exempt from all of them. Aging and gravity affect us all. And the fact is that your breasts can’t keep their youthful appearance forever, no matter how much you exercise and eat right. Some of the aesthetic concerns women who are candidates for a breast lift have, are:

  • Stretched skin and enlarged areolae
  • Droopy or saggy breasts
  • Breasts with a flatter, elongated shape
  • Pronounced stretch marks
  • Nipples that point down
  • Nipples that fall below the breast crease when unsupported
  • Asymmetry between breasts

Remember, a breast lift will not change the overall size of your breasts, only the shape. If you want larger or smaller breasts, then you should consider a breast augmentation or breast reduction. The great thing about cosmetic surgery is—you are in charge, and you get to choose what you want for your body.

What Do You Need to Do Before You Get a Mastopexy?

There are two things to consider when answering this question. First, make sure you are physically prepared for your procedure. If you smoke, you simply must quit. If not permanently, than at least for several weeks to prepare for the surgery and for several weeks after to aid in your recovery. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, which reduces your body’s ability to fight off infection.  Nicotene also directly impacts the blood flow to the tissues. Also, you should be maintaining a stable weight for some time. For more information about preparing for a breast lift in Lubbock, see our post about “Making the Most of Your Lubbock Plastic Surgery Experience.”

Second, closely consult with your plastic surgeon. There you will discuss your goals for this procedure: why you are considering the procedure, and what you hope to get out of it. Your plastic surgeon can help you have an accurate expectation of what the results of the procedure will likely be. Everyone wants to look like a supermodel, but every body is different, and the same procedure, and even the same size and type of implant will look different on every patient’s body. Your surgeon will also want to have a detailed discussion about your medical history to reduce the possibility of complications. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you have. If you’re not sure what to ask, here is a helpful list of questions you should consider.

Third, your plastic surgeon will likely request a full lab test to make sure there are no conditions you are not aware of before the procedure. Also, it is recommended that you get a baseline mammogram that will be compared to one after the procedure, to see if there is anything to be aware of in your breast tissue.

Women with Breast Lifts are Very Happy with their Results

According to RealSelf, 94% of women say that their mastopexy was “worth it.” In a sample review of the procedure, one woman wrote:

“I am a 20-year-old who underwent a breast lift procedure due to a lot of sagginess that inhibited me from feeling comfortable and also hindering what I could and could not wear. After losing weight from my chest after having a large bust, they began to droop. My areola area was very large and my right breast was larger and hung lower than my left breast. . . It has now only been two weeks’ post operation and I am comfortable to move around, pain free, and my breasts look 100 times better than what they did, which I am so grateful for.”

A breast lift in Lubbock can have a similar positive effect on your self-image and give you more confidence when your breasts are given back their youthful look. Dr. Jane Rowley and her staff are committed to helping you be the best self you can be and help give you the body you can truly appreciate and enjoy. Call us today for a no-obligation consultation.

Finding the Perfect Fit with Breast Augmentation in Lubbock

If you’re considering breast augmentation (also known as breast enhancement, breast enlargement, breast implants, or a “boob job”), you’re not alone. Breast augmentation has been the most popular plastic surgery in recent years, and continues to grow in popularity. But the decision to get breast augmentation in Lubbock, or anywhere, is not an easy one. First, you have to be sure that you really want it, and, second, you have to decide how you want to do it. Here are some things to think about as you consider whether to get a breast enhancement and which breast implants are best for you.

What is the Right Size? Its Whatever You Think is the Right Size for You.

First, if you want breast implants, you have to be sure that you are getting them for you, not for anyone else, not even your partner. It’s your body and you have to live (literally!) with the results. You must be sure that you will like what you see when you look in the mirror each day.

Second, the question of size is a very personal one that is tied closely to your reasons for wanting implants. Some women have a naturally small bust line and may wish for a curvier or more traditionally feminine figure. Some women may have an asymmetry that’s always bothered them and which they wish to correct. Some women may have lost breast tissue from breast feeding, or may wish to counteract the effects of aging and gravity. No matter what your reason, however, the size you choose will impact how dramatic of a change you achieve.

What is the Right Implant Type?

Presently, there are three implant types. All breast implants have a silicone shell, their names are describing what’s inside the silicone shell.

    1. Saline. Saline is sterilized salt water. These implants consist of a silicone shell filled with saline. Depending on which implant brand you choose, they may come either pre-filled (requiring a larger incision) or empty, in which case they can be folded and inserted through a smaller incision. If a saline implant leaks (called a “rupture”),  the saline is safely absorbed into your body, and the rupture is immediately apparent by just observing your breast. That’s the benefit of saline. The downside is that they often behave essentially as water balloons. While you have the peace of mind of a natural substance inside, the saline generally doesn’t move or feel like natural breast tissue, and the implant can fold, causing a rippling effect.
    2. Silicone gel. Silicone gel implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. They come prefilled, so they required a larger incision. However, there are two things about silicone gel ruptures that make many women uncomfortable with these implant types. First, because of the thickness of silicone gel, when there is a rupture, the gel is a foreign substance that requires another surgery to remove, and is not safely absorbed by the body like saline. And because you cannot detect a rupture by looking at the breast, its known as a “silent rupture,” meaning it requires an MRI (typically not covered by insurance) to detect. In fact, the FDA recommends MRIs every 2-3 years for women with silicone gel implants to make sure the implant is intact, and many women don’t know this.
    3. IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants. The IDEAL IMPLANT combines the safety of silicone with the natural look and feel of silicone gel. It’s the only breast implant of its kind and was developed by a plastic surgeon in response to women’s concerns to have the benefits of saline and silicone gel without the drawbacks of either. Its saline-filled, however, the saline is contained within nested shells and separate chambers. This controls the movement of the saline, giving it a look and feel that is similar to a silicone gel implant. Also, because of these separate chambers, and because IDEAL IMPLANTS are never pre-filled, a surgeon can adjust the saline levels to achieve the optimal results. Plus, IDEAL IMPLANTS are only available to board-certified plastic surgeons, for greater peace of mind. For breast augmentation in Lubbock, Dr. Jane Rowley is one of the exclusive plastic surgeons offering the IDEAL IMPLANT and is one of the most experienced surgeons in the nation in the use of this implant.

Beyond the contents of a breast implant, they may also vary by shape (round or anatomical, also known as teardrop) and texture (smooth or textured). An article posted on the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons blog described these different qualities:

“Round implants give a full look to the upper pole of the breast and can potentially rotate in the envelope – though such a shift shouldn’t be visible. Anatomical implants (named because they resemble the natural teardrop-shaped slope of the breast) have a tapered top, so the fullness is more emphasized on the bottom pole of the breast. If these shift, however, the visible change can be more pronounced.

“The silicone shell itself may also be textured or smooth. A smooth implant is freer to subtly move in its pocket, which some women feel better mimics natural breast tissue. Textured implants more firmly anchor themselves once inserted, making it more difficult for them to rotate.”  However, as textured implants have recently been shown to have a correlation to a rare form of breast cancer, they are decreasing in use as a result.

How are Breast Implants Put In?

How the implant is inserted is largely dependent on what implant type and size you have selected, along with how much natural breast tissue you already have. These matters will be worked out during your pre-procedure consultations with your doctor. The methods of inserting the implant combine 1) where the incision is made and 2) where the implant is placed within the breast.

The most common incision locations are:

  • Inframammary: at the base of the breast, just below the crease
  • Periareolar: on the lower border of the areola (the dark area around your nipple)
  • Transaxillary: through the armpit

As far as placement within the breast, there are also two general locations (with certain variations based on a woman’s body and consultation with her doctor).

  • Subglandular or submammary (in front of the pectoral muscle, immediately behind the breast tissue): this used to be the standard placement of implants, however, it is less common because the implant is easier to feel, and it’s closer to the surface. It’s also not advisable for women with little or no natural breast tissue as it will general result in a less natural result. This is now primarily used for women who are very physically active in sports that impact the pectoral muscle, such as body builders.
  • Submuscular (beneath the pectoral muscle): this is now the more common method and generally provides a more natural result. Despite its name, with this method, the upper part of the implant is generally placed under the muscle, while the lower part may be over the muscle.

Get the Results you Want with Your Breast Augmentation in Lubbock

Are you considering breast augmentation in Lubbock? If so, you’re lucky to have a nationally-recognized, world-class surgeon right here in West Texas.  Dr. Jane Rowley offers her patients an unmatched depth of experience and a woman’s perspective. With over two decades of practice, there is no plastic surgeon in Lubbock with more experience, training, and skill, than Dr. Rowley. Call today for your no-obligation consultation.