Plastic surgery:Breast

Procedure	Why Consider It?
Breast Implants Breasts of fuller shape and size are realized through saline or silicone filler (implants) placed either under or over the chest muscle.	Offers improved contours Can correct asymmetry or unevenness in breast size
Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue.	Restores youthful shape and firmness Improves breast shape, volume, and/or firmness
Breast Reduction Removes excess tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body, alleviating discomfort associated with overly large breasts.	Safe and effective option for women with large, heavy breasts Alleviates physical pain and discomfort, including back or shoulder pain

Breast Augmentation:

Breast augmentation, often combined with a breast lift, is a highly individualized procedure, which you should do for yourself, not to fulfill anyone else’s desires or to fit a certain type of ideal image. It is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in Australia.

Is breast augmentation safe?

Both saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants present potential risks, including:

• Implant rupture
• Need for additional breast surgery
• Breast pain

• Scar tissue that hardens around and distorts the breast implant (capsular contracture)

• Potential for decreased nipple or breast sensation
• Infection

Breast Lift (Mastopexy):

Your breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. Pregnancy, nursing, weight gain and loss, aging and gravity can cause breasts to soften and sag. Women who are unhappy with the shape, volume and/or firmness of their breasts may consider having breast lift surgery, also called mastopexy. A mastopexy raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast. A breast lift is often combined with breast augmentation surgery to increase both the firmness and size of the breasts.

Is breast lift surgery safe?

All surgical procedures carry some risk.

Although rare, risks associated with breast lift surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Unevenly positioned nipples

• Permanent loss of sensation in the nipples or breasts

• Problems with wound healing.

Breast lift surgery incisions do leave scars, but these will fade with time with maximum fading occurring at one year. Scar locations include an incision around the nipples, vertically down the breast and sometimes horizontally in the breast fold.

Breast Reduction:

Plastic surgeons in Australia have perfect breast reduction techniques to effectively remove excess tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.

Is breast reduction surgery safe?

All surgical procedures carry some risk. Although rare, possible risks associated with breast reduction surgery include:

• Bleeding and infection
• Unevenly positioned nipples
• Partial or complete loss of sensation in the nipples
• Tissue or nipple loss
• Possible loss of the ability to breastfeed (due to the removal of milk ducts)
• Women who smoke are at a higher risk for all complications. Poor healing and wider scars are also more common in smokers.
• Breast reduction surgery does leave permanent scars that may be problematic, with “raised” or “hypertrophic scars” common. Yet, these are typically hidden by a bra or swimsuit.
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Facial Implants & Chin Surgery

Plastic/Cosmetic surgeons in Australia perform facial implant and other chin surgery techniques to create symmetry among your facial features by establishing balance and proportion. Your procedure may be performed alone, or as a complement to other facial contouring procedures such as face lift, neck lift, cosmetic nose surgery (rhinoplasty) or other procedures.

Am I candidate for facial implant and chin surgery?

Facial implant surgery, sometimes referred to as chin surgery or chin plastic surgery, is completed through the insertion of specially formed solid, biocompatible materials designed to enhance or augment the physical structure of your face. The precise type and size of facial implants best suited for you require an overall evaluation of your goals, the features you would like to change and your surgeon’s judgment.

Chin surgery, also known as mentoplasty, aims at reshaping the chin by enhancement with an implant, by cutting the boney chin and moving it forward (genioplasty), or by reduction of the chin bone. It’s not uncommon for chin surgery to be performed in addition to other facial surgery procedures to give the best overall facial balance.

Good candidates for facial implant and/or chin surgery include:

• Individuals whose facial bones have reached physical maturity, which generally occurs in late adolescence
• Individuals who are bothered by a small chin, weak jaw or lack of facial contour
• Healthy individuals who have no major medical conditions
• Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for their facial implant and/or chin surgery.

How do I prepare for facial implant and chin surgery?

Preparing for your facial implant may include:

• Lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Taking certain medications or adjusting your current medications
• Stopping smoking well in advance of surgery
• Avoiding aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements due to increased risk of bleeding.

What results can I expect?

The results of your facial implant procedure are visible almost immediately. Initial swelling will subside over the first week with the use of cold compresses, and continue to subside for the following two to four weeks. Swelling from facial implants should go away fully in one to two months as your final results appear.

After chin surgery, your chin will be swollen, firm and possibly bruised. Using cold compresses in the first 48 hours will significantly lessen the swelling, as will keeping your upper body elevated when resting. If cosmetic injectables were used as the primary treatment for your chin augmentation, the swelling and bruising may be less.

Final results from both facial implant and chin surgery procedures takes time. 

Are facial implant and chin surgery procedures safe?

All surgical procedures carry some risk.

Possible complications from facial implant and chin surgery include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor healing of incisions
• Anesthesia risks
• Change in skin sensation due to nerve injury
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Excessive scar tissue formation
• Firmness around the implant
• Shifting of implants and pressure on surrounding structures
• Skin contour irregularities
• Skin discoloration and swelling
• Pain
• Skin sensitivity
• Allergies to tape, suture materials and glues, blood products, topical preparations or injected agents
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Blood clots
• Possibility of revisional surgery

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