Breast enhancement is a general term for surgical procedures that improve the appearance of your breasts, including breast lift (mastopexy), breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, and breast reduction.

Breast lift

A breast lift (mastopexy) is a surgical procedure to uplift your breasts by removing excess skin, repositioning your areolas and nipples higher, and tightening the surrounding tissue. This surgery can produce modest results for more youthful looking breasts without changing your breast size.

Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery increases the size of your breasts and improves their shape using saline or silicone filled implants. Small incisions are made either in your armpits, along the creases of your breasts, or around your areolas, small pockets of space are made underneath your breast tissue, and implants are placed in. Another uncommonly performed incision option is through your bellybutton.

Fat transfer breast augmentation is an alternative to using implants, but the results are less significant. Fat is liposuctioned from another area of your body, such as your buttocks or thighs, cleaned, and then injected into your breasts.

Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction surgery is performed to restore the appearance of your breasts if they are removed (mastectomy) due to cancer or other medical complication, or are damaged from trauma. This procedure can involve many different surgical techniques.

Breast reduction

Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast fat, skin, and glandular tissue to reduce the size and weight of your breasts to alleviate back pain, correct asymmetry, improve proportion, and allay the emotional distress that may come from overly-large breasts.

Recovery

Recovery varies significantly depending on what kind of breast enhancement surgery you have, but you can usually expect two to four weeks of down-time. Pain and discomfort usually subsides a few days after most surgeries, and you will need to avoid strenuous activity while you heal.

Costs

Costs depend on many factors, including which breast enhancement surgery you have, your location, and your surgeon. Health insurance generally does not cover cosmetic surgery, but your provider may cover breast reduction surgery if you have back pain or other medical conditions related to overly-large breasts. You can discuss costs with your health insurance provider and surgeon for detailed information.