Breast Surgery Education Hub
Understanding Breast Surgery Procedures, Planning, Recovery and Long Term Results
Breast surgery is one of the most personalized areas of plastic surgery. Every patient begins with a different anatomy, lifestyle, and aesthetic goal. Some patients want to restore volume that was lost after pregnancy or weight loss. Others want to improve breast shape, correct asymmetry, or address changes that occur naturally over time.
Several breast procedures are available depending on the patient’s goals and anatomy, including:
- Breast Augmentation – A procedure designed to increase breast size and enhance breast shape using implants or fat transfer.
- Breast Lift – Surgery that raises and reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning breast tissue and the nipple to create a more youthful contour.
- Breast Augmentation with Lift – A combined procedure that restores breast volume with implants while also lifting and reshaping sagging breast tissue.
- Breast Reduction – Surgery that reduces breast size by removing excess breast tissue and skin to relieve discomfort and improve body balance.
- Breast Implant Revision – A procedure performed to replace or adjust existing breast implants due to changes in preference, implant aging, or complications.
Because breast surgery involves several different procedures and decisions, patients often spend significant time researching their options before consultation. Understanding the differences between these procedures, along with implant options and recovery expectations, can help patients feel more confident when exploring treatment options.
This breast surgery education hub was created to help guide that research process. The videos and educational articles below explain the most common questions patients ask when considering breast surgery, including implant selection, surgical planning and recovery.
Breast Surgery Questions Answered by Dr. Tyler Frew
In the videos below, Dr. Tyler Frew answers common breast surgery questions related to breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, implant selection, surgical planning and recovery.
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What Happens If You Get Pregnant After Breast Augmentation
Will Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding
Where Is the Breast Augmentation Incision? Surgeon Explains
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These videos are designed to help patients better understand breast surgery options and the factors surgeons consider when planning procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, and breast implant revision.
Breast Surgery Education Library
Browse the articles below to explore common questions and considerations related to breast surgery.
How Breast Surgery Planning Works
Changes to the breasts can occur gradually over time due to pregnancy, weight fluctuations, aging, or natural anatomy. Skin may lose elasticity, breast tissue may shift in position and overall breast volume or proportion may change.
Rather than focusing on a single concern in isolation, breast surgery planning considers how breast volume, shape, skin quality, and chest proportions work together. This allows procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, breast reduction, or implant revision to be selected in a way that supports balanced results and long-term stability.
For some patients, increasing breast volume may be the primary goal. For others, reshaping the breast position or reducing breast size may be more appropriate. In certain cases, procedures may be combined, such as breast augmentation with a lift, to address both volume and position at the same time.
Because anatomy and goals vary widely from one patient to the next, breast surgery is not defined by a single procedure. Instead, it is guided by a structured planning process that evaluates anatomy, tissue characteristics, desired outcomes and recovery considerations.
Taking The Next Step
Education is an important first step when considering breast surgery. Understanding how procedures are planned, how recovery progresses and what factors influence long-term results allows patients to approach surgery with realistic expectations and greater confidence.
When ready, a professional consultation provides an opportunity for individualized evaluation, discussion of goals, timing and surgical options. This process helps determine whether procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, breast reduction, or implant revision may be appropriate based on anatomy and personal goals.
Start Your Journey
Breast Surgery Education FAQs
What breast surgery procedures are available?
Breast surgery includes procedures designed to improve breast size, shape, position, or comfort.
The most common procedures are breast augmentation to increase volume, breast lift surgery to correct sagging, breast augmentation with lift to restore both fullness and position, breast reduction to decrease breast size and relieve symptoms, and breast implant revision to adjust or replace existing implants.
Surgical planning focuses on balancing breast tissue, skin quality, and body proportions rather than selecting a single procedure alone.
How do i know if i need a breast lift or breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation increases breast volume using implants or fat transfer, while a breast lift corrects sagging by raising the breast tissue and nipple position. If the breasts have lost fullness but remain in a good position, implants alone may restore shape. If the nipples sit low on the breast mound or the skin envelope has stretched, a lift may be recommended.
In many patients both concerns are present, which is why augmentation with lift is commonly performed. Research confirms that augmentation mastopexy can safely address both volume and position when carefully planned.
What is breast augmentation with lift?
Breast augmentation with lift is a combined procedure that restores breast volume while also lifting sagging breast tissue. This approach is often recommended after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging when both volume loss and tissue descent occur. Studies show that single-stage augmentation mastopexy can produce favorable aesthetic outcomes with high patient satisfaction when properly selected.
How do surgeons choose breast implant size?
Implant size is determined by anatomy rather than cup size alone. Surgeons evaluate chest width, breast tissue thickness, skin elasticity, and implant projection to create balanced proportions. During consultation, measurements and implant sizers help patients visualize results before surgery. Research on aesthetic breast surgery emphasizes that successful outcomes depend on individualized planning that considers the soft-tissue envelope and implant dimensions together.
Are silicone or saline breast implants better?
Both silicone and saline implants are FDA-approved and can produce excellent results. Silicone implants contain cohesive gel that often feels more like natural breast tissue, while saline implants use a silicone shell filled with sterile saltwater. Research shows no significant difference in capsular contracture rates between saline and silicone implants, meaning the best choice typically depends on anatomy and aesthetic goals.
Where are breast augmentation incisions placed?
Breast implants are most commonly placed through an incision in the inframammary fold beneath the breast. Other options include incisions around the areola or in the armpit. The inframammary fold approach allows precise implant placement and is widely used because it provides excellent visibility and control during surgery. Over time the breast fold usually helps conceal the scar.
What is breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue and skin to reduce breast size and improve body balance. The procedure is often performed to relieve symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, shoulder grooving, and skin irritation caused by heavy breasts. Research consistently shows breast reduction significantly improves quality of life, physical comfort, and psychosocial well-being.
What is breast implant revision surgery?
Breast implant revision surgery adjusts or replaces existing implants. Patients may pursue revision to change implant size, correct implant position, treat capsular contracture, or replace aging implants. Because every revision case is different, surgical planning depends on the patient’s previous surgery, implant type, and current goals. Long-term implant monitoring helps determine when revision may be appropriate.
Can I get pregnant after breast augmentation?
Yes. Breast implants do not prevent pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may alter breast size or shape, but the implants themselves generally remain unaffected. Some patients choose to delay breast surgery until after pregnancy if long-term breast shape changes are a concern.
Will breast implants affect breastfeeding?
Many women are still able to breastfeed after breast augmentation. Studies show approximately 75–80% of women with implants successfully breastfeed, although some may experience reduced milk production depending on surgical technique or anatomy. Implant placement behind the muscle may help preserve breastfeeding function in some cases.
What is capsular contracture?
Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue that forms around a breast implant tightens excessively. This can cause firmness, distortion, or discomfort. Research shows the risk varies depending on factors such as implant placement, surgical technique, smoking, and implant size. Submuscular implant placement has been associated with lower capsular contracture rates in some studies.
How long do breast implants last?
Breast implants are long-lasting but are not considered lifetime devices. Some patients keep their implants for many years without problems, while others may eventually require revision due to rupture, capsular contracture, implant aging, or changes in aesthetic preference. Long-term studies show revision rates gradually increase as implants age.
The Balikian Experience
Patients trust Dr. Tyler Frew for his warm, personalized approach, advanced surgical techniques and results that look natural and refined.
Richard V. Balikian, MD, FACS
Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery: Richard V. Balikian, MD, FACS
Tyler Frew, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon