Women may decide to undergo plastic surgery to enlarge or reduce their breasts, to achieve a balance in size or shape for their breasts, or to reconstruct one or both breasts to correct a birth defect or mastectomy. Whatever the motivation, breast surgery is safer and easier now than ever before. Our doctors will help you make an informed decision to achieve the most satisfying results.

• Breast augmentation can give women with small or unevenly-sized breasts a fuller, firmer, better-proportioned look through the placement of implants in the breast. Implants are silicone shells filled with either saline (salt water) or silicone gel (recently approved by the FDA). They are placed behind each breast, underneath either breast tissue or the chest wall muscle. The procedure lasts one to two hours and is typically performed with general anesthesia.

• A breast lift, or mastopexy, is performed to return youthful shape and lift to breasts that have sagged as a result of weight loss, pregnancy, loss of the skin's natural elasticity or simply the effects of aging and gravity. The procedure can also reduce areolar size (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). It is usually done under general anesthesia, and lasts from one to three hours.

• Breast reduction surgery is usually done to provide relief from the symptoms of large breasts, including pain, improper posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities, and low self-esteem. Performed under general anesthesia, the two- to four-hour procedure removes fat and glandular tissue and tightens skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.

• Breast reconstruction restores a natural, symmetrical appearance to the bosom, maintains body proportion, allows clothes to fit better, and most important of all, boosts self-confidence for women who have lost one or both breasts to mastectomy or who lack breasts due to a congenital or developmental abnormality. Reconstructive surgeons strive to create a new breast and nipple that resemble the woman's natural breast as closely as possible in shape, size and position.

Enlarged male breasts (gynecomastia) affect nearly 40-60% of men, often with no known cause. This condition can be highly embarrassing as well as physically uncomfortable. Men who feel self-conscious about enlarged breasts may seek breast reduction surgery. The procedure removes fat and/or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in some cases excess skin as well. The result is a flatter, firmer chest.

Are You a Candidate for Abdominoplasty?

The best candidates have pockets of fat or loose skin that haven't responded well to diet and exercise. The procedure can also be useful for women with stretched skin and muscles from pregnancy.

Liposuction (also called liposculpture or lipoplasty) is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S. In this technique, excess fat in certain body areas is removed from underneath the skin. The instrument used is a long metal tube called a cannula that is inserted through small, inconspicuously placed incisions. Because incisions are very small, recovery times are usually short, although specialized compression garments may be worn for several weeks to achieve the best possible contour.

Some useful modifications of liposuction are the tumescent technique, which decreases bruising and postoperative pain, and power-assisted liposuction (PAL), which may be useful when the fat is tough and resistant to removal. Often the techniques are used in combination to give the best possible outcome.

Medial Thigh Lift

A medial thigh lift is done through an incision concealed in the groin area. Excess skin and fat is removed from the inner thighs and then the skin is pulled up to tighten the area. In some cases liposuction is included to obtain optimal contour.

Lateral Thigh Lift

A lateral thigh lift is done through incisions that are typically concealed in the panty line. Once again skin and fat is removed and the loose skin of the thigh is pulled up to tighten and recontour the side of the thigh and the hips.

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)

After substantial weight loss or gain or merely as a result of skin elasticity loss, the skin in the upper arms may become loose and flabby. This loose skin, along with any underlying fat, may be removed with an upper arm lift. Sometimes liposuction is added to the arm lift in order to achieve the best possible results.