Breast Surgery

Many women are dissatisfied with the shape, size, or contour of their breasts. A woman's breasts may be central to her feelings about her appearance and her sense of femininity. Dr. Stuart Baker understands the emotions and concerns that may accompany a woman's decision to have surgery to alter her breasts. At The Center for Cosmetic Medicine™, serving the Decatur, Springfield, and Champaign, Illinois area, breast enhancement surgery (breast reduction, lift, and augmentation) is provided in an atmosphere of understanding, confidentiality, and comfort.

Breast augmentation (enlargement) is discussed in another part of our website. On this page we have provided brief overviews of breast lift and breast reduction to serve as introductions to these commonly performed breast enhancement procedures.

Breast Lift

• Who is a candidate for breast lift surgery?
• What can I expect during and after breast lift surgery?

Breast Reduction

• Who is a candidate for breast reduction surgery?
• What can I expect during and after breast reduction surgery?

Breast Lift

A woman's breasts can lose their firmness, elasticity, or volume following weight loss, pregnancy, nursing, and simply with age. A breast lift rejuvenates a sagging bustline by lifting and tightening the breast tissues. In some cases where the breasts have both sagged and lost volume, implants can be inserted as part of the same surgical procedure, to enlarge the breasts at the same time that the shape and position of the breasts are changed. At the Decatur, Champaign, and Springfield, Illinois-area practice of Dr. Stuart Baker, breast enhancement surgery is tailored to the unique desires of each patient.

Who is a candidate for breast lift surgery?

An appropriate candidate for a breast lift procedure has one or more of the following:

• Breasts that don't have satisfactory substance or firmness
• Breasts that are of satisfactory size but are "pendulous" — that is, they hang heavily on the body
• Nipples that point downward

Sometimes these conditions are inherited, and not due to the events listed above. In addition, some women have breasts that differ in size, shape, firmness, or position; a breast lift can address this problem, too.

What can I expect during and after breast lift surgery?

In your breast lift consultations, Dr. Baker will show you the details of the particular breast lift procedure that you and he have agreed upon. In a standard breast lift, excess breast skin and tissue are trimmed away, and the bustline is lifted and tightened. The remaining breast tissue and the nipples and areolas will be repositioned. The possible side effects of a breast lift are temporary bruising, swelling, and a reduction in breast or nipple sensation. Nevertheless, breast lift surgery is an extremely safe and effective procedure. The surgery takes approximately three hours to complete, depending on the extent or complexity of the surgery. For example, a breast lift and breast augmentation are sometimes performed together as a single breast enhancement surgery.

If you are interested in breast enhancement surgery and live in the Decatur, Champaign, or Springfield, Illinois area, contact Dr. Stuart Baker, M.D., a board-certified cosmetic surgeon.

Breast Reduction

A breast reduction is performed to make the breasts smaller. This will often provide relief from back and/or neck pain that over-large breasts can cause. A breast reduction can also be desirable to make a woman's breasts more in harmony with the rest of her body. Breast reduction is considered a reconstructive plastic surgery procedure, and it's performed more frequently than you might think. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 114,000 breast reduction procedures were performed in 2005 in the United States. In addition, since breast reduction is often performed to treat physical symptoms, it is one of the few plastic surgeries that can be covered by health insurance (check with your individual insurer). Dr. Stuart Baker has helped many patients at his Decatur, Springfield, and Champaign, Illinois-area office by performing breast reduction surgery for health and aesthetic reasons.

Who is a candidate for breast reduction surgery?

If you have one (or more) of the following, breast reduction surgery may be right for you:

• Back, shoulder, or neck pain from the weight of your breasts
• Indentations in your shoulders from bra straps due to your breasts' weight
• Self-consciousness or unhappiness about your breasts' largeness
• Restricted physical activity because of the weight or size of your breasts
• Breasts that are too big in proportion to your body
• Heavy or hanging breasts with nipples that point downward
• One breast noticeably bigger than the other
• Skin irritation or rash underneath your breasts

If you are a Springfield, Decatur, or Champaign, Illinois area resident interested in breast reduction surgery, contact cosmetic surgeon Stuart Baker, M.D. to learn more about this safe and effective surgery. We would be happy to answer all of your questions.

What can I expect during and after breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction can be performed as an outpatient or in-hospital procedure. It requires general anesthesia. The surgical techniques for breast reduction vary, but generally an incision is made from the crease below the breast, up to and around the nipple, and back down to the crease. Excess skin, fat, and tissue are removed. The nipple and areola (which stay connected to their nerves during and after the surgery) are repositioned on the breast. A new contour is achieved, and the skin is stitched together. The surgery takes approximately three hours per breast.

After the surgery, bandages and a supportive bra will be provided. The bra must be worn for several weeks while the bruising and swelling subside. Patients can usually return to their normal activities in one to six weeks, depending on the type and extent of the surgery and the patient and how well the patient is recovering. The final results of the breast reduction are seen two to three months after the surgery.

Although not very common, the potential side effects or risks of breast reduction surgery include:

• Loss of sensation
• Nerve damage
• Excessive scarring
• The inability to breast feed
• Asymmetry of the breasts
• The necessity for further surgery

Schedule a Breast Enhancement Surgery Consultation

Residents of the Decatur, Champaign, and Springfield, Illinois area interested in breast enhancement surgery (breast lift, breast reduction, and augmentation) can contact The Center for Cosmetic Medicine™ to arrange a private consultation with Dr. Stuart Baker regarding these life-enhancing options.