Breast Surgery

Breast surgery is among the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the world. Many women have breast surgery every year, either with silicone implant augmentation (boob job), asymmetry correction, breast reduction and/or lift, and reconstructive surgery after mastectomy. Breast surgery aims to enhance the appearance of your breasts, correct breast deformities or renew your breasts following breast implant removal. The type of breast surgery that your breast surgeon – Dr Doyle – will perform depends on your condition, body type, and aesthetic goals.

About Breast Surgery

Breast surgery is a set of surgical procedures aimed at improving the functions and/or appearance of your breasts, and often resolving various medical conditions caused by, for example, oversized or tuberous breasts, etc.

This surgery can help you achieve a more proportionate body figure. Thanks to the advancement of aesthetic medicine and surgery in general, each surgical procedure is individual, and as such created according to your needs and desires.

Such an approach, combined with the techniques of a professional and experienced specialist plastic surgeon, leads to the mutual satisfaction of the medical professional and yourself.

Specialist plastic and cosmetic surgeon, Dr Mark Doyle has over 30 years of experiencing performing breast surgeries in Australia.

Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Surgery?

To ensure that you will receive the best breast surgery results, your breast surgeon will assess your condition, medical history, lifestyle, amount of breast tissue and desired cosmetic goals during your consultation. In general, you are a good candidate for breast surgery if:

• Your breasts are too small
• Your breasts are too large
• You want to replace your breast implants
• Your overly large breasts cause skin irritation, redness, infection, back pain, headaches, and other discomforts
• You have breast sagging due to aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or significant weight loss
• You have inverted nipples
• You have tuberous breasts
• You have complications associated with previous breast surgery

The surgical procedure itself largely determines the conditions that you must meet, but there are universal conditions that must be met in order for your specialist surgeon to decide that you are a good candidate.

To be a good candidate for breast surgery you must be:

• A non-smoker
• In good overall health
• Have realistic expectations about what breast surgery can achieve.
• Not suffer from medical conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, bleeding disorder, heart disease, or depression, or
• Other medical conditions that can impair healing or increase the risk of surgery
• Willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle after surgery.

Benefits of Breast Surgery

If you’re not satisfied with your appearance, you may not be completely happy. Congenital and acquired defects, both inherited and acquired through life, cause dissatisfaction and can be a burden on both the psyche and the body of each patient.

The benefits, like the surgery itself, are tailored to each individual. You may want bigger breasts, smaller breasts, a more balanced appearance, even breasts or you may be recovering from a battle with breast cancer.

When performed by an experienced surgeon, breast surgery can offer the following benefits:

• Breast contour that is in proportion with the rest of your body
• Improved body posture
• Improved breast appearance
• Lower risk of skin irritation, infection, and other physical discomforts
• More clothing options

The benefits of surgery can be an aesthetic or functional improvement for you.

Most Popular Breast Surgery Procedures

Breast surgeries have been the most popular surgical procedure for years. Every year, in reports of most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries, breast surgeries regularly take first place. Some of the most well-known and common breast procedures that patients opt for are:

Breast Augmentation

A Breast Augmentation can enhance the shape and appearance of your breasts using a breast implant. This Breast Enlargement is also known as an Augmentation Mammaplasty or sometimes just a Boob Job. The procedure often reshapes the breasts and can correct asymmetrical breasts.

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery is a procedure that can reduce the size and improve the shape, appearance, and size of heavy breasts. The aim of breast reduction surgery is to relieve the weight of large, heavy breasts and improve physical discomfort, skin chaffing, and indentations in the skin. It can also improve skin droopiness or sagginess (skin ptosis). If this procedure is deemed medically necessary it may attract Medicare rebates.

Breast Lift

Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) lifts and reshapes sagging breasts, making them firmer and improving their shape. It is also often combined with other procedures such as having a lift with implants to add volume to the breast. It can also be used to reposition the nipples to a more central location on the breast mound.

Breast Lift with Implants

A breast lift with implants also referred to as a boob job with implants is usually the preferred breast procedure for women who have excessive breast skin or drooping breasts. Also known as a mastopexy-augmentation, this procedure has the combined benefits of enlarging the breasts, enhancing the breast shape and projection, as well as tightening the skin and lifting the nipples.

Breast Implant Removal

Breast Implant Removal or Enbloc Removal is a procedure available to patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their current breast implants or have experienced a problem with their implants such as a rupture, capsular contracture (when breast implants become misshapen or firm), or other complications.

Breast Implant Replacement 

Breast implant removal and replacement is a procedure performed to replace breast implants. This can be done for a number of reasons. If your breast implants have been in place for a long time or you have a concern, a breast implant changeover to newer implants may be a good option. It’s also a great way to remove and change the size of your breast implants if you’re unhappy with the size, shape, texture, or positioning of your current implant.

Breast Revision Surgery

Breast revision surgery can improve the results of a previous breast implant surgery by correcting aesthetics or treating complications. If your breast implants have been in place for some time – or you have a concern – you may want to replace your breast implants with newer types of implants.

Breast Reconstruction 

Breast reconstruction surgery is designed to recreate the shape of the breast following a mastectomy or accident or to treat a genetic breast defect. During breast reconstructive surgery the surgeon will rebuild your breast shape using an artificial implant, a flap of tissue from another part of your body, or a combination of both.

Male Breast Reduction

Male breast reduction surgery or Gynecomastia aims to help men attain a flatter-looking, firmer chest contour. It involves liposuction and/or excisions to reduce excess skin or protruding tissues or fat deposits that have accumulated in the chest or breast area of men.  Causes of gynecomastia are varied and may include hormonal changes, obesity, substance use, androgen or testosterone imbalances, medication side effects, and illnesses.

Recovery Following Breast Surgery

Recovery is as important as the operative procedure itself. Shorter and easier recovery largely determines the overall outcome of your plastic surgery procedure. Each recovery is individual and determined by the patient’s age, general health condition, but also the experience of your specialist surgeon and the extent of the surgical procedure.

As each plastic procedure is individual, so is the time and difficulty of recovery. But there are a few universal facts that apply to all plastic and aesthetic surgeries.

Some patients may require shorter downtime while others will take several weeks to recover. The length of your recovery will greatly depend on several factors such as the extent and type of your surgery, your healing ability, your body type, and your treatment goals. To support your healing breasts, you may need to wear a support bra or compression garments. In addition, you will be advised to prevent strenuous activities to avoid tension on your suture lines.

Most importantly, following the surgeon’s instructions can greatly determine recovery as successful, quick, and painless. Following these instructions will help you get back to your daily life and activities as soon as possible.

Also, if your specialist surgeon schedules a follow up appointment, it is important that you attend it so that your surgeon can monitor your results and ensure a quick and stable recovery.

Immediately after your surgery, you may experience soreness, bruising, and pain on your surgical site. These discomforts can be alleviated by taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatories.

What Does Dr Doyle Do Differently?

There are hundreds of doctors and plastic surgeons that do Breast Surgery. But, unfortunately, everyone’s experience and knowledge are not the same.

Dr Mark Doyle is a fully qualified and experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Queensland who has over 30 years of experience implementing modern breast surgery techniques.

Through years of working with different patients and challenging cases, Dr Doyle can help to reduce any anxiety, stress and fear you have relating to your cosmetic or functional breast surgery procedure. His main goal is to put you at ease and answer any of the questions you may have leading up to surgery.

Recovery is very important when we talk about plastic and cosmetic surgery. A trained surgeon with extensive experience can greatly reduce recovery time and the intensity itself.

How Much Does Breast Surgery Cost? – Costs & Prices

Most cosmetic breast surgery procedures do not fall under Medicare-covered procedures. As a rule, all procedures that have only an aesthetic character are not covered by health insurance, while those that impair the functionality of your body and life are mostly covered. It is important to consult with your provider to find out which procedures fall into the group of those funded by health insurance funds.

To receive a more accurate estimate of what you can expect to spend on breast surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr Doyle. You can access our list of pricing resources to find about more about the cost of medical and cosmetic breast surgery procedures:

• Breast Augmentation Special Offer
• Plastic Surgery Pricing
• Available payment options
• Will Medicare cover me?
• Using Superannuation for plastic surgery
• Payment plans

Further Reading –  Medical References

• Types of Breast Implants | American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Breast Augmentation Surgery Information | ABCS

Complications and Risks of Breast Surgery

During your pre-surgery consultation, your surgeon will thoroughly address the risks associated with breast surgery before arranging for you to go ahead with the surgery.

All of the general risks associated with surgery are also a possibility with breast surgery.  Some procedures come with more potential risks than others, so side effects are possible and conditioned by the extent of the procedure, your medical condition, age, but also the skill of your specialist surgeon. Inexperienced surgeons who are not specialists in the field of surgery can greatly influence the outcome and results. With the help of Dr Doyle and his experienced team and by following his specific aftercare instructions, complications can be avoided.

Like any invasive procedure, the most common possible risks and complications are:

• Bleeding
• Haematomas
• Infections
• Implant rupture
• Pain
• Seroma
• Loss of sensation in the chest area
• Scars
• Risk of poor reaction to anesthesia

The following are the risks associated with breast surgery procedures:

• Allergic reaction to anesthesia such as skin rashes and difficulty breathing
• Capsular contracture
• Implant leakage or rupture
• Numbness in one or both breasts
• Possibility of revision surgery
• Rippling of the implant
• Unwanted scarring
• Wrong or faulty position of the implant

Best Blogs About Breast Surgery

• 5 Ways to Get Natural-Looking Breasts
• Benefits of the Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures
• Best Breast Implant Placement – Under vs Over Muscle Placement
• Breast Implant Illness – Everything You Need to Know
• Choosing the Best Breast Implant Size
• Combining Plastic Surgeries: When Can Multiple Procedures Be Combined?
• Exercising After Breast Augmentation Surgery
• Finding the Best Plastic Surgeon in Queensland
• How to Lose Weight Before Surgery
• Mini Boob Job: Small Breast Implants for Petite Women (Breast Augmentation)
• Motiva Breast Implants and Why Dr Doyle Thinks They Are Best
• Nipple Reshaping – Areola & Nipple Surgery: What to Expect
• Options After Breast Implant Removal Surgery

Breast Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to recover from a breast surgery?

Everyone is different, which makes every surgical procedure individualised. For this reason, it is important to know that the length of recovery is also individual, and depends on the extensiveness of the procedure itself, and on the patient’s general health and abilities.

Is breast surgery dangerous?

Breast surgeries are among the lowest risk procedures for plastic surgery if your surgeon specialises in this area and has the necessary knowledge and experience to make your operation successful. While it is considerably regarded as low risk, general risks of surgery do apply. These will be explained to you in detail in your initial consultation with Dr Doyle.

How many months should you delay pregnancy after having breast implants?

It is recommended to postpone pregnancy for at least 6 months after your surgery. This allows your breasts to adjust to its new shape and size.

Can I get breast implants if I have sagging skin?

This will depend on the degree of skin sagging. If you have extreme sagging of the skin, another procedure may be needed to lift your breasts so that they appear younger and well-defined. Breast implants are recommended for patients with a mild degree of skin sagging. During your consultation with your plastic surgeon, your breast condition will be first assessed if you are a good candidate for breast implants.

Do breast implants need to be replaced?

When undergoing the initial breast augmentation surgery, you may have been told to expect a breast implant replacement after ten years. Fortunately, this is not always the case. An FDA study estimated that only ‘one in five’ patients require a replacement procedure after ten years following their initial augmentation.

What is the average lifespan of breast implants? 

The average lifespan of modern Motiva breast implants is 20 years—although some have been known to last up to 40 years.

Will breast surgery increase your risk of breast cancer?

Breast surgery will not increase your risk of getting breast cancer. In addition, having breast implants will not hinder the detection of breast tumours. There are however other risks to be aware of such as BIA-ALCL and breast implant illness.

Which breast augmentation surgery is best?

There is no best or worst breast surgery. Each body is different, and as such requires an individualised approach to achieve the desired results. There are many breast augmentation considerations as with each individual breast procedure. The procedure and important considerations will be explained in detail in your initial consultation. For more information, book in for a consultation with Dr Doyle.

Book a Consultation

If you would like to know more, or to book a consultation with Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle, please contact us today.