Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Reduction: Contrasting Procedures, Common Goals

Breast augmentation and breast reduction are two sides of the cosmetic breast surgery coin. While seemingly opposites, these two plastic surgery procedures actually have the same goals: to make you feel more comfortable and confident with your own body. It’s all about matching your breast size and shape to your needs and lifestyle.

For example, Jill Parsons recently told her story about her life-changing breast reduction surgery in Road and Trail Talk Magazine. An aspiring competitive runner, Parson’s overly large breasts caused her difficulties in breathing and shopping for clothes. It also created neck and back pain and unwanted attention from both men and women. As a 25- year old woman who wore size six jeans and a 36DDD bra, she compared her discomfort to having a sandbag draped around her neck. The health threats were so great that her breast reduction surgery was covered by her insurance. She recovered within two weeks and was back training in the gym in a month. Unburdened of five extra pounds on her chest, breathing difficulties and unwanted stares, she had the confidence to work her way up to achieving her goal of running a half marathon.

As a contrasting example, Dr. Robert Wald, an Orange County breast augmentation specialist, does life changing work through breast lifts, breast enhancements and breast reconstruction in addition to breast reduction surgery. With patients in Orange County and Riverside County, breast augmentation plays an important role in restoring the femininity and self-esteem in women who have undergone changes due to aging, pregnancy or breast cancer. These women can confidently wear the clothing and swimsuits that they may once have caused them embarrassment.

The story of Jill Parsons’ breast reduction and the successes of Dr. Wald’s breast augmentation procedures both illustrate cases where breast surgery led to a significant and positive lifestyle change. When it comes to breasts, bigger is not always better—it’s all about feeling comfortable in your body.

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In our continuing efforts to bring our readers the most information on a wide variety of cosmetic surgery procedures, we’re taking this opportunity to answer some common cosmetic surgery FAQs! In this and future Frequently Asked Questions posts, we’ll take a look at one or two of the most commonly asked questions regarding a given procedure and share our wealth of knowledge with you, our readers and potential patients.

Q. What is breast augmentation?

A. Breast augmentation is a plastic surgery procedure designed to enhance the size, shape, and symmetry of a woman’s breasts. The procedure can be done in a variety of ways, however, the most common method uses either silicone gel or saline (salt water) breast implants. The result of breast enlargement surgery is an enhanced figure, and a potentially heightened sense of self-confidence.

Breast augmentation is a procedure that has definitely evolved drastically, since its inception. Many years ago, the earliest breast enhancements consisted of women getting silicone injected directly into their breasts. But not long after the injections, the silicone would move and distort the breast augmentation. Some enterprising people (not necessarily physicians) found that if they put certain chemical impurities into the silicone, the material would stay in place. Unfortunately, these impurities caused infections and problems for many patients. Soon after, plastic surgeons improved the technique by putting silicone into a thin containment device and the modern day field of breast augmentation was born.

Q. What actually happens during the breast augmentation procedure? Is there multiple ways to do the surgery?

A. As with all things in life, there is always more than one way to do something. The basic breast enhancement procedure involves making an incision in and around the breast, creating a tunnel under the skin or muscle and putting an implant in that tunnel.

Here is where it gets a little interesting. Different surgeons advocate making incisions in different areas: under the arm, in the belly button, around the nipple or underneath the breast. Each method has its advantages and a disadvantages. Typically, the best procedure for you is what your doctor says it is. Each surgeon has his own preference and his own comfort level with different techniques. However, it is also important to address your own comfort level and personal needs, as well.

Our suggestion is this: Pick a plastic surgeon that offers multiple options for your procedure so that you get the one that’s best for you. If your surgeon offers only one way to do your procedure, you may not be getting the best possible solution for what bothers you. Ultimately, your plastic surgeon should be able to provide you with both a variety of options and an objective opinion on what will be the best method for you

As always, get several opinions before undergoing any sort of cosmetic surgery.

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