Breast Procedures

Mastopexy (Breast Lift)

Breast Lift | Breast Reduction | Breast Reconstruction | Rochester A mastopexy or breast lift is performed to return youthful shape and lift to breasts that sag or have lost volume and firmness. Over time, a woman's breasts may droop as a result of the natural effects of aging, heredity, gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss. A breast lift can rejuvenate the breasts by trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissues to achieve an uplifted, youthful contour. After a mastopexy, the breasts are higher on the chest and firmer to the touch. A breast lift can also reposition and reduce the size of the areola - the dark skin surrounding the nipple - which may have stretched or drooped. Breast size may change slightly after a breast lift. Occasionally, in order to restore the desired fullness or roundness in the breasts, a small amount of breast tissue may have to be removed. Women, who desire fullness in the upper portion of the breasts, or a larger breast size, may want to consider a breast augmentation along with a breast lift. During your consultation with Dr. Cobbins, she will go over your full medical history and discuss each and every option that is available to you. This will also be an opportunity for you to ask several questions. Dr. Cobbins performs mastopexy procedures in an outpatient surgery setting under general anesthesia. After surgery, you will wear a soft support bra, which is worn 24 hours a day unless bathing, for approximately 3 to 6 weeks. You may return to work after approximately 3 to 5 days. Light exercise such as walking, can be resumed after approximately one week. No heavy aerobic activity should be performed for 4 to 6 weeks.

Revision Breast Surgery

Revision Breast Surgery Rochester Revision breast surgery is typically performed to improve the result of a previous breast procedure. Several reasons exist, which may lead a woman to seek a secondary procedure. With the recent FDA approval of silicone implants, patients with saline implants may want to exchange them for silicone. Many women enjoy the more natural look and feel of silicone implants, and at the time of exchange, the opportunity to increase or decrease implant size is also available.

Capsular contracture is another reason one may seek revision breast surgery. This is a condition where excessive scar tissue forms around the implant, leading to a distorted shape and undesirable firmness of the breast. To correct this problem, Dr. Cobbins removes the excessive scar tissue and replaces the implant per patient preference. For various reasons, some women may choose not to have the implants replaced at all. In these cases, Dr. Cobbins will remove the scar tissue and implants. On occasion, a breast lift or mastopexy is required to restore the tissues to a more desirable location on the chest. During your consultation with Dr. Cobbins, she will perform a physical examination, and propose a specific plan that meets your needs.

Any woman considering revision breast surgery is encouraged to bring all records pertaining to the previous procedure to the consultation. This may help us discover if your implants are covered under the manufacturer warranty.

Breast Reduction

Large breasts can cause back pain, shoulder pain, neck discomfort, improper posture, ill-fitting of bras and clothing, rashes beneath the breasts and difficulty with aerobic exercise. Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is usually done to assist in relief of these symptoms. Performed under general anesthesia, this procedure removes fat and glandular tissue as well as tightens the skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.

There are many benefits of a breast reduction. Women who have large, heavy breasts may suffer physical discomfort from the weight of their breasts and may experience unwanted attention due to their breast size. Because of this, many women turn to breast reduction as a remedy.

Prior to surgery, Dr. Cobbins will meet with you to discuss your expectations and goals for surgery. She can then evaluate which goals are within reach and propose a plan for the breast reduction operation. At that time, Dr. Cobbins will inform you about the risks and benefits of breast reduction surgery. A breast reduction generally takes 3 to 4 hours, depending on the patient's specific anatomy, and is performed under general anesthesia usually on an outpatient basis.

Initially after breast reduction surgery, your breasts will be sore, swollen, and bruised. You can expect to wear a soft support bra for up to 6 weeks after surgery. Activity should be kept to a minimum for one to two weeks, with no heavy lifting or aerobic exercise for at least four to six weeks.

Insurance Benefits

Breast reductions may be covered by medical insurance if the purpose of the breast reduction surgery is to alleviate physical discomfort, pain or intermittent infections caused by oversized breasts. Many factors determine your eligibility, including the specific terms of your insurance policy and the amount of breast tissue to be removed. Dr. Cobbins and her staff will be happy to assist you in determining your eligibility for insurance benefits.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction Rochester Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure commonly performed after a mastectomy to offer patients aesthetic benefits when recovering from breast cancer. This procedure allows for the recreation of a breast to match the opposite breast in size and shape. If both breasts are removed during treatment, then both areas can be reconstructed to create natural looking breasts.

A woman may choose to have immediate breast reconstruction, which refers to the time of initial mastectomy, or she may have delayed reconstruction, which is initiated weeks, months or even years after the mastectomy. During your consultation, Dr. Cobbins will explain the different techniques utilized for breast reconstruction. These include implant- based reconstruction or autologous reconstruction, which is using the patient’s own tissues for reconstruction. Dr. Cobbins will also let you know that not having reconstruction is also an option.

In implant based reconstruction, Dr. Cobbins places temporary breast tissue expanders under the muscle and skin. These are serially expanded in the office to stretch the skin and muscle allowing for placement of a permanent saline or silicone breast implant at a second procedure. Nipple reconstruction can also be completed to recreate a more natural looking breast. In addition to nipple reconstruction, subsequent procedures such as lifting, reducing, and enlarging the opposite breast can be completed to allow for symmetry.

As stated earlier, autologous reconstruction, involves transfer of the patient’s own tissue to replace the missing breast tissue. This tissue may come from the abdomen, (TRAM flap) the back, (Latissimus flap) or the gluteus maximus (SGAP flap). Autologous reconstruction gives a very natural look and feel to the newly created breast, but patients’ must be aware that it involves added scars and a longer recovery period. With any procedure, Dr. Cobbins will modify her technique to best suit the individual patient's needs.

Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)

Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia) Rochester Although rarely discussed, enlarged male breasts or gynecomastia, is a common condition affecting 40 to 60 percent of men. There is often no known cause of gynecomastia, although there has been some correlation with side effects from various drugs or certain medical conditions.

Men who feel self-conscious about the appearance of their chests are helped through this breast correction surgery. The procedure removes fat and glandular tissue from the breasts using liposuction, or the procedure may be combined with an excision.

Male breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgical setting. Dr. Cobbins will place small incisions around the areola, (dark area surrounding the nipple) and/or the axilla (underarms) to sculpt and contour the chest using liposuction. If excess tissue remains, she will excise it to create a flatter, firmer male chest contour. Postoperatively, all patients will be advised to wear a compressive garment and to avoid any heaving lifting or aerobic activity for 3 to 4 weeks.

To determine if you are a good candidate for male breast reduction surgery, Dr. Cobbins will review your health history and perform a physical examination. She will also talk with you about your expectations and goals, then define a plan specific to you in hopes to obtain an excellent result.