Alternatives to breast reconstruction: an overview of your options

Dr. Biesgen / Alternatives to breast reconstruction: Your options at a glance

Decision against breast reconstruction

Some women who undergo a mastectomy as part of their breast cancer treatment decide against any type of breast reconstruction.

They may decide that they do not want to have any more surgery than is necessary to treat the cancer, or that they want to return to their normal activities as soon as possible.

Some women simply feel more comfortable with how they look and feel after surgery to remove their cancer. Cost can also be an issue, especially for women who don't have insurance coverage.

Reconstruction is an option

If you change your mind later, reconstruction is usually still an option. But keep in mind that it may be easier to achieve the desired result if you make the decision before the mastectomy.

For other women, breast reconstruction may be difficult or impossible due to other health problems. For example, reconstruction may not be possible if you are obese, too thin or have circulation problems.

Options without surgical reconstruction

Women who do not have breast reconstruction after surgery have two main options: Using a breast form or prosthesis (placed in the bra or attached to the body to be worn under clothing)
Laying flat (not wearing a breast form)

Breasts that are too small and underdeveloped (micromastia): Causes and treatment options

Von fmandi

Breast size and whether your own breasts appear too small is a subjective perception. Above all, the shape, size and proportions of the breasts should fit in with the overall body image. The relevance of breast size can also vary greatly from culture to culture. In medicine, breasts that are too small are also referred to as "micromastia" or "mammary hypoplasia" and belong...

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Prevent unwanted symmastia: Tips for a sexy cleavage

Von fmandi

In medicine, symmastia describes the situation of breasts that have (partially) grown together at the level of the breastbone. The causes are basically genetic disposition. In addition, an unsuccessful breast augmentation with implants can cause symmastia. In this case, the breast implants shift towards the center of the breast and prevent a sexy cleavage. Symmastia after unsuccessful breast augmentation If the implants are too large, the...

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Correcting asymmetrical breasts (anisomastia): Causes, methods and chances of success

Von fmandi

Breast asymmetry (anisomastia) occurs when both breasts develop differently during the pubertal breast growth phase. The asymmetry concerns different volumes or a different shape of the breasts. In most cases, one of the two sides is underdeveloped and occurs in combination with another breast malformation. A certain degree of asymmetry is completely natural....

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Correcting tubular breasts with breast surgery

Von fmandi

Tubular breast is a congenital malformation of the female breast. Tubular breasts are a genetic defect. The malformation is also known as a trunk breast or tubular breast. The cause is a growth disorder of the glandular tissue. Due to the malformation, the upper part of the breast grows faster than the lower part. At the same time, the two lower quadrants of the breast do not develop,...

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Correcting sagging breasts: Effective solutions for sagging breasts

Von fmandi

Sagging breasts (mastoptosis) refers to the sagging of the glandular body as a result of connective tissue weakness and stretching of the skin. An increased weight of the breasts, e.g. due to naturally large breasts, can accelerate the sagging of the breasts. When are sagging breasts present (Regnault classification)? Sagging breasts can occur in several degrees. Mastoptosis is when the nipple lies below the breast fold....

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Poland syndrome (malformations in the muscular and skeletal system)

Von Thomas

Poland syndrome is a condition in which malformations develop in the muscular and skeletal system. In most cases, two parts of the normally three-part large pectoral muscle are missing. There are also malformations of the mammary gland and the skeleton. As a rule, only one half of the body is affected, often the right side. The syndrome is associated with a unilaterally reduced or completely...

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Frequently asked questions and answers about breast augmentation

Von fmandi

What is examined and discussed during the breast consultation? The following topics are examined and discussed during the consultation: Breast size, shape and consistency, thickness of the breast tissue, any asymmetry, nipple spacing, inframammary fold and the size of the areolas, relation of the breast to the upper body and posture. Dr. Biesgen also needs to understand what the patient wants from breast augmentation.

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The perfect bust: aesthetic criteria and individual preferences

Von fmandi

Optimal size and shape of attractive breasts? Ratio = 45:55 Ratio = 35:65 Ratio = 55:45? Researchers asked this very question to a group of over 1300 people from all parts of the world (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, September 2014;134:436-447). The aim was to find out whether there are universally shared opinions about what constitutes the ideal breast shape. In a...

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Who are the ideal candidates for breast augmentation?

Von fmandi

Breast augmentation is a highly individualized procedure. You need to have realistic expectations of the outcome of the procedure and do the necessary research to determine if it is right for you. There are several factors that plastic surgeons consider before categorizing patients as good candidates for breast augmentation. You have sagging or drooping breasts...

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Breast implants: Over or under the muscle - which is better?

Von fmandi

When planning a breast augmentation, there are several important decisions to make: implant size, implant filling, incision location and implant placement. Implants can be placed either above the pectoralis muscle (or pectoralis major muscle, a fan-shaped muscle located above the rib cage) or below it. Under the muscle There are some advantages...

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Optimal conditions for a breast reduction: what you should know

Von fmandi

The question of whether you could benefit from a breast reduction for oversized, heavy breasts is best answered during a personal consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Thomas Biesgen. Only a trained surgeon can say with certainty whether you are a suitable candidate. However, according to Dr. Biesgen, there are some important indicators that...

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Mommy Makeover: Advantages of a combined tummy tuck and breast augmentation

Von fmandi

Two plastic surgery procedures that are often combined in one operation are breast augmentation and tummy tuck. This combination is sometimes referred to as a "Mommy Makeover". Here, plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Biesgen discusses the benefits of combining breast augmentation and tummy tuck in a single surgery. Reversing the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding The combination of breast augmentation and tummy tuck...

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Fuller breasts with round breast implants: Benefits and results

Von fmandi

Breast augmentation surgery allows women to achieve the shape and contour they have always wanted. A variety of implants and surgical techniques can help women look and feel their best by restoring fullness and volume to their breasts. Many women who desire larger breasts are bothered by breast sagging...

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Smaller women with enlarged breasts?

Von fmandi

Breast implants can look good on any woman - big, small, voluptuous or petite. Women of smaller stature often have questions about their choice of implants and make important decisions about their procedure. Here, plastic surgeon Thomas Biesgen discusses the factors small women should consider when it comes to breast implants. Best implant size for a small frame Breast implants...

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Low-scar breast lift for sagging breasts?

Von fmandi

Is there such a thing as a "scarless breast lift"? Breasts sag for many reasons, such as pregnancy, weight loss and advancing age, but the common denominator in all these cases is that the supporting ligaments of the breasts and the overlying skin have been stretched. These supporting ligaments, named after an English surgeon from the 19....

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Please note that the descriptions in the above articles are for general information purposes only. A personal consultation with Dr. Biesgen is required for a well-founded assessment of your situation and your desired treatment. We will also discuss your anatomy, your needs, your lifestyle and your goals in order to jointly define an optimal approach for your treatment.

Topics and reports:

  • All topics
  • Breast surgery
  • Breast malformation
  • Breast implant
  • Breast reduction
  • Reconstruction
  • Revision

Double bubble vs. bottoming out: complications after breast augmentation

Breast augmentation is a wonderful procedure that can restore any patient's shape, body proportions and self-confidence. However, there are several potential long-term problems that can occur and that need to be recognized ...
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Breast reduction: When does health insurance cover the costs?

Large and heavy breasts can be a psychological and physical burden for affected women. If aesthetic operations affect health and are medically necessary, the health insurance company (health insurer) may, in certain cases, ...
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Rippling after breast augmentation: causes and treatment of wrinkling of the décolleté

After a perfect breast operation, the implants should neither be noticeable nor should the contours be visible. Rippling, which rarely occurs after breast augmentation with breast implants, results in visible and palpable folds on the ...
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Changing slipped breast implants: Treatment of bottoming out

Bottoming out means that inserted breast implants move or slip downwards while the breast tissue does not move. The lower part of the breast and especially the skin ...
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Deformity after breast augmentation: causes and treatment of waterfall deformity

Waterfall deformity is a complication that can occur after breast augmentation with implants. Viewed in profile, the deformed breast resembles the contour of a waterfall, because the patient's own breast tissue ...
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Double bubble after breast augmentation: causes, symptoms and treatment

After a perfect breast operation, the implant is placed in the underbust fold and adapts to the natural breast so that the breast implants can neither be felt nor seen. If the breast implant is not ...
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Capsular fibrosis after breast surgery: causes, symptoms and treatment

However, capsular fibrosis in the breast, whether unilateral or bilateral, only becomes critical and painful when the capsule becomes extremely dense and hard. The initially slight ...
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Breast amputation (mastectomy): Reasons, procedure and aftercare

The removal of the mammary gland on one or both sides is called a mastectomy (also known as ablatio mammae). If breast-conserving surgery is not possible for breast cancer or other tumors, a mastectomy can ...
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Glandular prolapse (swollen nipples): Causes, symptoms and treatment options

Glandular prolapse describes the protruding, visually swollen nipples. In glandular prolapse, the glandular tissue presses on the nipple from the inside, so that the appearance of the breast resembles that of a ...
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