Your Questions
Your Questions
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am looking into getting a breast lift and possibly an implant. Does you do the breast lift with a vertical incision under the nipple down?
A: There are four basic types of breast lifts which differ in the amount of lift and length of scars that are created. As a general statement, when breast lifts are done in conjunction with an implant, the most common type of lift performed is the vertical type. (lollipop) The breast implant also helps in creating somewhat of a lifting effect as well. When a breast lift is done without an implant, the most common lifting technique is the anchor or inverted T scar pattern where there is a combined vertical and horizontal scar. Without an implant more of a lifting effect is usually needed and that must come from the amount of skin removed and tightened.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: Dr. Eppley, I wanted information about getting breast implants for my wife. How much do they cost and what are the payment options? What size is better for her? How long does it take to do the procedure?
A: The first question about breast implants is what type does your wife want. That is an important decision for various reasons and one of them is cost. Saline breast implants will cost less than silicone breast implants. The size of breast implant any woman wants is a personal one and I can not tell any woman what size breast implant she should have. I can guide her with her decision but she will have to provide some input. The best way to do that is to look at before and after breast augmentation results and show me some of the results that she likes. Otherwise, breast implant surgery is done under general anesthesia and takes one hour to perform.
The typical full cost of breast augmnetation is $4700 for saline implants and $5800 for silicone implants. The most favorable and convenient formk of financing is through Care Credit.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: I have one breast that is quite a bit larger than the other one. I am way too embarrassed to wear a bathing suit or even go out with men for more than a couple of weeks. (I don’t let my relationships, go to the next level so to speak, in fear that the guy will totally freak out and embarrass me even more if that is possible because I already feel pretty bad about myself!) Anyway I was wondering if you could enlarge just one of my breasts?
A: While few women have breasts that are perfectly symmetric, congenital or developmental breast asymmetry is another matter. In this condition, one breast is significantly larger than the other often by several cup sizes. In its most severe form, there is a medical condition known as Poland’s syndrome where the breast and the underlying chest muscles on one side fail to develop much at all.
All forms of breast asymmetry can be significantly improved through modern breast surgery methods. In some cases, the smaller breast may be merely enlarged by the placement of a breast implant. In other cases, differential enlargement of the breasts will different implants sizes may be better.
Often times, however, the differences between the breasts is more than just that of volume. The larger or more normal breast will have more skin and a different size and position of the nipple on the breast mound. Optimal correction may require adjustment of the more normal breast as well through a lift or nipple elevation.
Dr. Barry Eppley