Breast Procedures

About Breast Surgery

Plastic surgery can help improve the look of your breasts. If you are unhappy with your breasts, more surgical options are available than ever before. Small breasts can be augmented and larger ones reduced. Breasts beginning to sag can benefit from surgical lifting. Post-mastectomy patients and men living with gynecomastia also can improve their chest appearance.

If you’re interested in any of the breast surgery procedures please contact Denise M. Kenna, M.D. or call 717-741-9914 for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Breast Augmentation

If you are unhappy with the size and/or shape of your breasts you are not alone. As one of the most popular procedures, we can offer you many options when it comes to breast enhancement surgery. Through the placement of saline or silicone implants, breast augmentation can enhance the shape and increase the size of your breasts, as well as correct asymmetry. Dr. Kenna believes in providing a natural result that will help you feel more confident with your body.

There are many reasons women undergo breast augmentation including reshaping breasts that have lost their size and shape due to breast feeding or weight loss, making breasts larger to become more proportional in overall body shape or balancing breasts that are different sizes. That being said, your reasons are personal and unique. Your decision to undergo breast augmentation should be based on your own needs and expectations.

Breast Implant Fill

Implants can be filled with either saline solution or silicone gel material. Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. Silicone breast implants are filled with silicone gel. Breast implants provide a uniform shape, firmness, and feel. There are distinct advantages and disadvantages between silicone and saline implants. Dr. Kenna will discuss your options with you and help you determine which selection makes the most sense for your body and goals for surgical outcome.

Breast Augmentation FAQs

Who is a good candidate for Breast Augmentation?

Breast Augmentation provides satisfying results for millions of women each year. Good candidates for breast implants are adult women with clear, realistic expectations for the outcomes of their surgeries. They should be committed to caring for themselves both before and after surgery, in ways such as quitting smoking and closely following Dr. Kenna’s instructions.

What happens during a breast augmentation consultation?

A consultation with Dr. Kenna is the first step to getting the breasts you want. During your consultation, Dr. Kenna will ask you many questions about your lifestyle, medical history, and goals for your surgery. She will examine your breasts to evaluate factors including your skin quality, level of sagging, and the size of your natural breasts.

Dr. Kenna will explain the different breast implant options and help you choose the one that might be right for you. Your consultation is an no-pressure opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the procedure. Dr. Kenna is happy to answer your questions and address your concerns.

How do I know if I need implants or a breast lift?

Although breast implants alone can reduce the appearance of minor sagging, significant sagging requires mastopexy, or breast lift surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Kenna evaluates your breasts and makes recommendations that are likely to give you the results you want. In many cases, Dr. Kenna performs breast lift surgery at the same time as breast augmentation, improving both the size and position of the breasts.

I’ve heard that implants need time to “drop”. How long does that take?

Implants will usually appear high on the chest for some time after surgery. This is due in part to swelling of the breast tissue and tightening of the skin as a result of the breasts’ increased volume. Many women notice their implants beginning to “drop” or settle into lower, more natural-looking positions after about 3 weeks. In some cases, however, this process can take up to 3 months. Dr. Kenna will help you understand what you can expect during the postoperative period.

How long is breast augmentation recovery?

Breast augmentation surgery is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure, and most patients are able to return to work in one to two weeks. It is normal to feel somewhat tired and sore for several days. You may also feel tightness in the chest area for some time. You should limit your activity for the first two weeks; strenuous activity should be avoided for 4 weeks following breast augmentation.

You will be given antibiotics to minimize your infection risk, and we will instruct you to use specific breast massage techniques following your surgery to help keep your breasts mobile, soft, and natural looking and to help prevent capsular contracture (excess scarring around the implant from the inside).

How much does breast augmentation cost?

Dr. Kenna understands that cost is an important consideration for many patients. Our fees are competitive with those of other plastic surgeons in the region. The cost of a breast augmentation varies depending on the specifics of each surgery, so it is difficult to provide exact numbers. However, during your consultation, you will be provided with a written quote that’s been customized for your procedure.

Breast Lift

Also known as Mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape drooping breasts through the removal of excess skin and repositioning the nipple and remaining tissue. Over time the effects of gravity along with the loss of the skin’s natural elasticity begin to have an effect on the appearance of a woman’s breasts.

Pregnancy and nursing may also cause the breasts to lose their youthful shape and appearance. A breast lift can restore the shape and firmness of the breasts, as well as reduce the size of the areola. 

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery can be a tremendously life-enhancing option. Patients with heavy, sagging breasts often experience breast pain, shoulder pain, back and neck pain, rashes beneath the breasts, and shoulder grooves from heavy bra straps. Reducing breast size will provide you far more than just smaller, firmer breasts.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, “the level of patient satisfaction resulting from breast reduction is among the highest of any plastic surgery procedure.”

Surgery

Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia, and may take up to 3 or 4 hours. The specific technique used to reduce the size of your breasts will vary based upon individual characteristics, amount of reduction desired, breast composition, aesthetic preferences and doctor recommendations. In some cases liposuction may be used in conjunction with the excision.

Healing Time

When you wake up from surgery, your breasts may appear mildly swollen and bruised. Prescription pain medication will be available to help you manage discomfort. You will need to wear a special bra for the first several days of recovery. You should be able to resume work in 2 weeks, though this may vary upon the patients age, bra size and work requirements. Strenuous physical activity should be avoided for at least a month.

Your breasts will need time to heal and settle into place. It is important to remember that permanent scarring is inevitable with breast reduction. The extent of your scarring will depend on the incision pattern used during surgery. Dr. Kenna will provide you with instruction on how to minimize scarring.

If you’re interested in breast surgery procedures please contact Denise M. Kenna, M.D. or call 717-741-9914 for more information or to schedule a consultation.