Breast Anatomy
Breasts are made up of a complex network of milk ducts and glands surrounded by fat and connective tissue that helps to hold everything in place. The breast itself does not have any muscle, but the chest muscle (pectoralis major muscle) is located directly beneath the breast.
The amount of fat in your breasts largely determines their size, shape and feel. Breast tissue is sensitive to changes in hormone levels and the size and shape of your breast may change over time, particularly during puberty when the breasts begin to grow, through periods of weight loss or pregnancy, and following menopause when breast tissue volume often decreases.
Breast Conditions
Breasts come in different shapes and sizes and develop at different rates. Your breasts will also change throughout your life; when you get your periods, during pregnancy and as you get older.
Most of these differences and changes are not a problem for many women but for some, a lack of breast development, having noticeably asymmetrical breasts, or breasts which have lost their shape due to pregnancy, breastfeeding or ageing can cause a debilitating drop in confidence and undermine self-esteem. For these women, breast augmentation may offer the opportunity to feel confident and more attractive.
Before deciding to have breast augmentation, it is important that you can identify your goals and discuss them with your surgeon so that you can develop a realistic expectation of what breast augmentation can do for you.
Breast augmentation can be used to:
- enlarge small breasts
- restore volume after weight reduction, pregnancy or breastfeeding
- even up asymmetric breasts (where one breast is much larger than the other, or sits lower or higher than the other).
Breast augmentation does not correct droopy or sagging breasts. A breast lift (Mastopexy), is designed to correct this condition by removing loose,excess skin in and around the breast and tightening the remaining skin to restore the breasts to a more upright position. It also often involves shifting the nipple position.
A breast lift can also be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation to restore a more youthful profile to the breasts while also enhancing their size [Breast Lift with Augmentation].