Breast Surgery in West Chester, OH

Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammaplasty)

Breast augmentation uses implants to enlarge and shape the breasts. Many women find it gives them more freedom with fashion and a boost in self-image. For a full walkthrough, visit our breast augmentation page.

Is breast augmentation right for me?

Any of the following may indicate that you are a good candidate:

• You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small.
• Weight loss has changed the size and shape of your breasts.
• After having children, your breasts have become smaller and have lost their firmness.
• Dresses that fit well around your hips are often too large at the bustline.
• One of your breasts is noticeably smaller than the other.
• You feel self-conscious wearing a swimsuit or form-fitting top.

There are also a few important considerations. If you are a young woman, your breast development must be complete. You should be emotionally mature, understand your own motivations for wanting the procedure, and have realistic expectations. Surgery can bring improvement, but not perfection.

What to expect

At your consultation, Dr. Han will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your cosmetic goals. Come prepared to share information about previous surgeries, past and present medical conditions, medications and supplements, mammogram results, and any family history of breast cancer. Your breasts will be examined and possibly photographed for your medical record. Dr. Han may also suggest a breast lift in conjunction with augmentation for a better result.

Surgery may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgery center, or our accredited office-based surgical suite. Some patients receive local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, while others are better suited to general anesthesia. The incision is small and is usually placed underneath the breast just above the crease, around the lower edge of the areola, or within the armpit. Dr. Han prefers the armpit incision because the scar is inconspicuous, but he will review every approach with you. The implant is placed in a pocket either directly behind the breast tissue or beneath the pectoral muscle.

You will wake up wearing a support bra, gauze wrappings, or other dressings, and most patients are up and around within a day or two. Discomfort can be controlled with prescribed medication, and you may choose to use the On-Q pain pump to reduce post-operative pain. Within the first week you can generally shower, have stitches removed (unless dissolving sutures were used), and may return to non-strenuous work. After several weeks, most swelling subsides, you can stop wearing the support bra, and you can resume vigorous exercise.

Most women are very pleased with their results and enjoy a wider variety of fashions along with greater self-confidence. Keep in mind that breasts are not immune to the effects of weight fluctuations or aging.

Breast reduction is a highly individualized procedure that should be done for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s wishes or fit an ideal image. Your consultation is designed to educate you in a non-pressured setting. Dr. Han will discuss your goals, health history, medications, previous surgeries, family history of breast cancer, and any prior mammograms or biopsies. He may also take measurements and photographs and review anesthesia options.

How breast reduction is performed

Surgery is usually done through incisions on the breasts, removing excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin. In some cases liposuction is used along with or in place of excision to remove fat. The nipple is repositioned, the remaining breast tissue is reduced, lifted, and shaped, and the incisions are closed to create a smaller, better-proportioned breast. For extremely large, pendulous breasts, the nipple and areola may occasionally need to be transplanted to a higher position (free nipple graft). Incision lines are permanent but usually fade and improve over time.

Risks and preparation

Choosing a qualified plastic surgeon and carefully following all instructions are important steps toward your safety. Possible risks include, but are not limited to:

• Unfavorable scarring and poor wound healing
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation
• Bleeding (hematoma) and blood clots
• Breast contour, shape irregularities, or asymmetry
• Fat necrosis, or the death of fatty tissue deep in the skin
• Partial or total loss of the nipple and areola
• The possibility of revisional surgery

Your ability to breastfeed after reduction may be limited, so tell Dr. Han if you plan to nurse a baby. Before surgery you may be asked to get lab testing, adjust medications, get a baseline mammogram, stop smoking well in advance, and avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements that can increase bleeding. If your procedure is outpatient, arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you the first night.

Recovery and results

Dressings, an elastic bandage or support bra, and sometimes a small temporary drain will be placed to control swelling and fluid. Dr. Han will explain how to care for your incisions and when to return for follow-up visits. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual heartbeats.

Results are long-lasting and should relieve the pain and physical limitations you experienced beforehand. Over time, breasts can still change with aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, hormones, and gravity.

Is a breast lift right for me?

A breast lift is a highly individualized procedure and should be done for yourself. It may be a good option if:

• You are physically healthy, maintain a stable weight, and do not smoke.
• You have realistic expectations.
• Your breasts sag or have lost shape and volume, or have a flatter, elongated or pendulous shape.
• Your nipples fall below the breast crease when unsupported, or your nipples and areolas point downward.
• You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas.
• One breast is lower than the other.

A breast lift does not significantly change breast size or round out the upper part of the breast. If you want fuller or smaller breasts, you may want to consider breast augmentation or breast reduction, either on its own or combined with a lift.

Your consultation

Dr. Han will explain the procedure in a non-pressured environment and discuss why you want surgery, your expectations, medical conditions, drug allergies, current medications and supplements, alcohol and tobacco use, previous surgeries, and family history of breast cancer. He may also evaluate your general health, measure your breasts and nipple placement, take photographs, recommend a course of treatment, and review likely outcomes, risks, and anesthesia.

Risks

Following Dr. Han’s instructions carefully is an important step in helping to assure your safety. Possible risks include, but are not limited to:

• Changes in nipple or breast sensation
• Bleeding (hematoma) and blood clots
• Poor wound healing
• Breast contour irregularities and asymmetry
• Skin discoloration, swelling, and bruising
• Excessive firmness of the breast
• Partial or total loss of the nipple and areola
• Fat necrosis and the possibility of revisional surgery

A breast lift can interfere with diagnostic procedures, and breast or nipple piercings can cause infection. It does not normally interfere with pregnancy, but pregnancy may stretch the skin and offset your results, and breastfeeding may be more difficult after the operation. You will be asked to sign consent forms so that you fully understand the procedure and any potential complications.

Preparing for surgery

Before surgery you may be asked to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, adjust your medications, get a baseline mammogram, stop smoking well in advance, and avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements that increase bleeding. You will also receive instructions for the day of surgery and for post-operative care. It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement or pre-operative stress, so bring all your questions to Dr. Han.

Surgery day and technique

A breast lift may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgery center, or our accredited office-based surgical suite, using intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. If it is outpatient, arrange for someone to drive you and stay with you the first night.

The technique is chosen based on your breast size and shape, the size and position of your areolas, the degree of sagging, and your skin quality and elasticity. In general:

• Incisions are made in one of several patterns around the areola.
• Underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve contour and firmness.
• The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height.
• Enlarged areolas are reduced if necessary, and excess skin is removed to compensate for lost elasticity.
• The remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed.

Some incision lines are concealed in the natural breast contours while others are visible on the breast surface. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases they fade and improve significantly over time.

After surgery and your results

Dressings, an elastic bandage or support bra, and sometimes a small temporary drain will be used to control swelling and fluid. Dr. Han will explain how to care for your incisions, which medications to use, and when to return for follow-up visits. Avoid excessive force, abrasion, or motion at the incisions while they heal, and seek medical attention right away if you have shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual heartbeats.

Breast lift results are long-lasting, though breasts can still change with aging, weight fluctuations, hormones, and gravity. Maintaining your weight and a healthy lifestyle helps you keep your new look longer. If you plan to become pregnant or lose a significant amount of weight, discuss this with Dr. Han first.

Breast Reconstruction

The goal of breast reconstruction is to create a soft, natural-looking breast for a woman who has had, or must undergo, breast removal due to cancer or other disease. Whether it is done immediately after mastectomy or at a later time, reconstruction can dramatically improve appearance, self-confidence, and quality of life. See our breast reconstruction page for more detail.

Is breast reconstruction right for me?

Almost every woman who has lost a breast to cancer can have her body restored with reconstruction. You should understand that although your figure will be markedly improved, a reconstructed breast will not look or feel exactly like the breast that was removed. Your oncologist should also advise you that reconstruction is appropriate for your stage of cancer or treatment. Should cancer recur, a reconstructed breast will not interfere with further treatment, although that treatment may affect its appearance.

Reconstruction options

Your anatomy, Dr. Han’s recommendations, and your desired results determine the best method for you.

• Skin expansion with a breast implant: This is the most common method. A balloon expander is placed beneath the skin and chest muscle after mastectomy and gradually filled over several weeks to stretch the skin. It is then replaced with a permanent implant or left in place as the final implant. The nipple and areola are reconstructed in a later procedure.
• Flap reconstruction: The breast is rebuilt with natural tissue, a portion of skin, fat, and muscle taken from the back or abdomen. In a more complex microsurgical technique, abdominal tissue is transplanted to the chest by reconnecting its blood vessels. The breast mound is completed at the first operation, with no extended expansion period, though the initial surgery and recovery are longer.
• Follow-up procedures: One or more later procedures may replace a tissue expander with a permanent implant, reconstruct the nipple and areola, or lift or reduce the opposite breast to match.

Each option has advantages and disadvantages, and factors such as weight, other medical conditions, and previous cancer therapy may limit your choices.

Consultation, preparation, and recovery

At your consultation, Dr. Han will assess your physical and emotional health and review your surgical history, medical conditions, medications and supplements, and mammogram results. Before surgery you may be asked to avoid certain medications, stop smoking for a period of time before and after surgery, and arrange for help afterward.

When surgery is complete you will go to a recovery area, and small drainage tubes may be placed near the surgical sites. You will be encouraged to get out of bed for short periods on the day of surgery, and prescribed medication controls most discomfort. Recovery from a combined mastectomy and reconstruction, or from a flap reconstruction, usually takes longer than recovery from implant reconstruction alone. A general timeline looks like this:

• Within one week: Drains, if used, are removed, dressings are changed, and stitches are removed.
• After two weeks: Lingering soreness diminishes, and you feel less fatigued with more energy.
• After several weeks: You may return to most normal activities, begin recommended stretching exercises, and notice scars starting to fade, though substantial fading can take many months.

Most women find reconstruction brings physical and emotional rewards, a chance to put breast cancer behind them and move forward. Expect a period of adjustment, but concerns about your new shape typically pass within a few months as you begin to think of the reconstructed breast as your own.

Breast Surgery Questions Answered

Take the First Step Toward the Look You Want

Call (513) 755-8115 or request a consultation with Dr. Han to talk through your breast surgery options in a comfortable, no-pressure setting.

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