Breast surgery as an option for men and women alike

Breast surgery is often associated with women getting bigger breasts or breast cancer reconstructive surgery. However, breast surgery has much more to offer, for men and women alike.

Men who are suffering due to a female looking breast, can be helped with a breast reduction surgery.

Reasons for undergoing breast surgery are not merely aesthetic, they are a mixture of aesthetic and medical, as well as psychological reasons and constraints.

In the following, we would like to present you with examples for different kinds of breast surgeries.

Different breast forms

No two pairs of breasts are alike.  In fact, there’s plenty of room for variation between one breast and the other. A breast and its look is not only dependent on its form or volume or nipple position, but also on its postioning in the body and dimension of the thorax and the size of the breast skeletal muscles. Also the overall body harmony plays a role in our judgement of a beautiful breast and the proportion between hip and thorax.

We all could think of famous examples in the media where the breast does not fit to the body of the affected person.

In the following example cases for breast surgeries are presented:

Cases for breast surgeries

• A 22-year-old woman who has always been self-conscious about her small breasts.

• A 45-year-old mother of three, who’s generally happy with the size of her breasts, but notices more slackening and sagging with the passage of time. She  simply would like to restore her breasts to their former natural shape and firmness.

• A 20-year-old girl with breasts so large that they cause backaches, shoulder pain and severe anxiety at school, which interferes with her studies.

• A 30-year-old man who has suffered from gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) since adolescence.

• A 40-year-old woman who underwent breast augmentation five years ago and is not happy with the results.

Procedures performed

Breast Augmentation

Our first patient, the 22-year old woman is a candidate for breast augmentation or breast enlargement (mammoplasty). The breast is enlarged with an implant that is placed either under the mammary gland or under the chest- and thorax muscles (in all three muscles that form a plate). If a breast skin tightening is also needed, the implant is put mostly under the mammary gland.

The skin incision for placement of the implant is located in the natural fold, the one under the breast for an invisible scar and a scarless result.

Several forms and sizes of  implant are available. The proper choice of an implant depends upon precise measurements and the individual preference of the patient. All breast implants have a nucleus of silicone gel that is covered by a jacket of specially coated solid silicon. The implants used in our surgery day clinic have a mildly rough-textured surface. This enhances the healing and the connection between the implant and connective breast tissue. We use only the "Rolls-Royce" standard among implants ( Mentor, USA) with a life-long guarantee. 

Another option for enlarging a woman's breast is using own body fat and fat tissue.

Breast Lift

Our second patient and her symptoms and wishes calls for  a breast lift (mastopexy) rather than full augmentation. This involves removing excess skin and tightening surrounding tissue to reshape and “uplift” the contour of each breast. Their size and shape remains largely the same, similar to the profile she enjoyed in the past.

A breast lift can be combined with implants if the patients wishes to expand her volume. This decision is made together with the surgeon and the patient during their consultation session. It is important here, that the wishes of the patient are tried to be fulfilled within the restrictions of the anatomy.  Hereby, both implants and own body fat can be used in order to create volume.

Breast reduction

Girls and women with overdeveloped breasts (macromastia) may experience physical pain and emotional suffering, are best treated with breast reduction surgery. This example applies in our third case.  Normally, breast surgery is only perfomed in adults and when the body is fully developed.

The desire for a certain procedure should not be socially influenced by a group of friends, but should come from the patient himself. Therefore, a surgeon needs to take time to get to know the patient.

Sometimes, it can be the case that for instance a 17-year-old patient does become a candidate for breast reduction surgery. Reasons are both medical (e.g. back pain) and emotional (e.g. bullying because of massive breasts). In such a case, a detailed consultation  with patient and parents and a psychological consultation is a prerequisite for surgery.

Male breast reduction - gynecomastia

Male breast reduction surgery is similar to female, though the end goals are different. The excess fat and glandular breast tissue is removed, diminishing the feminine shape and form. Gynecomastia is a hormonal condition, thus exercise alone will not achieve the desired flat, masculine appearance. Reduction mammoplasty is a safe, permanent treatment. Before surgery, a check with the General Practioner is advised in order to disclose other underlying conditions.

Breast revision surgery

Finally, revision breast surgery may be needed if implants rupture, deflate or reposition. Women may want to change the size and/or positioning of their implants, or may experience distortion caused by scar tissue.

In the case of revision breast surgery, multiple procedures such as breast tightening for reducing the surplus skin and breast augmentation can be combined  to achieve the individual desired outcome.

Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery

When a whole breast or part of it is lost, such as through excision of a mamma carcinoma, more elaborate operations are necessary. Depending on anatomical situations reconstructions with the patient’s own tissue, such as from the back or belly region, with or without additional implants, are feasible. More Information are given here. 

All forms of breast surgery needs to be placed into the hands of well-qualified plastic surgeons with years of experience and decent aesthetic and ethical values.

Keeping this in mind breast surgery has much to offer for women and men and can create a breast perfect for your own self.

All procedures can be performed in all our locations, either in Zurich, St. Moritz, Flaesch, or Schaffhausen.

Do not hesitate to contact us any time questions are occuring.

Yours cordially,

Dominik L. Feinendegen