Millions of women are unhappy with their breast size. Breast augmentation is performed to enhance a woman's natural breast shape. Most women who choose to have breast surgery do so to improve their self image or to restore their natural breast volume, which may have decreased as a result of pregnancy, weight loss or aging. 

During the consultation, Dr. Lavine will discuss your specific cosmetic goals for surgery. He will help you understand the factors that may affect your results, such as the size and shape of your breasts, the quality of your skin and the placement of your nipples and areola. In addition, Dr. Lavine will discuss the surgical options for breast enhancement.

The Procedure: A saline implant is placed in the breast, either above or below the muscle. Dr. Lavine prefers the sub muscular technique, but all surgical procedures are individually evaluated. The incision is small and is usually made underneath the breast, but can also be placed within the armpit. Breast augmentation is usually performed on an outpatient basis and takes about one hour. You will need someone to assist you the first 24 hours following the surgery and bed rest is recommended for the first couple of days. A detailed instruction sheet will help you during your recovery. You can usually return to work in 3-5 days and resume most activities by 2 weeks following your surgery.

At one time or another, all women notice a gradual deterioration in the size or shape of their breasts. This is usually due to pregnancy, breast feeding or the force of gravity taking its toll on a woman's breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. The medical term for this is "ptosis" and refers to the fact that the nipple hangs below the breast fold in an upright position. If true ptosis does exist, several techniques may be used to correct the condition. 

Occasionally, breast augmentation alone will correct the problem. If not, a breast lift or mastopexy is an excellent way to lift sagging, shrinking breasts. It may be necessary to remove the excess skin either around the nipple only (periareolar mastopexy) or through an inverted T incision which tightens the entire skin "brassiere". In addition, the different mastopexy techniques can be performed in conjunction with the augmentation procedure. The length of the surgery varies depending on the extent of the procedure, but usually ranges from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Recovery is usually between 5-7 days and at that time the patient can usually return to work and resume most normal activities within ten to 14 days.

Large, oversized breasts can dominate a woman's body, making her self-conscience about her appearance. Additionally, they can be a burden physically, causing back pain, neck pain and multiple other problems. Breast reduction is a procedure performed to remove excessive breast tissue, reducing the breasts to a more proportionate and comfortable size. This procedure is permanent, although it is important to remember that weight gain, birth control pills or pregnancy can increase breast size even after a breast reduction. 

While women of any age can benefit from a breast reduction, the procedure is usually performed after the breasts are fully developed. The size and shape of your breasts will help Dr. Lavine determine if you will benefit from breast reduction, along with your past medical history including back pain or shoulder pain, as well as other physical ailments that are attributed to oversized breasts. Your expectations will also help determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. Breast reduction will reduce the size of your breasts and make exercise and daily activities more pleasant, as well as alleviate multiple physical problems, but a patient should not expect perfection as a result and should realize that the surgery may not solve all of your physical problems.

Because breast reduction is generally performed to relieve physical discomfort, the fees may be partially or fully covered by your insurance company. The procedure normally takes about two hours and most patients stay overnight in the hospital, although some patients choose to go home the day of the procedure. Bed rest is recommended for the first several days and most patients are able return to work within two to four weeks following the procedure.