: Before & After Photos

If you experience shortness of breath, numbness in your hands and fingers, or pressure on your shoulders from your bra straps – you may benefit from breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction is a surgical procedure that reduces the size and weight of the breasts. When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, like myself, it is a safe procedure with a short recovery period.

Although the primary goal of breast reduction is to help a woman achieve smaller, more proportionate breasts, many women experience additional benefits that significantly improve their quality of life. While a breast reduction is not guaranteed to provide these benefits in every patient, patients frequently report the following after surgery.  Let’s take a look.

#1: Relief from Chronic Pain

Many women with disproportionately large breasts experience chronic physical pain in their backs, necks, and shoulders. In some cases, the pain can radiate down through the arms and fingers, limiting or restricting daily activities. By reducing your breast size, tension caused by the weight of heavy breasts can be alleviated – minimizing or even removing pain altogether.

#2: More Enjoyable Shopping Experience

Finding clothes that fit properly when you have extremely large breasts can be difficult. Most often any clothing that doesn’t pull tight across your chest (or leave gaps) is oddly-sized and hangs unflatteringly off the rest of the body. A breast reduction procedure can ease some of the stress of shopping, increasing your options and giving you more freedom to dress how you want.

#3: A Well-Balanced Figure

Some women are unhappy with the shape, size, or firmness of their large breasts. Others are self-conscious about having asymmetrical breasts. Women who have large breasts but small frames may wish for a more proportionate figure. Whichever applies to you, breast reduction surgery can give you the well-balanced figure you desire.

#4: Improve Your Workouts

Excessively large breasts can restrict participation in sports and other activities. From getting in the way of movement to causing discomfort while jogging and working out, very large breasts prevent many women from having an active lifestyle. Even sports bras provide no relief. Once you’ve fully recovered from your breast reduction, you can have a more enjoyable workout experience.

#5: Protect Your Health

Many women experience irritation of the skin under their breasts or have breathing issues as a result of their excessively large chest. The lower breast and breast fold can be more susceptible to intertriginous rashes. A breast reduction can relieve, or prevent, these rashes.

Are You Ready for a Breast Reduction?

It isn’t necessary to live in constant pain or discomfort. You can be proactive about your body and improve your quality of life. During your consultation, I will explain the procedure so that you are fully informed about what you can expect. It’s important to be open with me about any physical and emotional issues you’ve experienced. Once you’ve had time to consider the procedure, you can make the decision that’s right for you and your health.

Take the Next Step

Ready to look and feel your best? Schedule a consultation with Andrew Barnett M.D. to discuss your options today. Consultations are available in both our San Francisco and Walnut Creek offices. You may schedule for either location by calling (415) 879-8735. Renee or Laurie will help you and answer any pre-consultation questions you may have!

Laser Skin Tightening

While “Laser” represents a very specific type of technology, many people use the term “Laser” to describe all of the non-surgical energy-based treatments for facial aging.  There is a multitude, including brand names like Fraxel™, Ulthera™, and Thermage™. For ease of discussion, I’ll continue to use the term “Laser” even though not all the treatments use laser technology.  Non-surgical, laser skin tightening treatments encourage the growth of new collagen in your face. The laser heats the collagen under the surface of your skin, causing it to tighten.

What are the Benefits of Laser Skin Tightening?

These procedures are safe, effective, and require no incisions.  With some of the procedures, either numbing cream or nerve block injections may be used.  They are designed to produce smoother and younger-looking skin. Some will also reduce skin discoloration and small veins.

What are the Drawbacks of Laser Skin Tightening?

While the recovery is significantly less than with surgical treatments, the results are limited both immediately, and in the long term.  Depending on the technology, you’ll generally need multiple treatments to maximize the result, sometimes upwards of six treatments. Because of swelling of the skin from the treatment, fine lines are greatly improved immediately following the treatment, but much of that improvement will be lost when the swelling subsides within a few weeks. The limited collagen production that occurs with these treatments take time, so it can take 3-6 months for optimal results. This treatment is not ideal if you have excessive skin laxity due to aging, sun damage with loss of elasticity, or weight loss.

Facelift

Facelifts reposition the skin and muscles to give your skin a tighter, more youthful appearance, as well as remove excessive skin. I specialize in the deep plane facelift (also called a two-layer lift), which lifts both the skin and the second layer of fibrous tissue and muscle. Lifting these layers separately prevents direct tension on the skin, allowing for a more dramatic, yet natural-looking and long-lasting result.

What are the Benefits of a Facelift?

The most positive aspect of a facelift is that with only one procedure, many facial imperfections can be addressed.  It results in a long-lasting, often dramatic rejuvenation, that is natural-looking.  Complementary procedures can be incorporated into the facelift, reducing cost and recovery time from multiple surgeries.

What are the Drawbacks with a Facelift?

Facelifts are surgery and therefore are more expensive. While complications are very uncommon, there are greater risks with facial surgery compared to laser skin procedures.

What Results Can I Expect from a Facelift?

A facelift can improve or reverse signs of aging in your mid-to-lower face. After surgery, you’ll have a smoother neck and jawline which is long-lasting.  The majority of our patients require no additional facial surgery for 12-15 years, and as aging following a well done two-layer facelift is natural, subsequent surgeries are not required. While the initial recovery is longer than a Laser treatment, the results from a facelift require only a single procedure. If you’re after quick improvements with lasting results, a facelift is a great choice.

Which Gives the Best Results?

This is important – these are not competitive procedures.  Facelift surgery will give you the optimal result and will dramatically reduce visible signs of aging in comparison to laser skin tightening. Laser skin tightening may be less invasive, but in terms of results – a facelift gives the best results. Laser skin treatments, particularly those that improve fine lines, pigmentation, and small veins and red spots, are an excellent complement either before or after facelift surgery.

 If you need a facelift, you need a facelift!  Laser treatments are not designed to provide the kind of improvement you’ll see with a facelift… but not everyone needs a facelift.  If you have expectations that are in line with what the different procedures can deliver, you’ll generally be very happy with the outcome of the procedure you choose.  If you expect a laser treatment to give you the same results as a facelift, you’ll be disappointed.

If you’re not sure which procedure is right for you, you’ll benefit from a consultation with me. I’ll listen to your aesthetic goals, as well as answer any questions you may have. With the right procedure, you can take years off your appearance and no one will know you’ve had work done.