Maintaining a healthy outlook through life’s transitions often presents a challenge to our wives, sisters and mothers. As the demands of daily life constantly tug at their sleeves, it becomes all too easy to accept the unwelcome changes in their bodies these transitions produce. This has been particularly true when surgery is required to restore the youthful shape and appearance, due to concerns for the safety and cost of plastic surgery, its outcomes, and the time necessary for recovery from this “unnecessary” surgery.

With modern anesthetic and surgical techniques, however, procedures for restoration or maintenance of the desired form are now available at a reasonable cost, and with very favorable safety profiles, making them available to most women.

To some, this may mean reduction of the breast size (and weight) for improved self-image, comfort and ability to pursue certain lifestyle choices. This usually involves a 2-3 hour operation on an outpatient basis, in which a board certified plastic surgeon separates the breast into it’s component skin and breast tissue through various incisions based on the patient’s exam and goals. The breast tissue is removed and skin trimmed to provide a natural breast lift to the now smaller breast, which is then carefully closed. Barring unusual circumstances, the results are uniformly excellent and patient satisfaction nationally very high.

To others, it may mean breast lift, breast augmentation, or a combination procedure to return them to the shape they had before pregnancy and motherhood. These operations, ranging in length from 1-3 hours, are in increasing demand as women continue to pursue youthful endeavors and fashion choices later in life than ever. Almost always performed on an outpatient basis and with a very favorable risk to benefit ratio, patient satisfaction is similarly quite high.

Finally, for the unfortunately growing number of women who face breast cancer in the US each year, these advances mean we can now offer more encouragement, support, and renewal than ever before. Modern reconstructive techniques such as the DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flap allow creation of a completely natural looking and feeling breast using unwanted skin and fat from the lower abdomen without muscle harvest or tunneling into the chest. Because this newer operation allows the removal of this tissue with minimal muscle disturbance, the recovery is actually shorter and easier, the risk of missing out on important lifestyle options is minimized, and the risk of developing a hernia is virtually eliminated compared to the older TRAM flap.

The safety and availability of plastic surgery for maintenance and restoration of desired breast shape and self-esteem have never been greater. Similarly, our ability to successfully detect and treat breast cancer improves with each passing year. All women are encouraged to perform monthly self-examination and annual mammograms after age 40- with the caveat that certain risk factors may necessitate this important detection tool be started earlier. Speak with your health care professional to determine your best approach to cancer surveillance. Never allow your life to get so busy you don’t spend the few minutes it takes to examine your breasts in the shower or get your yearly mammogram- and remind the women you love to do the same.

And if your breasts are healthy but just don’t have that certain “spring in their step” anymore, modern techniques available through your board certified plastic surgeon might just have you smiling in the mirror again soon!