Breast Enhancement

Birmingham AL Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction

Whether you feel that larger breasts would give you a more attractive new figure or are seeking to reduce breasts that are overly large and heavy, the plastic surgeons and caring staff of Hedden & Gunn Plastic Surgery offer a number of exciting Breast Enhancement options.

William Hedden, M.D., Stephen Gunn, M.D. and Pasha Mostofi, M.D. in Birmingham, Alabama have the knowledge and skills to help you make informed choices and produce the most satisfying results with Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction, Male Breast Reduction and Breast Reconstruction.

Breast Augmentation using saline or silicone breast implants is a safe and popular way to enhance your feminine curves and increase your self-confidence. Many breast surgery patients each year at our Alabama practice benefit from a more appealing breast contour and are able to wear new styles of clothing and participate in physical activites that weren't previously possible.

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation, or TUBA, is an increasing popular technique used to enhance the size and shape of the breasts. Transumbilical breast augmentation leaves a virtually undetectable scar at the rim of the navel and no scars at all in the beast area.

During the TUBA procedure, an endoscope is used to create a tunnel from a small incision at the perimeter of the belly button to each breast. The breast implants are inserted through the tunnel, placed behind the breast tissues and filled with saline solution to expand your feminine contour. Most women experience only minor discomfort and can quickly resume normal activities after transumbilical breast augmentation in Birmingham, Alabama.

Transaxillary Breast Augmentation

Another breast augmentation method that does not result in breast scarring is Transaxillary Breast Augmentation. Also called the armpit or transax incision, this procedure uses an incision made within the natural folds of the armpit. Once the incision is made, your surgeon at our Alabama cosmetic surgery practice creates a channel to the breasts. Breast implants are inserted through this channel before being filled with saline to enhance the size and contour of the breasts.

Breast Implant Exchange

Breast implants, similar to other medical devices, can fail. Implants can break or leak over time. Rupture can occur as a result of injury, during mammography or from no apparent cause. It is also possible to damage an implant at the time of surgery. Ruptured or deflated breast implants cannot be repaired, but must be replaced or removed.

Breast Lift

The breasts may begin to sag, droop or stretch as we age, losing their fullness and natural elasticity. A Breast Lift, or Mastopexy, is an excellent solution to this effect of aging, gently restoring the breasts to their natural, youthful state. A breast lift is often performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as breast reduction or breast augmentation.

During a breast lift, sagging breasts are raised and reshaped by carefully snipping away excess skin, fat and tissue. The remaining skin is tightened and lifted. The areola and nipple are adjusted for the most natural effect and the breasts are left to heal in their new position. Side effects include scarring, bruising, swelling, general discomfort and loss of sensitivity in the breasts, but most disappear within a few weeks.

Breast Reduction

Excessively large breasts can make some women self-conscious. They also can be extremely uncomfortable and inconvenient. When women with such curves do find bras that fit, they are often left with indentations in their shoulders from the bra straps. They also might have trouble finding clothing that flatters but doesn't accentuate, and may experience discomfort during exercise and normal day-to-day activities.

Breast Reduction surgery is a safe, permanent way to make the breasts smaller and more proportionate to the body, ultimately increasing a patient's level of comfort and reducing her level of insecurity. During the breast reduction procedure, unnecessary fat, tissue and skin are carefully extracted or trimmed away and the remaining skin is positioned around the newly-shaped breast. Side effects include general discomfort, inflammation, scarring, bruising and tenderness. However, these side effects diminish as the breasts heal.

Male Breast Reduction

Many men suffer from gynecomastia, a condition in which extra fat and tissue accumulates in the chest area and causes breast enlargement. Gynecomastia — which, though common, is very embarrassing for many men — can be treated with a cosmetic surgery procedure called Male Breast Reduction.

During this procedure, excess fat is either removed with Liposuction (through a discreet hole in the areola or the armpit) or removed via a scalpel-liposuction approach, a combination technique which requires a small incision. Results are long-lasting, natural-looking and offer a solution for men with overly large breasts.

Breast Reconstruction

While saving many lives, mastectomy, the removal of the breast to treat breast cancer, can leave women feeling insecure about their bodies. Breast deformities can take the same toll on a woman's self-esteem. An excellent plastic surgery option, Breast Reconstruction is an involved but effective procedure designed to restore feminine curves and ultimately improve one's level of self-confidence.

Typically performed in stages over a 6-month period, breast reconstruction uses either breast implants or the patient's own tissue to fashion a new, realistic-looking breast. Each patient's plastic surgery treatment plan is personalized to meet her personal needs.

Nipple Reconstruction

The loss of a nipple as a result of mastectomy or lumpectomy does not have to be permanent. Our surgeons in Birmingham, Alabama are extensively trained in Nipple Reconstruction, a plastic surgery procedure designed to restore the breast's natural appearance and ultimately increase the patient's self-esteem.

During the surgery, skin is grafted from other parts of the patient's body and discreetly molded into place. After healing is complete, the newly created nipple is tattooed so that it matches the color of the natural nipple.