Cosmetic breast surgery was born out from reconstructive breast surgery experience. There is a direct relationship between cosmetic breast surgery and reconstructive breast surgery. For thousands of years, people of different cultures have sought to correct or restore the shape and size of their breast. The experience and advances in reconstructive breast surgery were intended to improve breast shape and size, and to achieve a more normal appearance.
Today, reconstructive breast surgery is performed on abnormal breast, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly.
Unlike reconstructive breast surgery, elective cosmetic breast surgery is performed to reshape normal breast in order to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem. In 2008, over 300,000 cosmetic breast procedures were performed in the United States. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective. Many insurance plans exclude coverage of cosmetic surgery that is not medically necessary, but generally provide coverage when the surgery is needed to improve breast symmetry after breast reconstruction. Most cosmetic breast surgery performed today is a modification of reconstructive surgery. Breast cosmetic surgeries, such as augmentation (enhancement), mastopexy (breast lift), are direct descendants of reconstructive breast surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer.
All breast surgery carries some risk. Plastic surgery of the breast involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon who is well trained and experienced. Many other procedures that today are more widely used to enhance breast appearance began as solutions to reconstructive problems. The relationship between the two types of procedures is so close that surgeons well versed in reconstructive procedures are most likely also to have the background and training required for cosmetic surgery.
Stanley A. Okoro, MD, FACS
Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
www.georgiaplastic.com
770-485-1554
