easts BODYin balance We talk breasts, balance and proportion with Dr John Flynn. aimÉe surtenich reports. 42 www.cosbeauty.com.au
easts While many of us assume breast surgery only applies to younger women seeking augmentation, age-related changes to the breast such as loss of volume and shape are also common reasons for cosmetic breast surgery. ‘There are a number of issues associated with ageing that affect the breasts,’ says Dr John Flynn from Cosmedic & Skin Clinic on the Gold Coast. ‘These include loss of volume, texture and tone of breast tissue, and the inevitable sagging of the breasts. All women will be affected by some of these at some stage of their lives due to the natural ageing process.’ Breast rejuvenation surgery – whether augmentation, reduction or lift (mastopexy) – can significantly boost a woman’s self-esteem and confidence when chosen for the right reasons. Dr Flynn says many breast rejuvenation patients are simply looking to bring their body into proportion, perhaps due to underdevelopment, asymmetry or changes associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as the natural ageing process. ‘The overall aim of breast rejuvenation procedures is to balance the body’s proportions into a pleasing, feminine silhouette,’ Dr Flynn explains. ‘Although changing your breasts will not, in itself, change you, it can be effective in restoring self-esteem and body confidence.’ As we age, gravity, a loss in skin quality and a reduction in renewal processes can leave all parts of the body – not just the face – somewhat deteriorated. Such age-related changes to the breast, for example a loss in volume and an ‘empty’ look or a change in shape, are common reasons for women seeking surgery. Procedures that restore volume, but also lift the breast tissue, are effective in creating a more youthful and natural-looking result in breast rejuvenation. A breast lift, or mastopexy, can improve the shape and position of the breasts, while also adjusting the nipple areola complex. ‘Certainly, restoring volume using breast implants is a key measure, however there are times when lifting and tightening of the breast tissue is of equal importance and sometimes I perform a combination of these procedures,’ Dr Flynn says. ‘The principle purpose is to create body balance, where the proportions are in harmony.’ A breast lift, combined with augmentation or reduction, encompasses a total rejuvenation of breast tissue. The size and shape of the breasts are adjusted, excess skin is removed and the tissue is remodelled. ‘In a mastopexy, the available breast tissue can be compressed and lifted to help restore a fullness of texture and tone,’ Dr Flynn says. ‘The lifted breasts will have a more pert, youthful appearance. This can be combined with volume reduction, in a reduction mastopexy, or implant insertion, in an augmentation mastopexy.’ Dr Flynn explains that patients should be aware that mastopexy involves a different type of scarring from traditional breast implant surgery: ‘Typically, the surgical approach is through an incision around the nipple, and in Procedures that restore volume, but also lift the breast tissue, can create a more youthful and natural-looking result some cases there may also be a vertical scar from the nipple to the inframammary fold (the breast crease),’ he says. When contemplating breast surgery, education and realistic expectations are paramount to achieving a positive result. Dr Flynn believes women who are well informed of the procedure, and realistic in their expectations, are most likely to be pleased with the result. ‘We recognise that patients may differ in what they regard as ideal body proportions, so this is something that needs to be discussed with their chosen doctor at consultation,’ he says. ‘In an initial consultation, the surgical options should be fully explored, including the risks, limitations and potential complications.’ For patients looking to also recontour their lower half, Dr Flynn has refined the “Body Balance” approach, where the patient’s own fat is harvested to help improve body shape. In this, fat is removed during liposuction and then redistributed into the breasts for an enhanced effect. According to Dr Flynn, an emerging concept in this area involves the use of stem cells in fat transfers, which help improve the consistency of the result. Whether it is to fill volume, reduce tissue or lift heavy breasts, there is a range of surgical options to help achieve a more youthful and aesthetic contour. In balancing proportions, correcting asymmetry or rejuvenating the breasts, results can help boost confidence and heighten body image. Dr Flynn believes breast rejuvenation is a highly personalised process and everything – from the initial consultation to choosing the most suitable implant type – www.cosbeauty.com.au 43
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