The natural size, degree of elevation, and proximity of the breasts to each other differ among women. So how can breast size be changed through surgical and non-surgical methods?

 

The breast grows naturally throughout a woman's life, starting before birth and ending in menopause. It goes through many stages of change between the two periods. These changes vary from woman to woman. Breast size also varies among women, and some changes may be abnormal and should be identified early.

Breast growth is the result of changes in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. At puberty, these hormones increase, causing the breasts to grow under their influence. They also change at different stages, such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and cessation of menstruation. These hormones cause changes in fluids in the breasts, making them more sensitive, and females may feel some pain during breast growth.

 

Some women have differences in breast size, but this difference does not indicate any health problems. Sometimes, this difference is due to variations in the degree of growth between the breasts during the growth stage. However, even noticeable differences are not a sign of any health problems.

• Back pain.

• Feeling itchy around the nipples and chest area.

• Sensitivity or pain in the breasts.

 

Birth stage: Breast growth begins while the fetus is still in the uterus, and by the time of birth, the breast has formed, and the nipples and milk ducts begin to develop.

Puberty stage: Females begin puberty at an early age, between 8 and 13, when the ovaries start producing estrogen hormones. This causes the breast tissues to acquire fat, and this excess fat can cause an increase in breast size. When the menstrual and ovulation periods begin, the milk ducts start to grow, and the glandular tissue in the breast develops.

Menopause stage: Women usually reach menopause around age 50, but some may experience menopause earlier. During this period, the body does not produce large amounts of estrogen, which can affect the natural breast size, causing it to decrease.

The natural breast size goes through changes throughout life, and some of these changes occur during menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation:

Menstrual cycle changes: Each time the menstrual cycle occurs, the natural breast size changes due to hormonal fluctuations, then returns to its normal size once it ends.

Pregnancy changes: During pregnancy, the breast prepares to produce milk for the baby, which leads to many changes, including:

• Swelling of the breasts.

• Pain in both breasts.

• Tingling in the nipples.

• Prominence of blood vessels in the breast.

• The natural breast size increases due to the high level of hormones, then slightly decreases after the first trimester.

• The natural breast size increases by one or two cups, especially during the first trimester.

• The skin stretches, and stretch marks and some visible veins may appear.

• The veins in the breast may become more visible and dilate to accommodate the increased blood flow during pregnancy, but they usually disappear after delivery.

• The color of the areola and nipples may darken.

 

Lactation changes: During lactation, the breast undergoes many changes, including:

• The breast becomes heavier and fuller due to increased blood flow and milk production.

• As the breast size increases, the supporting ligaments stretch, leading to sagging of the breast, whether during natural breastfeeding or otherwise.

• After returning to pre-pregnancy weight, the breast may return to its pre-pregnancy size.

• The natural breast size may change for up to 6 months after stopping natural breastfeeding, as the fatty tissues replace the milk-producing tissues, and the breast returns to its natural size before pregnancy.

 

The normal size of the breast should not be determined by large or small, even the varying proportions between the breasts may be normal. Breast size can be considered abnormal if one breast is larger than the other due to swelling, and all breast size classifications are just preferences between people; breast size should be considered compared to other body proportions through mammoplasty. There are many cosmetic methods through which breast size can be beautified according to the desires and preferences of every woman, such as enlarging by implantation or by injecting self-fat, or reducing surgery.

 

Many breast procedures can change the shape and size of the breast according to each woman's preferences, including:

 

Breast lift surgery aims to improve the appearance of the breast by removing saggy fatty tissues, especially when breast tissues sag due to factors such as pregnancy and childbirth, gravity, smoking, aging, and weight fluctuations. The procedure does not aim to change the breast size, although it may decrease slightly. Prof. Dr. Wael Ghanem makes incisions in the breast to remove excess skin and expanded tissues due to milk ducts. Then he tightens the tissues and closes the surgical incisions, resulting in a firmer and more youthful-looking breast. Surgery should be avoided if planning for future pregnancies or weight changes.

 

Breast augmentation surgery aims to give the breast more fullness and roundness. It may be used in cases of breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery or deformities resulting from trauma. Dr. Wael Ghanem implants a round or tear-shaped silicone implant under or above the chest muscles.

The implant contains silicone gel inside, giving the breast a more rounded appearance, and closely resembling the natural feeling of the breast. Alternatively, the implant can be filled with sterile saline solution, which can be adjusted in size after surgery. The implant is fixed above or below the chest muscle after incisions are made in the breast under the breast fold, around the nipple, or under the armpits. The surgical incisions are then closed after positioning the implant, and the size of the saline solution can be controlled by injection after surgery, while the silicone implant size is chosen before surgery to achieve the desired size. Breast reconstruction may be performed after a total or partial mastectomy for breast cancer patients.

 

The first step: The enhancement of the breast after mastectomy is done by placing a tissue expander under the chest muscle, which is a rubber balloon-like device with a metal filling slot. It is then gradually filled with sterile saline solution until the tissue expands. 

The second step: After several months, the device is replaced with breast implants, with the skin, nipples, and areolas being sutured.

 

Breast size can be increased non-surgically by injecting autologous fat extracted from other areas of the body, such as the buttocks, abdomen, or thighs, to be re-injected into the breast to make it full. This method can be used to support the results of breast implantation surgery if there are gaps in the breast or to support breast implants, especially in cases of breast reconstruction after cancer.

 

The main goal of breast reduction surgery is to get rid of the large breast size that causes health problems such as back, neck, and shoulder pain, chronic skin rash, and irritation by removing accumulated fat and loose tissues. It is possible to change the position of the breast during surgery if it has dropped from its natural position due to its large size. The surgery can eliminate or reduce health problems related to breast size and make the breast more proportionate to the body.

 

In conclusion, after learning about the natural size of the breast, which should not be a cause for concern, and the methods by which the breast can be enhanced, we hope we have answered all your questions and inquiries. For further inquiries and questions, you can book an appointment at Dr. Wael Ghanem's center.