What are the most common types of breast surgery?

Written by: Mr Harun Thomas
Published: | Updated: 29/04/2024
Edited by: Conor Lynch

Breast surgeries encompass several categories: therapeutic purposes, diagnostic purposes, cosmetic breast surgery, reconstructive breast surgery, and oncoplastic breast surgery. This article here addresses the most common types of breast surgery that patients have available to them today, as revered consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon, Mr Harun Thomas, shares an insightful guide. 

What are the most common types of breast surgery?

One of the most common types of breast surgery is breast augmentation, which involves the placement of implants to increase the size and fullness of the breasts. This procedure is often sought by women who desire larger breasts or wish to restore volume lost due to pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. Breast augmentation can also be performed to improve breast symmetry or correct congenital breast deformities.

 

Breast reduction surgery is another common procedure, particularly for women with disproportionately large breasts that may cause discomfort, pain, or interfere with physical activity. During breast reduction surgery, excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed to reduce the size and weight of the breasts, resulting in a more proportionate and symmetrical appearance.

 

Why is a breast lift typically performed?

Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, is often performed to address sagging or drooping breasts caused by ageing, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss. During a breast lift, excess skin is removed, and the breast tissue is reshaped and lifted to restore a more youthful and perky appearance to the breasts.

 

In addition to cosmetic breast surgery, there are several reconstructive procedures available for women who have undergone mastectomy as part of their breast cancer treatment. Breast reconstruction surgery can be performed using implants, autologous tissue (flap reconstruction), or a combination of both to recreate a natural-looking breast mound and restore symmetry to the chest.

 

Other types of breast surgery include breast biopsy, lumpectomy (partial mastectomy), and mastectomy (total removal of the breast), which may be performed to diagnose or treat breast cancer or other breast conditions. These procedures are often part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy, depending on the individual's diagnosis and treatment goals.

 

If you wish to make an appointment with Mr Harun Thomas today, just head over to his Top Doctors profile and do just that. 

By Mr Harun Thomas
Surgery

Mr Harun Thomas is a leading consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon based in Southend-on-Sea and Chelmsford who specialises exclusively in breast surgery and the management of breast cancer, breast lumps, breast pain, and other breast symptoms. With over 25 years’ experience, he currently consults privately at Spire Wellesley Hospital and Springfield Hospital, where he holds one-stop breast clinics.

As a specialist, Mr Thomas is able to provide the full range of breast surgical procedures, including mastectomy, breast-conserving surgery, wide local excision (lumpectomy) alongside (implant-based) breast reconstruction, sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary surgery. He also offers breast screening and assessments for male breast diseases such as gynaecomastia. His special interests are therapeutic mammaplasty (the use of plastic surgical techniques in breast surgery to improve clinical and aesthetic outcomes) and intra-operative ultrasound (using ultrasound during surgery to improve surgical outcomes).

Mr Thomas, who sees over 1,500 patients with breast symptoms every year, is one of the few surgeons in the UK to have completed both a Masters in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery – Europe’s highest qualification in the specialism area – and the prestigious National TIG Oncoplastic fellowship. He also has a Masters in General Surgery and a Diplomate from the National Board of Examination, and is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England since 2013. Within the NHS, Mr Thomas is a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at Southend University Hospital, where in addition to his regular consultant duties, he is also an education lead.

Beyond his high-quality breast surgical practice, Mr Thomas has previously served as president of the UK Breast Surgery Trainees Association and as an ex officio committee member of the Association of Breast Surgery, UK. He is, at present, an honorary senior lecturer and module lead at the University of East Anglia, and the author of several publications in peer-reviewed academic journals.

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