Considering breast surgery is an extremely personal decision, and the experienced team at Creighton University Medical Center is here to guide you through all your options. Whichever procedure is right for your situation, our goal is to help you see yourself as you’ve always wanted.

The popularity of breast surgeries may be attributed to both their successful track record and the many exciting improvements in the surgery itself. We offer leading-edge options and surgical methods with great outcomes for a range of breast surgeries:

• Breast enhancement (augmentation with implants)
• Breast lift (mastopexy)
• Breast reduction
• Male breast reduction (gynecomastia)

Breast Enhancement (Augmentation with Implants)

The Problem: Dissatisfaction with body appearance and proportions.
The Goal: Transform breast size, volume and shape for a flattering, new appearance.
The Procedure: Involves placing an implant either beneath the breast tissue or beneath the muscle and breast tissue. Incisions may be in the areola (the dark skin around the nipple), in the fold beneath the breast or the axilla (armpit). Implants are made of silicone or saline.

Surgical Overview
Length: Usually 1-2 hours.
Anesthesia: General (asleep).
Hospital Stay: Outpatient in most cases.
Side Effects: Temporary soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks.
Recovery: May have draining for one to two days. Usually back to work in a few days. Physical contact with breasts is usually three to four weeks.
Duration of Results: Variable. Implants may require removal or replacement.

Breast Lift

The Problem: Life events can cause the breasts to lose their shape and firmness. Multiple pregnancies, loss of skin elasticity due to aging, loss of breast volume and gravity are several factors leading to sagging breasts.
The Goal: Elevate and reshape sagging breasts and bring the nipple to a more desirable position. This procedure can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.
The Best Candidates: Women who are non-smokers, physically healthy, and realistic in their expectations are the best candidates for this procedure.

Surgical Overview
Length: Usually 1 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: General (asleep).
Hospital Stay: Usually outpatient.
Recovery: May have draining for one to two days. Usually back to work in one week or more. Strenuous activities can usually be resumed after one month.
Duration of Results: Variable. Gravity, pregnancy, aging and weight changes may cause new sagging. Results may last longer or be enhanced when breast implants are inserted as part of the procedure.

Breast Reduction

The Problem: Oversized breasts can be a source of neck, back and shoulder pain, skin irritation and a variety of other medical problems. They can prevent a woman from having the healthy, functional lifestyle she wants to live. Women with excessively heavy breasts are also limited in the types of clothing they can wear and physical activities they can perform.
The Goal: Relieve the mental distress, physical restrictions, and painful strain on other parts of the body caused by excessively heavy breasts.
The Procedure: Technically called reduction mammaplasty, breast reduction involves removal of excess breast tissue to reshape and lift the breasts.

Surgical Overview
Length: Usually 3-4 hours.
Anesthesia: General (asleep).
Hospital Stay: Outpatient or inpatient.
Recovery: May have draining for one to two days. Back to non-strenuous work activity usually within two weeks and active exercise after four weeks.
Duration of Results: Can be permanent.

Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)

The Problem: Enlarged breasts in men can start in adolescence and persist through adulthood, or can develop in an older man due to steroid abuse, weight gain, hormonal imbalance or as a side effect of certain medications.
The Goal: Correct the problem of enlarged breasts and offer men greater peace of mind.
The Procedure: Male breasts can be reduced with the help of liposuction, as well as surgical removal of the breasts. Usually ultrasonic liposuction is used to more easily remove the breast tissue and associated fat. Most of the time this can be performed through limited incisions that leave inconspicuous scars.

Surgical Overview
Length: Usually 1-2 hours.
Anesthesia: General (asleep).
Hospital Stay: Usually outpatient.
Recovery: May have drains removed the following week. Patient may be instructed to wear a compression vest for two months to aid in the skin re-draping process. Patients can usually resume most activities within two weeks, and should be able to perform chest exercises and heavy lifting by eight weeks.
Duration of Results: Can be permanent.


*All information on this site provides general information about plastic surgery. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and it does not address your individual medical needs which will determine which treatment options are right for you.