An article first appeared in the April 2007 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the scholarly journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), that discusses a side-effect that may, or may not, be welcome to those who have liposuction. Titled “Spontaneous Breast Enlargement following Liposuction of the Abdominal Wall: Does a Link Exist?,” the article shows that a small percentage of women have seen an increase in their breast size.
The study looked into a small group of women who received tumescent liposuction of the abdominal wall and/or flanks, as well as those who had undergone abdominoplasty. Those who had undergone previous breast or abdominal surgeries, or had or were currently breast feeding were excluded from the study. This left 48 or 84 patients who had tumescent liposuction procedures, and 53 of 104 abdominoplasty patients.
Results
Of the liposuction patients, 23 of the 48 (48 percent) reported a postoperative increase in size of their breasts. Objective confirmation was reported in 19 (40 percent) of those patients. Eleven (21 percent) of the abdominoplasty patients believed they had an increase in their breast size. This was objectively confirmed in six (11 percent) of the patients.
Because the percentages of women who were able to show that their breasts increased by at least one cup size was large enough, the ASPS believes that patients undergoing liposuction or abdominoplasty should be warned that this is a potential side-effect/risk.
Possible Reasons
The reasons for spontaneous breast enlargement are as much a mystery as to those who this phenomenon affects. Gerald Imber, a cosmetic surgeon in New York, wasn’t even sure it was occurring to some of his patients, but upon discovering its reality, stated that it “could be due to a shift in the relationship between estrogen and progesterone” or even “the trauma of surgery” caused it.
Carolyn Chang, a cosmetic surgeon in San Francisco believes that the result is simply one of rearrangement. “It could be the result of weight gain in people after the fat cells have been removed from their abdomens,” however it is not predictable.
Whatever the reasons, there are probably as many women hoping for this kind of side-effect as there are those who don’t want it. One of the things a narrower or tighter abdomen tends to give women is that their breast size appears larger. And if the women who have undergone liposuction or abdominoplasty still want breast augmentation, this is something they can discuss with their cosmetic surgeon.
If you are interested in liposuction or abdominoplasty, or have questions about their side-effects (both wanted and unwanted), please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon in your area.
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