Breast augmentation is a procedure in which artificial implants are inserted just above or behind the chest muscle. Augmentation can enlarge breasts which have always been small, or restore breasts that have reduced in size following pregnancy or a large weight loss.

Breast reconstruction restores the breast mound lost to surgery for breast cancer. Depending on your individual needs, reconstruction may or may not require surgery.

A mastectomy (mass-TEK-tuh-mee) is an operation for breast cancer that removes breast tissue and sometimes the glands under the arms called lymph (limf) nodes.

Following a mastectomy (mass-TEK-tuh-mee), an operation to remove cancerous breast tissue, most women have the option of undergoing reconstructive surgery to restore a more normal shape to the breast.

Excessive breast size can cause pain in your breasts, neck, shoulders, or back. Breast reduction can help improve or eliminate your symptoms. Traditionally, reduction surgery removes both excess breast tissue and skin.

A breast-lift, or mastopexy (MASS-tuh-pecks-ee), is an operation to lift and reshape breasts that are drooping or elongated. The procedure also allows a doctor to reduce the size of the areola (uh-REE-oh-luh), the dark circle around the nipple, if desired.

It's normal for one breast to differ slightly from the other in size, shape, or projection. However, if the difference is significant, there are several ways to correct this asymmetry.

Most women's nipples project slightly, especially after physical contact or exposure to cold. Some women have nipples that are flat, or even inverted.

When performing a breast enlargement, the surgeon must make a small incision to allow for insertion of the implants. There are several areas where the incision may be located; some tend to hide the scar better than others.

When performing a breast augmentation, a doctor may place the implants either above or below the chest muscle. Currently, the trend falls toward sub-muscular placement for several reasons.

Implants have been used since 1962 and the types of implants have varied over the years. Past procedures used various silicone-filled implants, while today, only saline-filled implants are allowed for the general public.

Due to concerns over the safety of silicone-filled implants, the FDA (F-D-A) now requires the use of saline- (SAY-leen) filled implants in all implant procedures, except for a few medical trials.

Silicone implants are subject to most of the same complications as saline-filled implants, though the problems may be more frequent. For example, it's theorized that silicone-filled implants are more likely to cause capsular contracture (CAP-suh-ler con-TRAC-shure), in which the body forms a capsule-like scar around the implant.

Any medical implant placed in the body can cause adverse reactions. A controversy surrounding breast implants is whether silicone gel is responsible for triggering certain autoimmune diseases like arthritis.

Most breast augmentation surgery takes place on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia, though local anesthesia and sedatives may also be used. The exact surgical procedures may vary, depending on where you decide to have the incision made and whether you wish to have the implants placed above or below your chest muscle.