New Jersey Breast Augmentation Articles

Understanding How Breast Anatomy Affects Breast Augmentation

By Dr. Evan S. Sorokin, M.D.

Many women considering breast augmentation in New Jersey want to learn more about the anatomical structure of the breast so that they can get a more complete picture of the surgical process. The breast is a complex system of glands and structures that work together to serve several biological functions. As a cosmetic surgeon in New Jersey, I get many inquiries from Tri-State patients about their breast anatomy, and I think it is important to highlight some of the major elements of the breast.

Like the rest of your body, the outside of the breast is covered by skin made of two layers: the outside protective epidermis and the deeper dermis. This dermis layer is the foundation of your skin and is what gives it its strength and firmness. Elastic fibers in the skin determine how much the skin stretches. The quantity and quality of these fibers vary from woman to woman. If breast skin is stretched for a long period of time (as occurs during pregnancy and breast feeding), it may become thinner and the elastic component of the skin may not be enough for the skin to return to its earlier shape and position. In this case, the breast skin may begin to droop or sag. Women who experience this condition in the New Jersey area often consider a breast lift. Also, when a breast expands quickly, stretch marks may form. A stretch mark occurs when the dermis layer of the skin overstretches and tears. Stretch marks are permanent scars and may appear on breasts, abdomens, thighs, and other parts of the body.

Underneath your breast skin, nerves, arteries, veins, and lymphatic glands travel throughout the breast tissue. The exact location of these structures varies from breast to breast but follows a relatively predictable pattern. Based on knowledge of these patterns, incisions can be designed for minimal bleeding and nerve function protection by your cosmetic surgeon. New Jersey and Philadelphia patients would benefit from selecting a surgeon who has been board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to ensure that their surgeon has received the highest level of training in surgical methods that minimally disrupt nerves, arteries, and glands.

Nipples and areolas are the colored tissue ideally located on the portion of the breast that projects farthest from body. The nipple is a specialized structure different from other skin areas because it contains parts of the breast gland structure and it is usually thinner, making it more susceptible to stretching than the surrounding skin. Specialized nerves, glands, and ducts in the nipple allow breastfeeding to occur. In addition, the nipple and areola area is important in erotic stimulation and function.

The breast mound itself is comprised of breast gland tissue and fat. Your age usually affects the amount of fat and gland tissue that the breast contains. In most cases, breast gland tissue is more firm than fatty tissue, and the amount of breast gland tissue usually increases or persists until your early 30s and then starts to decline. As breast gland volume decreases, the breast will become smaller unless the amount of fat increases, for instance, when weight gain occurs.

The inframammary fold is an important structure at the base of the breast. Attachments between the skin and torso allow this gentle curve to define the base of the breast, and even though a woman's breast may not appear to be large enough to cause a fold or crease, the structure of the inframammary fold still exists. When a woman's breasts are two different sizes, these folds may be at different levels on the chest. During your breast augmentation in New Jersey, a cosmetic surgeon should carefully analyze and adjust the inframammary fold as needed to allow each breast mound to sit in a symmetrical, appropriate position.

Beneath the fat and breast gland tissue within the breast are your muscles and ribs. There are two important muscle groups within the breast area: the pectoralis muscle and serratus muscles. When you hear a surgeon mention placing a breast implant "above or below the muscle," these are the muscles the surgeon is talking about. An implant placed below the muscle is situated in a pocket located between muscle tissue and your ribs, while an above-the-muscle implant rests between the muscle and the breast fat and gland tissue. Implants are usually placed under the muscle to provide additional tissue besides skin and breast gland to cover the implant. Also, the shape of the ribs is an important aspect of breast surgery-many women have asymmetrically curved ribs. If small, these curves will have little effect on your breast appearance; however, highly asymmetrical ribs will affect the outcome of your breast augmentation.

If you are considering breast augmentation, Dr. Evan Sorokin, a cosmetic surgeon in New Jersey, is available to help you enhance your breast appearance. Request a consultation today or call us at 856.872.4158 to set up an appointment.