Breast Surgery: Top-Rated Charleston Plastic Surgeon

Breast surgery can make a huge difference in your life, and, if you’ve been wondering where to find the “best breast surgery near me,” Dr. Thaxton has been chosen as the best plastic surgeon in the Kanawha Valley for the past four years. He offers breast augmentation, breast reduction, Mommy Makeover surgery and more.

Why Choose Breast Surgery?

There are many reasons why our patients choose breast surgery. For instance, Dr. Thaxton can provide reconstructive surgery for patients that have surgery for breast cancer, such as a mastectomy. This surgery can bring a huge boost of confidence to anyone who has either gone through the ravages of cancer or perhaps has elected to have a mastectomy due to a family history of breast cancer.

If you’ve given birth, you no doubt have enjoyed many joys of motherhood, while having children can be a wonderful experience, it does take a toll on our bodies. Once we’ve finished having babies and stopped breastfeeding, many women will opt for breast augmentation to restore their breasts, as much as possible, to their pre-pregnancy size, shape and position.

Other patients simply might wish to counter the effects of aging or perhaps they were never truly satisfied with the size or positioning of their breasts and want to alter their appearance. For some patients, this would entail a breast enlargement, while others would prefer a breast reduction. Larger breasts can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to find bras and clothing that fit well. Additionally, larger breasts can cause back and shoulder pain, rashes and headaches.

Some teen boys and men have a condition known as gynecomastia, which causes breast enlargement. For many teens, this issue resolves as the move past puberty, but for others, gynecomastia surgery, also known as a male breast reduction, might be an option to consider if this issue is causing embarrassment and reducing your self-esteem.

Why Dr. Thaxton?

When looking at your options for the best breast surgery near me, it is crucial to select a highly-rated and experienced board-certified surgeon who specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery. A general surgeon does not have the experience necessary to create the natural look you want as well as to minimize scarring and other complications.

Dr. Thaxton is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and is one of only two practicing plastic surgeons in West Virginia elected for membership in The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

In addition to being rated as the top plastic surgeon in the Kanawha Valley for the past several years, Dr. Thaxton also has been selected as the best breast surgeon in the tri-state area for the past two years. While Dr. Thaxton has many years of experience with many types of plastic surgery, breast reconstruction is one of his main areas of specialization.

Types Of Breast Surgery

You’ve probably heard many different terms for breast surgery, including breast augmentation, breast reduction surgery, breast reconstruction, breast lift, boob job and others.

Breast augmentation (also known as a boob job or breast aug) typically refers to surgery that includes adding breast implants or fat transfers to increase the size and/or alter the shape of your breasts. Breast reconstruction, which typically occurs after a mastectomy also would include fat transfers or implants to help replace tissue that was lost during the mastectomy surgery.

Breast reduction surgery can be provided for women or men. With women, this sometimes is combined with a breast lift. Breast lifts also are an option for someone who doesn’t want reduction or implants, but does want to tighten up and lift the breast tissue and restore this area to the way it was when you were younger, perhaps before childbirth.

In many cases, we might be providing you with implants and a breast lift. We also can provide you with what is known as “mommy makeover surgery.” This includes a breast lift (and possibly breast implants) as well as a tummy tuck. This surgery aims to restore your body, as much as possible, to the way it was before having children.

Who Is A Good Candidate For Breast Surgery?

Whether you come to us for breast reconstruction, breast reduction surgery or breast augmentation, these surgeries are considered major surgery. Therefore, we will need to assess whether or not you are a good candidate for surgery.

Typically, patients should not undergo a breast surgery procedure until they have decided to no longer have any more children. It’s best to wait for about six months or even a year after having your last child before undergoing surgery as your body will be in a state of transition for many months after childbirth. Likewise, we recommend waiting for several months after you cease breastfeeding, as the shape and size of your breasts will continue to change for several months after breastfeeding is done.

Smokers are not good candidates for breast surgery, as smoking greatly inhibits your body’s ability to heal and many studies support this fact. If you smoke, you will need to stop smoking at least a month before undergoing breast surgery. Obviously, if you need surgery due to a diagnosis of breast cancer, that may not be an option, but we strongly recommend that anyone undergoing elective breast surgery cease smoking many weeks before surgery.

Hopefully, after a few weeks without smoking, you will be able to cease smoking long-term. As we all know, smoking has been shown to cause cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases, and smoking impairs our immune systems. Excessive alcohol consumption also inhibits the healing process so you will need to avoid drinking for several weeks before and after any surgical procedure.

Some people with diseases that affect their immune system or patients with clotting disorders may not be good candidates. In general, if you are a healthy non-smoker with no major medical conditions, you probably are a good candidate for breast surgery. Be sure to tell us all of the medications and supplements you take before the surgery.

What To Expect?

Breast surgery is a major surgery, and it’s important to have realistic expectations about the procedure and the results. This surgery requires general anesthesia and there is a significant recovery time after the surgery.

You will not be able to drive home after the surgery, and you will need complete rest for several days. Generally, you should not return to normal activities for about a week and generally, we recommend that you don’t exercise or lift anything heavy for about six weeks.

Most patients experience a decent amount of pain in the first few days after surgery. Some soreness and discomfort could last for two or three weeks, although the most severe pain should reside in just two or three days.

We will provide you with complete aftercare instructions and we also encourage you to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol (and smoking!) and eat a healthy, varied diet after the procedure. Following instructions and caring for your health ensures that you recover from surgery as quickly as possible.

Want Breast Augmentation in Charleston WV? Book A Consult

At Thaxton Plastic Surgery, we can provide you with any type of breast surgery you might need including breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reconstruction and breast reduction surgery. We also can provide you with a tummy tuck, face lift or neck lift, and we offer a myriad of non-surgical treatments to help you look and feel amazing. If you are interested in the best breast surgery “near me,” please give us a call at any time to book a consultation.