InHealth: “Why Didn’t I Do This Sooner?!”

By Brian M. Derby MD, FACS

I have the unique pleasure of hearing such feedback from patients about how improvement in their bodily form and appearance changes their entire experience of life. As a plastic surgeon at Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center, I perform a multitude of operations upon which the margin between a good and fantastic result can be gauged in millimeters. The quest for perfection drives so many of us in the field of plastic surgery. There are a few operations, however, wherein perfection lies less in millimeters of change, but rather in how a plastic surgeon helps a woman feel comfortable in her own body again…or perhaps helps them experience that comfort for the first time. Of all the facial, breast, and body cosmetic procedures that I perform, I routinely hear patients who undergo breast reduction or labiaplasty say, “why didn’t I do this sooner?!” cosmetic

Breast reduction removes excess skin, breast tissue, and fat from a woman’s bust to bring it into better proportion with her figure. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 43,000 women underwent cosmetic breast reduction in 2017. Women in need of a breast reduction tell me that their ample bosoms spill into their armpits, rest heavily upon their ribs, and wreak havoc with moisture accumulation and rash development beneath their breasts. Very candid patients tell me they are tired of looking at their “sad breasts” and nipples that are heading “due South”. Shared experiences of neck/shoulder/upper back pain, bra-strap grooves, multiple sports bra usage during exercise, and requirements for specialty bra ordering are the unfortunate norm. cosmetic

One of the first things I explain to women in consultation is that they are not alone, and that an incredibly happier, transformed version of themselves is likely to appear in the very near future postoperatively. Newer breast reduction techniques focus on using the tissue that remains, following removal of excess, to reshape the breast into a much cuter, shapelier size with a well-positioned nipple…much like a permanent internal bra. Modern-day breast lifting is performed in the same way, simply with less tissue removed than a breast reduction. The ever-present end goal of my job in cosmetic breast surgery is to create a beautiful pair of breasts that blend harmoniously with the rest of a woman’s body.

Another less discussed topic of “why didn’t I do this sooner” is labiaplasty. Excess tissue on a woman’s vulva (the area around the vagina) is common. Over 10,000 women underwent labiaplasty in 2017…you are not alone if you are thinking about doing this! Whether it was how you were made, what giving birth to your children did, or what has occurred with aging, a less than one-hour operation can help. Sexual embarrassment, pinching, avoidance of tight fitting clothing, bathing suits, or certain exercises, and issues with self-esteem routinely vanish following labiaplasty. cosmetic

Women typically return to a desk job within days, and vigorous exercise or intercourse within four weeks following either of the previously mentioned procedures. cosmetic

So, whether you’re in your late teens or late seventies, find comfort in knowing you’re not alone in your quest for hugely transformative results in areas that many women find embarrassing to discuss. Why wait? Those who undergo breast reduction or labiaplasty consistently share the exhilarated response, “why didn’t I do this sooner”?! cosmetic

Dr. Brian M. Derby
Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center
2255 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239
941.366.8897
sarasotaplasticsurgery.com