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Breast surgery, matched to your body

Breast Surgery

Breast surgery is personal, and the right result is the one that looks like it belongs on your body. At Santa Barbara Face & Body, Dr. Alain Polynice performs the full range, from augmentation and lift to reduction, revision, and implant removal, with a safety-first approach and an eye for natural proportion. The goal is what suits you, not a template.

Santa Barbara, California
AT A GLANCE

Breast surgery at Santa Barbara Face & Body in Santa Barbara, California, includes augmentation, lift, reduction, revision, implant removal, fat transfer, and gynecomastia, performed by Dr. Alain Polynice, a board-certified plastic surgeon focused on the breast and body. The aim is a result matched to each patient’s body and goals, with a safety-first approach.

Breast surgery at Santa Barbara Face & Body spans the full range of procedures, including breast augmentation, breast lift, combined lift with augmentation, breast reduction, revision surgery, implant removal, fat transfer to the breast, and gynecomastia (male breast reduction). All are performed by Dr. Alain Polynice, a board-certified plastic surgeon who focuses primarily on the breast and body, with an emphasis on proportionate results, safety, and honest guidance about which procedure, if any, suits a patient’s goals.

What breast surgery covers

The right procedure depends on your starting point and your goal.

  • More volume or shape. Augmentation, or fat transfer for a natural, modest increase.
  • Lifting and reshaping. A lift, alone or combined with an implant, for sagging or deflation.
  • Less weight and size. Reduction, which is often as much about comfort as appearance.
  • Fixing or removing. Revision and implant removal, an area of particular focus here.
The full range from augmentation to revision and removal

The breast procedures

Each links to its own page.

ProcedureFor
Breast AugmentationAdding volume or shape with implants
Breast LiftRaising and reshaping sagging breasts
Lift + AugmentationA lift and implant in one stage
Breast ReductionReducing size and easing symptoms
Breast RevisionCorrecting a previous result
Implant RemovalRemoving implants, with or without a lift
Fat TransferA modest increase using your own fat
GynecomastiaMale breast reduction
Revision expertise a particular focus on correcting earlier results

Which breast procedure, compared

A quick comparison of the most common goals.

Your goalProcedureNote
More volumeAugmentationImplants, sized to your frame
Modest increaseFat transferUses your own fat
Lift a sagging breastBreast liftRepositions, no implant needed
Lift and more volumeLift + augmentationCombined in one stage
Smaller, lighter breastsReductionOften eases neck and back symptoms
A previous result to fixRevisionCapsular contracture, malposition, rupture
Implants outImplant removalWith or without a lift

The value is a surgeon who tells you which of these fits, including when the answer is a lift rather than an implant, or removal rather than another revision.

Concerns the breast procedures address

Many people arrive with a concern rather than a specific procedure.

ConcernOften addressed with
Small or flat chestAugmentation, fat transfer
Sagging or deflated breastsLift, lift with augmentation
Overly large breastsReduction
Implant problemsRevision, implant removal
Breast asymmetryAugmentation, lift, fat transfer
Male breast tissueGynecomastia

The value is not the list. It is that the concern is matched to the procedure that actually resolves it.

Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

Dr. Polynice operates primarily on the breast and body, which means these are the procedures he performs constantly, and his Mayo Clinic training and safety-first reputation matter most where the stakes are highest, in revision and implant-removal cases where a previous result did not go as hoped. Just as important, he is candid: sometimes the honest answer is a lift rather than an implant, or removal rather than another revision. Natural, proportionate, honest breast surgery is the standard here.

Board-certified surgeon Mayo Clinic-trained, breast and body focus

Where to start

A good starting point if you

  • Want more volume, a lift, or a reduction
  • Have a previous breast surgery you want revised
  • Are considering implant removal
  • Want an honest opinion on which procedure fits

Worth discussing carefully if you

  • Are unsure whether you need an implant or just a lift
  • Have symptoms you think may be implant-related
  • Are still planning pregnancy or significant weight change

What to expect

A consultation begins with your goals and your anatomy, not a catalog. Dr. Polynice examines you, explains the realistic options and their trade-offs, and is honest about what will and will not achieve your goal, including when a simpler procedure is the better answer. You leave with a plan matched to your body, a clear picture of recovery, and pricing in writing.

What it costs

Breast surgery is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on the procedure, whether it is combined with others, and your anatomy. Reduction is sometimes covered by insurance when it is symptomatic, which varies by plan and is never assured. You will have clear pricing in writing at your consultation.

Procedures
Augmentation, lift, reduction, revision, removal, fat transfer, gynecomastia
Focus
Natural, proportionate results, safety-first
Particular strength
Revision and implant removal
Surgeon
Dr. Alain Polynice, board-certified plastic surgeon
Approach
The procedure that fits your goal, sometimes the simpler one

Do I need a lift, an implant, or both?

It depends on whether your concern is position or volume. If the breast has dropped but you are happy with the size, a lift alone repositions it. If you want more volume, an implant or fat transfer adds it. If the breast has both dropped and lost volume, a lift combined with augmentation addresses both in one stage. An honest exam tells you which, and a good surgeon will say when a lift alone is enough.

What does breast revision involve?

Revision corrects a previous result, such as capsular contracture (hardening around an implant), implant malposition, rupture, or a change in your goals. It may involve removing or exchanging implants, releasing or removing scar tissue, adding a lift, or removing implants entirely. Because every revision is different, the plan is specific to what happened and what you want now, and it is an area of particular focus at the practice.

Is breast reduction covered by insurance?

Sometimes, when the reduction is medically necessary, meaning large breasts are causing documented symptoms such as neck, back, or shoulder pain. Coverage varies by plan, often requires documentation, and is never assured. Many people pursue reduction for both symptom relief and appearance. The practice can explain what documentation may be needed, and you will have clear pricing in writing.

What if I want my implants removed?

Implant removal is a straightforward option and one the practice supports without pressure to replace them. It can be done with or without a lift, depending on how your breasts look after removal, and some people choose removal because of concerns they attribute to their implants. Dr. Polynice will discuss what to expect and help you decide whether a lift alongside removal makes sense for you.

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