Breast Augmentation

Breasts have a significant influence on a woman’s physical appearance as they have historically become the symbol of fertility and attractiveness. There can be many cases where an individual may want to enhance the size and/or the shape of their breasts. More commonly, individuals decide to get breast augmentation surgery because their breasts are simply smaller than they desire. In some cases one of the breasts may be missing from birth or there may be significant asymmetry between the two breasts. Breast augmentation can be carried out to correct these kinds of innate deformities. Today, achieving symmetry and increasing breast size is done using silicone implants.

Although it’s possible to use the patient’s own fat tissue to partially increase breast size, results will not be completely permanent.

What Are Silicone Implants?

Products that consist of silicone are widely used for various purposes in medical and cosmetic industries. The base material of the implant used in breast augmentation is the surrounding silicone part whereas the inner filling may vary. The outer layer of the implant has a certain texture which properly conforms to the tissues around it. The filler material can be a type of silicon base gel, saline solution. The implant may also be empty and be filled with saline during the surgery.

There are round breast implants and teardrop shape implants which are also called anatomical implants. The shape that will be selected depends on the individual patient.

Who Are Good Candidates For Breast Augmentation

Usually, any healthy adult who wants to enhance the size or the shape of their breasts is a good candidate for the surgery. Breast augmentation will not be performed if there are certain current illnesses, serious health problems or if the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. If the candidate is older than 40, a mammogram is initially required and other screening techniques such as breast ultrasound may be needed depending on the situation. As always, it’s preferable that the candidate doesn’t smoke and doesn’t consume excessive amounts of alcohol.

Any individual considering breast augmentation surgery needs to be clear and direct in their communication with their doctor. As in all surgical cosmetic applications, it’s very important that the patient understands the procedure and has realistic expectations.

How Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Done?

There are various techniques depending on the surgeon and the patient and each technique has individual advantages and disadvantages. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia in the hospital. A 4-5 cm incision is made in order to insert the implant. The incision will be either under the breast along the natural crease of the breast (Submammarian), under the nipple around the areola (Circumareolar) or under the arms (Axillary). Depending on the patient the implant may be placed behind the breast tissue or behind the muscle tissue.

The surgery typically takes 1 to 2 hours. Depending on the type of operation, most patients can go home the same day as their operation or the day after.

Recovery & Care After Breast Augmentation

The patients are often relatively comfortable after the surgery. Pain and aching is usually very minimal. If the implant is placed behind the muscle tissue, certain movements can be painful and restrictive. A special bra or bandages are used for support. If non-dissolvable sutures are used, they are removed within 10 to 12 days. Swelling, numbness and minor bruising may be present early on. These symptoms will subside on their own quickly. The patient can go back to work in 3 to 4 days after the surgery. Strenuous physical activities are not recommended for up to 2 months.

One of the most common complaints after breast augmentation is swelling and pain around the breast. Some patients experience a certain amount of sensitivity around the nipples or numbness around the incisions which may subside or increase with time although this is mostly temporary. Regardless of the type of incision, scars will be more noticeable right after the surgery and become less and less apparent with time. Infections and bleeding are some of the rare complications. In some extremely rare cases the body may reject the implant and try to either enclose or dispose of the implant. In such severe cases the implant needs to be surgically removed.

Although the outer layer of the implant is rather thin, it’s extremely resilient. Ripping of the implant is extremely rare and occurs under extreme physical trauma such as a car accident or falling from heights. Light and medium intensity massaging is safe. The patient can start sleeping face down around 2 months after the surgery. In some cases the filler material can leak out of the implant and if the material is gel based certain masses can form in the area. If the filling is saline, any leak is harmlessly absorbed by the body. The implant does not prevent any screening techniques such as mammograms or ultrasound.