Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation — also known as augmentation mammaplasty
It can be associated with a breast lift
Why it’s done ?
Breast augmentation might help you:
- Enhance your appearance if you think your breasts are too small or that one is smaller than the other
- Improve your self-confidence
Discuss your goals with your surgeon so that you can be realistic about what breast augmentation can do for you.
Risks
Breast augmentation poses various risks, including:
- Scar tissue that distorts the shape of the breast implant (capsular contracture)
- Breast pain
- Infection
- Changes in nipple and breast sensation
- Implant leakage or rupture
Correcting these complications might require more surgery, either to remove or replace the implants.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a possible association between breast implants and the development of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare cancer of the immune system. The FDA believes that women with breast implants might have a very low but increased risk of developing ALCL. However, further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between ALCL and breast implants.
How you prepare ?
Carefully review written information, such as the patient information from the manufacturer of the implant you will be getting, and keep copies for your records.
Before you decide to have surgery, consider the following:
- Breast implants won’t prevent your breasts from sagging
- To correct sagging breasts, you might need a breast lift in addition to breast augmentation.
- Breast implants aren’t guaranteed to last a lifetime..
- Breast implants might hamper breast-feeding
- Most of women are able to successfully breast-feed after breast augmentation because the implant will be behind the gland.
If you smoke, your surgeon will ask you to stop smoking for a time before the surgery.
Arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night.
How is it done ?
Breast augmentation can be done with silicon implants , or with fat depending on the volume needed
Incision sites and scar positioning
The implant can be inserted generally through different sites trying to hide the scar.
- Periareolar
- Submammary
- Axillary
Placement of breast implants
The implant will be placed:
- under the mammary gland
- Partially under the pectoralis muscle.
Your doctor will decide where to place it depending on your body shape and your needs.
What you can expect after the procedure
Soreness and swelling are likely for a few weeks after surgery. Bruising is possible, too. Expect scars to fade over time but not disappear completely.
If you don’t have a physically demanding job, you might be able to return to work within a few weeks. Avoid strenuous activities
Avoid sexual ( squeezing of breast ) for activity for 4 to 6 weeks .
If you notice warmth and redness in your breast or you run a fever, you might have an infection. Contact your surgeon as soon as possible. Also contact your surgeon if you have shortness of breath or chest pain.
Results
The surgery might improve your body image and self-esteem. But keep your expectations realistic, and don’t expect perfection.
Also, your breasts will continue to age after augmentation. Weight gain or weight loss might change the way your breasts look, too. If you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you might need more surgery to correct these issues.