Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that enlarges and shapes your breasts symmetrically. It is also known as augmentation mammoplasty. The surgery can be carried out by inserting implants made of either saline or silicone. If you want a little rise in breast volume, you can have fat transfer from another part of your body.
Breast augmentation is recommended if you have any of the below concerns:
- Your breasts are relatively small for your body.
- Your breasts have become smaller as a result of weight loss.
- Your breasts are smaller or become less firm due to pregnancy.
- One of your breasts appears to be smaller than the other.
- You have sagging breasts.
Procedure
Before the Procedure
Your surgeon will provide preoperative instructions, take a detailed medical history, and conduct a complete physical exam to determine your fitness for surgery. Your surgeon may ask you to:
- Stop smoking before having surgery to promote faster healing.
- Aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and some herbal remedies can cause excessive bleeding.
- Wear a specific bra to prepare the skin and tissue surrounding the breasts to prepare them for the fat injection (for breast augmentation using autologous fat transfer).
- If you are over 40 years old, your plastic surgeon may offer a mammogram to help detect and follow any changes in your breast tissue.
- Breast augmentation is performed as an outpatient procedure. After surgery, you must arrange for someone to drive you home.
During the Procedure
Generally, breast augmentation surgery follows this process:
- You are given a gown to wear.
- Your arm or hand will be inserted with an intravenous line.
- You will be positioned to lie on your back on the operating table.
- General anesthesia may be used for breast augmentation surgery. You'll be asleep during the procedure. Once you are asleep, your surgeon will insert a breathing tube into your lungs through your throat. You'll be connected to a ventilator.
- A sterile antiseptic solution will be used to clean the skin over the surgical area.
- The surgeon will make 1 or more incisions. These incisions will be created in regions that will not be visible following surgery. This could be under your breast(inframammary), in your armpit (transaxillary), or around your nipple (periareolar).
- The implant will be inserted through the incision. It could be slid beneath your pectoral chest muscle. It could also be inserted immediately beneath your breast tissue. Based on your body and your preferences, your surgeon will determine where to create the pocket for the implant.
- The incision will be closed using sutures, skin adhesive, or surgical tape.
- A small, thin drainage tube may be inserted in the surgical area in some cases to prevent fluid from collecting there while you heal.
After the Procedure
- After surgery, your breasts may be wrapped in dressings and a support bra will minimize swelling and help the healing process.
- Soreness and swelling for the next few weeks are normal and will subside over time. Pain medication may be prescribed to help you manage the healing process.
- You should be able to return to most of your normal activities gradually in the next four to six weeks but avoid strenuous activities for the first 2 weeks.
- Your breasts may be sensitive to sudden movements or contact during the healing process.
- Regular annual examinations will be required to evaluate the condition of your implants.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of breast augmentation:
- Increase the size of your breasts.
- Improve the shape of your breasts.
- Have a more youthful-looking and more proportional figure.
- Restoration of symmetry if one of your breasts is smaller than the other.
- Since implants are completely customizable, you can select the optimum shape and size for you.
- Improve your self-image and self-confidence.
Risks
Breast augmentation poses various risks, including:
- Scar tissue that affects the shape of a breast implant (capsular contracture).
- Changes in nipple and breast sensation.
- Breast pain
- Infection
- Changes in implant position
- Implant leakage or rupture
Correcting these complications might require more surgery to either remove or replace the implants.
Care at Medicover
At Medicover Hospitals, we have the most eminent team of plastic surgeons working together to provide excellent care to our patients. We provide different types of cosmetic treatments using the most advanced technologies and world-class infrastructure bringing the best results for our patients. Our plastic surgeons have performed many breast augmentation procedures with successful outcomes after setting realistic goals. We discuss the whole treatment pathway and expected outcomes with our patients and keep them informed at every stage of their treatment.
