Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a surgery done to increase the size of the breast. It is also known as augmentation mammoplasty. It involves either placing breast implants under breast tissue or chest muscles or augmentation using fat from one’s own body. The choice of procedure depends on the size, shape and volume of breast, which is decided by your plastic surgeon after a thorough examination of the breasts. Breast augmentation is a way to feel more confident for many women. If ur considering breast augmentation, consult us for better understanding of the procedure and options suitable for u.
Who should undergo Breast Augmentation Surgery?
People who have asymmetric breast size;
People with underdeveloped small breasts;
People who wish to enhance the size and appearance of the breast;
Can consult their plastic surgeon and discuss their concerns and goals of breast augmentation to get realistic idea of outcomes expected.
What is a breast implant?
Breast implant is an artificial prosthesis which is placed below the breast tissue or chest muscles to enhance the size and shape of breast.
It is of two types; saline filled breast implants and silicon filled implants.
Saline filled breast implants contain a silicon outer shell filled with sterile saline solution.
Silicon gel breast implants have silicon outer shell filled with silicone gel.
Silicone gel filled implants are most popularly used implants because of their more natural and aesthetic look and are soft to touch.
How do you prepare for surgery?
Preparing for breast augmentation surgery involves several steps to ensure that you are physically and mentally ready for the procedure and have a smooth recovery afterward. Here’s a general guideline on how to prepare:
Consult your plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns and have all your questions answered. The surgeon would like to know your breast size requirements.
You will be asked about your medical history and a few routine blood tests to check your fitness for anaesthesia.
On your follow up visit, you will be evaluated with your blood tests by your surgeon and anaesthetist. You will be asked to choose the size of implant preferred and the details of the surgery are explained. The surgeon plans the site of incisions tailored to you. Clinical photographs of the breast are taken.
During Breast Augmentation Surgery
The breast augmentation surgery is a day care procedure, usually takes around 2 hours’ time.
It is done under general anaesthesia.
The surgeon will make incisions on the areola or the fold below the breast, and place the desired size of implant under sterile conditions and close the incisions.
You will be monitored in the recovery area for a couple of hours and will be discharged the same day.
Post Breast Augmentation Surgery Recovery
Post surgery, you will be asked to wear a sports bra or compression garment for adequate support to the breasts.
Swelling and bruising is common and will be needing medication for pain for a week.
After a week’s time one can resume back to their daily routine and go to work.
After a months’ time, most of the normal activities can be done except for upper body workout and weight lifting for which, we would advice you to wait for at least 6-8 weeks.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Age for breast augmentation
While Saline implants are suitable for women of 18 years or older, silicone implants are approved for women who are 22 years or older.
Choice of augmentation -Fat injection or breast implants
Fat injection also known as fat grafting is an alternative to breast implants for people who wish to avoid prosthesis, who are looking for small enhancement in volume of the breasts over a pre-existing breast shape. It is more natural. Once the fat(graft) takes, it ages with the patient.
Breast implants give you the option to choose the size and shape of the implant, and the results are more predictable compared to fat.
However, a combination of both is also done, in a few.
Are breast implants safe?
While there are risks associated with silicone implants (for example rupture), it is generally considered safe for use and no study till now has associated smooth silicone implants with any disease.
Saline filled implants or silicone gel implants?
While Saline filled implants are firmer, silicone implants are softer to touch and give a natural and aesthetic look.
While saline implants have higher risk of rupture, they are more obvious, as in deflate immediately which might make you feel uncomfortable, but are easily identified and saline being a neutral fluid is absorbed by the body.
Rupture of silicone implants is very difficult to notice as silicone is viscous in nature, the leaking silicone may spread around the breast tissue but stay in place.
In any case, the ruptured implant will have to be removed from the breasts and replaced later.
Life of a breast implant? Do implants have an expiry date? How long can they stay in my body?
Breast implants generally last 10-15 years, unless there is some damage to the implants or there is some change in shape, in which case you have to do revision surgery to get the issue sorted.
Risks associated with Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Implant leakage or rupture
Capsular contracture. (It is a capsule of scar tissue formed by the body around the breast implant as a response to foreign object in the body)
Others- breast pain, infection and changes in nipple and breast sensation.
How big can my breasts become after augmentation?
Inserting too big silicone implants may just look unnatural and defeat the whole purpose of breast augmentation. Your surgeon will recommend the ideal implant size after examining your breast to make sure after augmentation they look natural and beautiful. Generally speaking, an increase of one or two cup sizes is generally considered safe.
Can we breast feed after breast implant placement?
In most cases breast augmentation doesn’t hamper breastfeeding as glandular tissues in breasts remain intact after surgery. However, in some rare cases breastfeeding can become a challenge, if other complications like capsular contracture arise after breast enhancement surgery.
What if we don’t like the result after surgery?
Most women look and feel very confident after a successful breast enhancement. However, if in a rare occurrence, you don’t like how your breasts look and feel, you can simply get the breast implants removed with a simple surgery.
Are breast implants associated with breast cancer?
Breast implant associated lymphoma is a very rare complication which has been associated to textured implants, which are no longer used. Most popularly used are smooth silicon gel implants.
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