Breast augmentation, or breast augmentation or breast augmentation, is a surgical procedure that aims to increase the size, shape or fullness of the breast.
For breast augmentation, a plastic surgeon places implants filled with special silicone, saline or biocomposite material, breast implants under the pectoralis major muscle or under the breast tissue. Modern implants can serve the patient's entire life, and most manufacturers give their implants a lifetime warranty.
Why does a woman need to enlarge her breasts?
Breast augmentation is done for:
- Enlarge naturally small breasts
- Restore breast size and shape after pregnancy, weight loss or breastfeeding
- Restores symmetry when the breasts are asymmetrical
- Breast reconstruction after breast removal surgery
Plastic surgery includes reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Breast reconstructive surgery is performed as part of the treatment of breast cancer. Cosmetic breast surgery is performed to improve appearance. Breast augmentation is usually cosmetic surgery.
In 2007, a study by researchers at the University of Florida found that breast augmentation through cosmetic surgery increased women's self-esteem and their feelings and sexuality. It allows you to get a better paid job and get more recognition.
What are breast implants?
A breast implant is a medical device that is placed under the mammary gland or under the pectoralis major to enlarge, reconstruct or create an aesthetic shape of the breast.
Breast implants may contain silicone, saline or other compound.
There are three main types of breast implants:
- Saline implantsare filled with sterile saline, which is simply sterile saline. The solution is inside a silicone shell. These implants can be filled with different amounts of saline. This affects the sensation experienced when pressing on the mammary gland, it can be softer or harder, at the request of the patient, in addition, the different density will determine the different shape of the mammary gland. If the saline implant is damaged and leaks, the solution will not cause any harm to the patient, since the saline solution is natural for the body, and will simply be absorbed by the body without leaving a trace, the only negative is that the implant will have to be replacedas the volume of the mammary gland will decrease.
- Silicone gel implantsconsist of an outer layer of silicone filled with silicone gel. If the silicone implant leaks, the gel will remain in the sheath or fall into the breast implant pouch. And it will not spread throughout the body. Modern implants, even if the skin is damaged, do not spread. These implants are most commonly used today.
- Alternative composite implantsare rarely used and can be filled with biodegradable material or soy oil or some other material.
What needs to be decided before surgery?
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure, so patients need to carefully consider whether they really need it.
- It is necessary to choose where the implant will be placed - under the pectoralis major muscle or under the glandular tissue. Your surgeon will help you resolve this. Most of the time, the implants are placed under the muscle.
- Before the operation, the surgeon together with the patient select the required implant size. This is done with the help of special calibrators that fit the bra, and the patient can assess the size and comfort of wearing it. In addition, the patient, together with the doctor, chooses the density of the implant, its shape (round or anatomical). Implant manufacturer.
- The surgeon and the patient should discuss the incision options.
The following options are possible:
- Incision under the breast, made in the crease under the breast;
- Transaxillary incision in the armpit;
- Incision around the edge of the areola, (periareolar) or through the areola (transareolar).
The choice of the incision depends on several factors, including enlargement, the anatomy of the patient, the type of implant and the preference of the surgeon-patient.
In addition, the patient must choose the type of anesthesia, this operation is usually performed under general anesthesia. But if the patient wishes, in principle it is possible under local anesthesia.
How is the operation going?
After the patient falls asleep in medical sleep, or after performing local anesthesia, the surgeon makes a skin incision at the site, according to the type of access agreed with the patient, about 4, 5 centimeters in length, and then, with special tools, it forms a pouch, in which an endoprosthesis is placed.
The pouch can be formed directly under the breast tissue or under the large breast muscle (this is discussed with the patient before surgery):
- With an axillary pouch, it is placed under the pectoralis major muscle.
- The submammary or subglandular sac is simpler, with the sac formed in the space between the mammary gland and the pectoralis major muscle.
Suturing the wound
In their practice, plastic surgeons usually use so-called cosmetic sutures or, more correctly, intradermal sutures, usually several rows of threads are applied, which in most cases do not need to be removed, with time they dissolve on accountown. In addition, a plastic surgeon can use special surgical glue and special sterile strips to tighten the edges of the wound, so that the scar is less noticeable in the postoperative period.
The trimmed lines will be visible at first, but over time they will almost disappear.
Evaluation of results
Surgery can cause edema, bruising (bruising), but this should disappear in two to four weeks. Usually, the final result is formed not earlier than 3-6 months after the operation. Therefore, the patient will only be able to decide if the procedure meets her expectations after some time.
Recovery period
The recovery period takes 1 month. During this period, there are certain restrictions that will be informed to the patient by the doctor and a special memo will be issued for their exact application. Pain worries the patient only on the first postoperative day, for pain relief purposes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. In rare cases, narcotic pain relievers. Then the pain practically goes away. A small inconvenience remains. After the operation, you should not swim in open and closed water, bathe, sleep on your back, raise your arms, engage in active sports and hard physical work. All of these restrictions are temporary, for 1 month. So the patient can live in peace as he did before the operation, you can fly on a plane and dive with scuba diving. The most important thing in the postoperative period is to use special compression underwear. Underwear must be worn strictly for 1 month after the operation and for another 3 months when playing sports, heavy physical activities.
The next day after the operation, the patient can leave the clinic if she wishes. The patient is monitored once a week, for the first two weeks and after one month. Then, three months later. And then an annual check-up.
Absorbable (absorbable) threads usually dissolve in 6 weeks. The patient will take care of sewing independently at home. This is not at all difficult.
If the patient has non-absorbable sutures, an additional visit is necessary to remove them.
After the operation, the surgeon will not only tell you how to behave in the postoperative period, but will also provide you with an extract with recommendations, which will say:
- How to care for the breasts after the procedure;
- How to use prescription drugs;
- When to come for the next visit;
- When to call your doctor.
You should seek immediate medical attention if you have:
- any sign of infection, such as fever above 38 degrees, fever or redness in the chest area;
- severe chest pain or a marked increase in breast size /
What are the risks of this operation?
Any surgery increases the risk of sudden death from myocardial infarction, stroke, thromboembolism during or immediately after surgery. But, fortunately, these complications are extremely rare. And in modern clinics, there are all resuscitation and anesthesia equipment that minimize these risks to almost zero.
Some of the risks and complications associated with breast enlargement:
- Painful mammary glands;
- Inflammation of the breast;
- Feeling in the breasts, the nipples may change temporarily or become more or less pronounced;
- Implant rupture;
- Bleeding;
- Fluid accumulation (seroma).
A specific complication of this operation is capsular contracture - a thick capsule is formed around the implant. This can deform the mammary gland or make it extremely painful and dense. During the consultation, the surgeon will explain this complication in detail and how to avoid it.
In addition, even cosmetic points can be red, thick and painful or flat and wide. This can lead to a second operation to remove these scars.