There’s no doubt that breasts with a nice shape and volume are the most important visual symbols of feminine sexuality.
Deformities or insufficiencies in breast structure interfere with a woman’s physical body perception and the feeling of feminity, and therefore lead to phsychological consequences.
Currently, breasts with volume deficiency are mainly treated with silicone implants. Fat transfer to the breast is an alternative option, but it’s applicable to a limited number of patients which don’t have a breast sagging problem and have sufficient amount of fatty tissue elsewhere in the body. A vast majority of the patients that are seeking breast augmentation are candidates for silicone implant insertion.
Breast implants can be in various shapes and volumes. There are numerous criteria about implant selection and where the implant is going to be placed. One can hear various options, such as round or teardrop-shaped implants, smooth or textured surface, and subpectoral or subglandular implantation. To make the best selection is quite confusing and almost impossible for the patient. It’s certain that the best decision can be made by the surgeon. According to the patient’s expectations and overall body architecture, an operation which does not push the limits of naturality will give the most satisfactory results.
Breast augmentation with implants, generally takes less than an hour. The patient, who is discharged from the hospital the same day or the next, can return to work within a couple of days. In the first days following the operation, the breasts look a little “artificial” due to the edema, but this “tight” look turns to a natural softness within weeks.
Breast implants are placed under the breast, or beneath the underlying pectoral muscle. The implant is not inside the breast in any of these locations. Thus, the implant does not impair the pregnancy or nursing periods. It has been scientifically proven many times that, silicone breast implants do not have any relation with breast cancer or related disorders.
What is Breast Augmentation?
The breast augmentation surgery, as known as augmentation mammoplasty is a treatment which
aims to enhance the size of the breasts in order to achieve a better projection. The ideal
candidates for the breast augmentstion surgery would be patients who feel their breasts are small
and/or have asymmetry issue. Patients can choose to go through breast augmentation procedure
for different reasons as well, such as reconstruction due to breast cancer etc.
The breast augmentation procedure carries on to be one of the most popular plastic surgery
treatments for the sake of patient satisfaction rate, its confidence boost effect and advanced
surgical techniques. If a patient is considering this surgery, they should go through a detailed
consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon as a first step.
Types of Breast Implants
Each body is unique which means each patient’s needs are unique. That is why different type of
implants are designed for different patients’ needs. Choosing the right shape of the implant is the
key here, that is why you should consult a board certified plastic surgeon in order to achieve the
best possible results. Here below are the type of implants:
Saline Implants: This type of implant is covered with a silicone on the external part, this is filled
with sterile saltwater also known as saline. This type of implant has been gradually loosing
popularity due to rippling/wrinkling issues and it may also feel less natural.
Silicone Implants: The silicone implants consist of silicone gel filling. This silicone gel provides an
imitation of human fat and help the patient to feel like it’s a natural breast tissue. The silicone
implants have a lower risk of rippling/wrinkling.
Gummy Bear Implants: The difference between the silicone and the gummy bear implant is that
the gummy bear implant has a thicker form compared to silicone implants. It does look natural
due to its form and has a lower leakage risk however, the incision site might have to be bigger as
the material is thicker.
Which implant is right for me?
What type of implants will be used plays an essential role during the breast augmentation surgery
process. The implants have many different varities such as shape, size and texture. Your surgeon
will guide you through this process and help you analyze which will be better for you.
While choosing the size of the implant with your surgeon, you should inform him/her about your
desires, eventhough you might go for a bigger size, your breast anatomy might only be
appropriate for smaller sizes vice versa.
Regarding the shapes, round implants are mostly preferred by patients who aim to have more
cleavage, on the other hand anatomical implants might help ending up with a natural augmented
look. However, never forget the fact that if the lower part of your breasts are fuller, adding more
volume only to the lower part with anatomical implants will only create an unaesthetic look.
There is one more factor that should be considered is the skin elasticity and the anatomical
features; for example, if both breasts are very apart from eachother, going for a bigger size will
end up with bulge out from the outer sides of the chest. Another issue here would be, if your skin
tends to be loose rather than firm, applying bigger implants will lead to sagginess in the long term.
That is why you should keep your expectations real and let your surgeon guide you as he/she is
the one who will be able to analyze properly your anatomy and what type of implant will suit you
best according to your desires.
Consultation with your Surgeon
It is crucial to proceed with a board certified plastic surgeon who has enough experience with
breast surgeries. During the consultation, first a medical evaluation will be carried out and then,
the patient should openly discuss their desires. The surgeon should inform the patient about what
kind of results should be expected transparently. The patient should ask for insight of their surgery
and how it will be carried out and also before&after photos of previous patients will help how they
should proceed.
The Surgical Procedure
Preoperative Phase
Medical Evaluation&Tests&Guidelines: After the consultation with the surgeon, the patient has to
go through a series of health tests so the surgeon knows that the patient is eligible to have
surgery. The tests that the patient will be going through are complete blood count(cbc),
coagulation profile(pt,aptt, INR), basic biochemistry (liver and kidney functions), electrolytes,
infectious disease profile(hbs-ag), anti-hcv, anti-hiv, mammograms and if the patient needs
adjustments with the medications shall be made. The patient should be instructed about when to
stop eating&drinking before the surgery.
The Surgery
Step by step breakdown of the surgery: Once the anesthesia is administred, the surgeon will do
an incision for the operation area. The incision is generally made right under the breasts where the
implant will be inserted. The implant is generally placed in the subfascial plane, that why less pain
is encountered. This also helps preventing the waterfall deformity issue(the implant stays put and
the breast tissue itself slides down), the waterfall deformity is generally seen in submuscular
placement. If the implant is placed over the muscle under the breast tissue then it is likely to slide
down. The subfascial placement helps creating natural results while holding the implants still.
Once the implant is placed, the incisions are closed with sutures and then the incisions are taped
and then covered with dressing&bandages. After the patient is awake in the reanimation room,
she will be taken to their hospital room guided by the nurses.
Recovery
If proper care is applied, recovery of the breast augmentation surgery will definetly go smoothly.
Of course, it depends from patient to patient but once post operative care instructions are
followed properly, the process will be easy. For pain management, medication will be prescribed.
First 24 hours: The patient will spend the first night at the hospital and will be discharged the next
day. Due to anesthesia, the patient might feel dizzy. The breasts might feel firm and will start to
swell up. The patient might start to feel a bit of pain which is more like soreness. The patient will
need to wear a bra corset.
Post-op day 3: The breasts will continue to swell up, mild soreness can still be felt. The patient
should be rested slightly elevated.
Post op week 1: The swelling will start to decrease however the breasts will still feel stiff and sore.
The patient can go back to their daily routine. But their movement should still be limited and
shouldn’t carry heavy things. The patient can switch to wearing normal bra.
Post op week 4: The swelling will continue to wear off but the final results will still not be seen
until the 3rd post op month. There will be no restrictions regarding the patient’s daily life or doing
sports such as jogging, swimming, yoga, cardio etc. However, the patient shouldn’t do any weight
lifting.
Post op 6 months: The results will be visible but slight swelling might continue to take place. The
breasts will look more natural and settled. There will no longer be any restrictions about
movement/sports. The scars might still look visible.
Post op 1 year: The breasts will settle to their final positions and the scars will be healed and will
look faded.
Long Term Recovery from the 1st month to a year:
-The wound care is very important, once healed, applying silicone gel might help minimizing the
scar. However, the patient should consult their surgeon beforehand. Using sunblock for the scars
is also crucial.
-The patient should never miss their appointments. Typically, the check ups go from the 3rd post
op day, 1st week, 1st month and then the 1st year.
-The patient should examine their breasts about the appearance and sensation sometimes and
report to their surgeon if something feels wrong.
Risks and Complications
Just like any surgical operation, the breast augmentation surgery has its own risks and
complications. The patient should be informed about these beforehand and should prepare
themselves to prevent these from happening.
Infection: Infections can occur sometimes. If the breast has redness, extreme swelling in one
specific area and pus, it might be infected. The patient should contact their surgeon immediately
and this issue is treated with antibiotics generally.
Hematoma: Hematoma is blood accumulation around the implant, in some cases drainage might
be required and in other it will wear off on its own.
Sensation: Loss of sensation can be seen in some cases, this might be temporary or sometimes
permanent depending on the case and the severity of the surgical intervention.
Scarring: Each patient will have scarring post surgery, however poor healing can be seen in some
patients who smoke and have bad skin quality(like being prone to having keloid). Silicone gells
and laser treatments might help minimizing the scarring appearance issue.
Capsular Contracture: This can occur in some breast augmentation cases, this happens when the
tissue around the implant tighteness creating a stiff feeling. In such cases, replacement of the
implant is preferred.
Implant Rupture: In some cases, implant rupture can be seen. This can be due to an injury or the
implant itself. Saline implants are prone to rupturing. Ruptured implants will need replacement.
ALCL Illness: Certain types of implants can lead to a rare immune system cancer. It was stated
that Mentor brand implants can lead to this illness. Removal of the implant together with the
surrounding tissue is the solution to this problem.
How to Minimize the Risks and What to Look for in a Plastic Surgeon?
-Selecting a board certified plastic surgeon will help reducing the risks. Board certification means
the surgery has more experience and expertise in breast augmentation surgery. Your surgeon’s
approach together with his/her experience will help achieving a smooth treatment journey.
-It is crucial to go with a plastic surgeon who regularly performs breast augmentation surgeries.
Because, it will help refining the surgeon’s skills.
-It is fundamentally important to do a research about your surgeon before your consultation.
-It is important to strictly follow your surgeon’s instructions in order to minimize the risks.
-Attending all follow up appointments will help ensuring the healing process go smoothly.
-The first impression the patient gets during the initial consultation also contributes to the decision
making process. Analyze your surgeon’s communication style. Does the surgeon make you feel
comfortable? Is the surgeon approachable?
What Questions to Ask your Plastic Surgeon?
– How many breast augmentations do you perform each year?
– Can you show me before-and-after photos of previous patients?
– What surgical technique do you recommend for me, and why?
– What can I expect in terms of scars, pain, recovery time, and potential complications?
– How do you handle complications or unsatisfactory results?
FAQs about Breast Augmentation Surgery
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure which helps enhancing one’s breast size&shape
through insertion of implants.
Am I a good candidate for breast augmentation surgery?
Of course, your surgeon should be the one deciding this but if you think your breasts are small,
you might be a good candidate for the breast augmentation procedure. An ideal candidate is
someone who is healthy, and preferably doesn’t smoke or suffer from any disease. Also, a good
candidate for this surgery should be someone who has realistic expectations for the outcome of
the surgery.
How long does the surgery take?
The surgery takes around 1 to 2 hours.(depending on the severity of the case)
What type of implants should I go for?
You should discuss and decide this with your surgeon, he/she will guide you through the process
and inform you about your specific anatomical structure and what type would fit you best.
Nowadays, most surgeons prefer textured&silicone gel implants as they have a lower risk of
rupture.
How do I choose the right breast implant size?
Typically, this is decided together with your surgeon according to your desires&body
shape&existing breast tissue. You might want to consider a very small size but according to your
torso frame, it might still be very small for you or vice versa. That is why, you should be guided by
your surgeon while deciding this.
What is the difference between placing the implant under or above the muscle?
Submuscular implant placement may help breasts to stay still in the long term, however, this can
lead to waterfall deformity as well(explained above). Subglandular implant insertion might lead to
droopiness of the implant in the long term. That is why, most surgeons prefer to insert the implant
in the subfascial plane which is in between the muscle and the breast tissue.
How’s the recovery like after breast augmentation surgery?
One week after the surgery, the patients return to their daily lives. However, they should still stay
away from sportive activities. Once the patients hit 2 weeks mark, they can start with easy cardio
exercises but they still shouldn’t do any weight lifting until 2 months of healing process is
complete.
How long do breast implants last?
Typically, patient renew or extract their implants after 10 years. However, they can last up to 20
years.
What are the potential risks and complications of breast augmentation?
Some risks include loss of sensation and infection. In rare cases, implant rupture, capsular
contracture or ALCL disease can be seen.
Can breast implants effect breast feeding?
No, they can’t. The implants do not interfere with milk canals.
To the patients who are considering to go through breast augmentation, scheduling a consultation
with a board certified plastic surgeon will help you understand the process and have a vision of
this journey. A consultation will help you analyze your specific needs and see if you can achieve
your desired results or not.
This will be an opportunity to take an action towards a new you. The breast augmentation journey
is unique to each specific individual and it starts with a single step. We are here to guide you
through this journey.
Contact us via whatsapp, instagram and email.