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Breast Augmentation, technically known as
augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance
the size and shape of a woman's breasts for a number of reasons:
- To enhance the body contour of a woman
who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.
- To correct a reduction in breast volume
after pregnancy
- To balance a difference in breast size
- As a reconstructive technique following
breast surgery
By inserting an implant behind each breast,
surgeons are able to increase a woman's bustline by one or more
bra cup sizes. If you're considering breast augmentation, this
website will give you a basic understanding of the procedure
- when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you
can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, as a lot
depends on your individual circumstances.
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Actual patient
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If you have further questions,
feel free to e-mail your queries, or freecall us on
1 8000 8000 1 to take advantage of our free consultations. |
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The Best Candidate for Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence,
but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal,
or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide
to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and
discuss them with your surgeon.
The best candidates for breast augmentation are women who are
looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look.
If you're physically healthy and realistic in your expectations,
you may be a good candidate.
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Types of Implants
A breast implant is a silicone shell traditionally filled with
either liquid silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as
saline. The latest and best implants use a soft but solid silicon
rubber called cohesive gel. Breast implants were initially round
(or hemispheric) in shape, and cheap round implants are still
sold to the unwary. All modern implants are anatomically shaped
or breast - shaped (like a teardrop).
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Breast implants are also available with smooth or textured surfaces.
Smooth implants are less expensive and have a thinner wall,
but suffer a 40 - 60% risk of capsular contracture (hardening
and distortion of the implant). The risk for the textured implants
is 3% only. Cohesive gel implants are only available with a
textured surface.
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All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk
Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward. But as with
any operation, there are risks associated with all surgery and
specific complications associated with this procedure.
The most common problem, capsular contracture, occurs if the
scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing
of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard. Capsular
contracture can be treated in several ways, and sometimes requires
either removal or surgical "scoring" of the scar tissue. Removal
or replacement of the implant may even be necessary.
As with any surgical procedure, excessive bleeding following
the operation may cause some swelling and pain. If excessive
bleeding continues, another operation may be needed to control
the bleeding and remove the accumulated blood.
Less than 1% of women develop an infection around the implant.
In most cases, the implant may need to be removed for several
months until the infection clears. A new implant can then be
inserted.
Some women report that their nipples become oversensitive, undersensitive,
or even numb. You may also notice small patches of numbness
near your incisions. These symptoms usually disappear with time,
but may be permanent in some patients.
There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility,
pregnancy, or your ability to breast feed. If, however, you
have breast fed a baby within a year before augmentation, you
may produce milk for a few days after the surgery. This may
cause some discomfort, but can be treated with prescribed medications,
if persistent.
Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. Rupture can
occur as a result of injury or even from normal compression
and movement of your breast and implant, causing the man-made
shell to leak. If a saline filled implant breaks, the implant
will deflate within a few days at most and the salt water will
be harmlessly absorbed by the body.
If a break occurs in a liquid silicone gel-filled implant, however,
one of two things may occur. If the shell breaks but the scar
capsule around the implant does not, you may not detect any
change. If the scar also breaks or tears, especially following
extreme pressure, silicone gel may move into the surrounding
tissue. The gel may collect in the breast and cause a new scar
to form around it, or it may move to a nearby area. There may
be a change in the shape or firmness of the breast. Both type
of breaks may require a second operation and replacement of
the leaking implant. In some cases, it may not be possible to
remove all the silicone gel in the breast tissue if rupture
should occur.
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In the case of cohesive gel implants, the manufacturers
state the risks to be similar to liquid silicone gel. However,
these same manufactures are continuing to face a legal witch-hunt,
and so are guaranteeing nothing to nobody right now. The cohesive
gel implants have been designed to solve this very problem of
liquid silicone gel implant rupture, and appear at this early
stage of follow up to have done so.
A few women with breast implants have reported symptoms similar
to diseases of the immune system, such as scleroderma and other
arthritis-like conditions. These symptoms may include joint
pain or swelling, fever, fatigue, or breast pain. Research has
found no link between silicone breast implants and the symptoms
of what doctors refer to as "connective - tissue disorders,"
with numerous large studies showing identical or lower than
normal incidences of these diseases in women with breast implants.
Breast implants do not increase your risk of breast cancer,
with studies showing augmented women to have only 43 - 47% of
the normal risk for this killer disease. This presumably arises
due to augmented ladies having less than half the normal amount
of breast tissue, rather than to any protective effect of silicone!
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Actual patient
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While there is no evidence that breast implants cause breast
cancer, they may change the way mammography is done to detect
cancer. When you request a routine mammogram, be sure to go
to a radiology centre where technicians are experienced in the
special techniques required to get a reliable x-ray of a breast
with an implant. Additional views will be required. Ultrasound
examinations may be of benefit in some women with implants to
detect breast lumps or to evaluate the implant.
While the majority of women do not experience these complications,
you should discuss each of them with your plastic surgeon to
make sure you understand the risks and consequences of the breast
augmentation. |
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Actual patient |
Planning Your
Surgery
In your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your
health and explain which surgical techniques are most appropriate
for you, based on the condition of your breasts and skin tone.
If your breasts are sagging, he may also recommend a breast
lift.(For more information on this procedure, click Breast Lift
or Mastopexy). |
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Preparing for your Surgery
Your surgeon will give you instructions to prepare for surgery,
including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking and taking
or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. While making preparations,
be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your
surgery and to help you out for a few days, if needed.
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Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed
Your surgeon performs breast augmentation in a dedicated operating
theatre in one of our local hospitals. These are - Sunshine
Coast Private Hospital, Sunshine Coast Day Surgery, Noosa Private
Hospital and Caloundra Private Hospital. Most ladies choose
day surgery. Occasionally, those with little support or little
children at home choose to stay a day or two.
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Types of Anesthesia
Breast augmentation is usually performed under general anesthesia,
so you'll sleep through the entire operation. Some surgeons
may use local anesthesia, combined with a sedative, to make
you drowsy. However significant discomfort during the procedure
is then frequent. Your surgeon will recommend general anaesthesia.
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The Surgery
The method of inserting and positioning your implant will depend
on your anatomy and your surgeon's recommendation as well as
your own preferences. The incision can be made either just above
the crease where the breast meets the chest or around the areola
(the dark skin surrounding the nipple). Armpit and belly-button
incisions carry additional risks, generally give an unsatisfactory
and poorly controlled position to the breast implant, and are
not recommended. |
Actual patient
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Every effort will be made to ensure that the incision is placed
so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible. Working through
the incision, your surgeon will lift your breast tissue and skin to
create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or more
commonly underneath your chest wall muscle (the pectoral muscle).
Putting the implants behind your chest muscle may reduce the potential
for capsular contracture.
The implants are then centered beneath your nipples. To ensure accurate
placement of implants and symmetry we will be sitting you up and adjusting
implant position whilst you are under the anaesthetic.
Subpectoral implant placement may also interfere less with breast
examination by mammogram than if the implant is placed directly behind
the breast tissue. Placement behind the muscle however, may be more
painful for a few days after surgery than placement directly under
the breast tissue.
The surgery usually takes approximately one hour to complete. Absorbable
stitches are used to close the incisions, which will also be taped
for greater support. A subpectoral stabilizer device will be applied
over your breasts to help keep the implants still in their optimal
position. This is essentially two velcro straps.
After your surgery
You're likely to feel tired and sore for a few days following your
surgery, but you'll be up and about in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your
discomfort can be controlled by medication prescribed by your surgeon.
You may also experience a burning sensation in your nipples for about
two weeks, but this will subside as bruising fades. Your stitches
will not need removal but the swelling in your breasts may take three
to five weeks to disappear. You should not have new bras fitted or
wear any bra for 6 weeks after surgery.
Getting Back To Normal
You should be able to return to work within a few days to a week after
surgery, depending on the activity level required for your job. Follow
your surgeon's advice on when to begin exercises and normal activities.
Your pectoral muscles will be sore when you contract or stretch them,
for about one month. Your breasts will be sensitive to direct stimulation
for two to three weeks, so you should avoid firm physical contact.
After that, breast contact is fine once your breasts are no longer
tender, usually three to four weeks after surgery. Your scars will
be firm and pink for at least six weeks. Then they may remain the
same size for several months, or even appear to widen. After several
months, your scars will begin to fade, although they will never disappear
completely.
Routine mammograms should be continued after breast augmentation for
women who are in the appropriate age groups, although the mammographic
technician should use a special technique to assure that you get a
reliable reading, as discussed earlier. (See All surgery carries some
uncertainty and risk..)
Your New Look
For many women, the result of breast augmentation can be satisfying,
even exhilarating, as they learn to appreciate their fuller appearance.
Your decision to have breast augmentation is a highly personal one
that not everyone will understand. The important thing is how you
feel about it. If you've met your goals, then your surgery is a success.
If you have further questions, write them down and ask your surgeon
and his friendly staff at your consultation.
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