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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 breast for a number of
reasons. Breast augmentation is usually done to balance
a difference in breast size, to improve body contour,
or as a reconstructive technique following surgery.
To assist you in obtaining a better body, the New Me
Institute™ can offer Surgeons with accumulated
surgical experience of more than 30 years.
The Consultation
During the initial consultation, our 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.
The Doctor will ask you if you smoke, or take
any medications, vitamins, or other drugs. You
will receive instructions to prepare for surgery,
including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking,
and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.
The Surgery
A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with
either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known
as saline. The method of inserting and positioning
your implant will depend on your anatomy and the
Surgeon's recommendation. The incision can be made
either in the crease where the breast meets the
chest, around the areola (the dark skin surrounding
the nipple), or in the armpit. Our professional
Surgeons will make every effort to ensure that
the incision is placed so resulting scars will
be as inconspicuous as possible.
In addition to the areolas; under the arms; and
under the breasts; the incision of breast augmentation
can also be hidden in the belly button.
Now we can
do extremely natural looking breast augmentation
through the belly button (navel) with no visible
scars on the breasts. The implants can be placed
in the correct pocket under the muscle or over
the muscle
as the case may require all within about an hour.
In addition what is great is that the results are
extremely beautiful and very natural.
Finally here
is the greatest news; this procedure can potentially
require less recovery time and result in fewer
complications. Of the hundreds of patients who
have had their breast augmentation done through
the belly button in our practice; most have gone
back to work within a few short days (usually two
or three days) after surgery. Isn't advanced technology
and expertise great?
Working through the incision, the surgeon will
lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket,
either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath
your chest wall muscle (the pectoral muscle). The
implants are then centered beneath your nipples.
The surgery usually takes one to two hours to
complete. Stitches are used to close the incisions,
which may also be taped for greater support. A
gauze bandage may be applied over your breasts
to help with healing.
After the Surgery
After surgery, breasts appear fuller and more
natural in tone and contour. Scars will fade with
time. After your surgery You will probably feel
tired and sore for a few days, but you will be
up and around in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your discomfort
can be controlled by medication prescribed by the
Doctor.
Within several days, the gauze dressings will
be removed, and you may be given a surgical bra.
You may also experience a burning sensation in
your nipples for about two weeks, but this will
subside as bruising fades. Your stitches will come
out in a week to 10 days, but the swelling in your
breasts may take three to five weeks to disappear.
The New Me
You should be able to return to work within a
few days, depending on the level of activity required
for the procedure. Follow the Surgeon's advice
on when to begin exercises and normal activities.
Your breasts will probably be sensitive to direct
stimulation for two to three weeks, so you should
avoid intense physical contact. Breast contact
is not a problem, once your breasts are no longer
sore, which is usually three to four weeks after
surgery.
For most women, the result of a breast augmentation
is extremely satisfying and exhilarating, and you
will be able to enjoy your New Image for the rest
of your life.
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| Breast Augmentation Directory |
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Many women choose to have their breasts enlarged in order
to satisfy their own desire for a fuller bustline. Your breasts
may not have developed to a size that meets your expectations,
or one breast may be significantly smaller than the other. You
may have been happy with your breasts in the past but feel that
they look different now. Often, after weight loss, childbirth
or as a result of aging, the breasts lose volume and their shape
changes. Breast augmentation can enhance your breast size and
shape, and give you the more proportional figure that you always
wanted.
Am I a
good candidate for breast augmentation?
| One or more of the following feelings or
conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate
for breast augmentation: |
| • |
you are bothered by the feeling that your
breasts are too small |
| • |
clothes that fit well around your hips
are often too large at the bustline |
| • |
you feel self-conscious wearing a swimsuit
or form-fitting top |
| • |
your breasts have become smaller and lost
their firmness after having children |
| • |
weight loss has changed the size and shape
of your breasts |
| • |
one of your breasts is noticeably smaller
than the other |
Your Personal Consultation
During the consultation, you will be asked about your desired
breast size and anything else related to the appearance of your
breasts that you feel is important.
This will help your surgeon to understand your expectations
and determine whether they realistically can be achieved.
How will
my plastic surgeon evaluate me for breast augmentation surgery?
Your plastic surgeon will examine your breasts and perhaps take
photographs for your medical record. He or she will consider
such factors as the size and shape of your breasts, the quality
of your skin and the placement of your nipples and areolas (the
pigmented skin surrounding the nipples). If your breasts are
sagging, a breast lift may be recommended in conjunction with
augmentation.
You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your
medical history. This will include information about any medical
conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments you have received,
previous surgeries including breast biopsies, and medications
that you currently take. You will be asked whether you have
a family history of breast cancer and about results of any mammograms.
It is important for you to provide complete information.
There is no scientific evidence that breast augmentation increases
the risk of breast cancer. The presence of breast implants,
however, makes it more technically difficult to take and read
mammograms. This may be a special consideration for women who
perhaps are at higher risk for breast cancer because of their
family history or other reasons. Placement of the implant underneath
the pectoral muscle may interfere less with mammographic examination,
but other factors may also need to be considered with regard
to implant placement. Your plastic surgeon will discuss this
with you.
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight,
be sure to tell your plastic surgeon. He or she may recommend
that you stabilize your weight prior to undergoing surgery.
If you think that you may want to become pregnant in the future,
you should mention this to your surgeon. Pregnancy can alter
breast size in an unpredictable way and could affect the long-term
results of your breast augmentation. There is no evidence that
breast implants will affect pregnancy or your ability to breast-feed,
but if you have questions about these matters, you should ask
your plastic surgeon.
Your Surgical
Experience
The goal of your plastic surgeon and the entire staff is to
make your surgical experience as easy and comfortable for you
as possible.
How should
I prepare for surgery?
In some instances, your plastic surgeon may recommend a baseline
mammogram before surgery and another mammographic examination
some months after surgery. This will help to detect any future
changes in your breast tissue. Following breast augmentation,
you will still be able to perform breast self-examination.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well
in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory
drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking
these medications for a period of time before surgery. Your
surgeon will provide you with additional preoperative instructions.
Breast augmentation is usually performed on an outpatient basis.
If this is the case, be sure to arrange for someone to drive
you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first
night following surgery.
What will
the day of surgery be like?
Your breast augmentation surgery may be performed in a hospital,
free-standing ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical
procedure. Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation
are used for patients undergoing breast augmentation, although
general anesthesia may be desirable in some instances.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery
area where you will continue to be closely monitored. Your breasts
will be wrapped in gauze dressings or a surgical bra.
You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, unless you
and your plastic surgeon have determined that you will stay
in the hospital or surgical facility overnight.
How will
I look and feel initially?
A day or two after surgery, you should be up and about. Any
dressings will be removed within several days, and you may be
instructed to wear a support bra. Your plastic surgeon will
probably permit you to shower between three and seven days following
surgery. Stitches will be removed in about a week.
Some discoloration and swelling will occur initially, but this
will disappear quickly. Most residual swelling will resolve
within a month.
When can
I resume my normal activities?
After breast augmentation surgery, it is often possible to return
to work within just a few days or a week, depending on your
job. Vigorous activities, especially arm movement, may be restricted
for two to three weeks.
Sexual activity should be avoided for at least the first week
following surgery. After that, care must be taken to be extremely
gentle with your breasts for at least the next month.
How Breast Augmentation is Performed
Individual factors and personal preferences will help you and
your plastic surgeon to determine your appropriate breast size,
the location of incisions, and whether the implants will be
placed on top of or underneath the chest muscle.
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| The implant is placed in a pocket either
directly behind the breast tissue (right) or underneath
the pectoral muscle which is located between the breast
tissue and chest wall. |
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What type of
implants will be used?
In 1992, because further studies were needed to establish the
safety of breast implants, the Food and Drug Administration
decided that silicone gel-filled implants would not be generally
available for cosmetic breast enlargement. Currently, all women
undergoing breast augmentation receive saline-filled implants
which consist of a silicone shell filled with sterile saltwater.
New scientific data on the safety of breast implants is rapidly
being collected. In the future, it is possible that additional
types of filler materials may become available. Your plastic
surgeon will be able to provide you with the latest information.
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| An incision can be made either underneath
the breast, just above the crease, around the lower edge
of the areola or within the armpit. |
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Where are the incisions
placed?
One of the advantages of a saline-filled implant is that, because
it is filled with saltwater after being inserted, only a small
incision is needed. Often, an incision of less than one inch
is made underneath the breast, just above the crease, where
it is usually quite inconspicuous.
Another possible location for the incision is around the lower
edge of the areola. A third alternative is to make a small incision
within the armpit.
Once the incision is made, the surgeon creates a pocket into
which the implant will be inserted. This pocket is made either
directly behind the breast tissue or underneath the pectoral
muscle which is located between the breast tissue and chest
wall.
Understanding Risks
Every year, many thousands of women undergo successful breast
augmentation surgery; however, anyone considering surgery should
be aware of both the benefits and risks.
I understand
that every surgical procedure has risks, but how will I learn
more so that I can make an informed decision?
The subject of risks and potential complications of surgery
is best discussed on a personal basis between you and your plastic
surgeon, or with a staff member in your surgeon's office.
Some of the potential complications that may be discussed with
you include reactions to anesthesia, blood accumulation that
may need to be drained surgically and infection. Although rare,
an infection that does not subside with appropriate treatment
may require temporary removal of the implant. Changes in nipple
or breast sensation may result from breast augmentation surgery,
although they usually are temporary.
When a breast implant is inserted, a scar capsule forms around
it as part of the natural healing process. The capsule may sometimes
tighten and compress the implant, causing the breast to feel
firmer than normal. Capsular contracture can occur to varying
degrees. If it is severe, it can cause discomfort or changes
in the breast's appearance. In such cases, more surgery may
be needed to modify or remove the scar tissue, or perhaps remove
or replace the implant.
Breast implants are not lifetime devices and cannot be expected
to last forever. If a saline-filled implant breaks, its contents
are harmlessly absorbed by the body within hours. A definite
change in the size of the breast is clearly noticed. Rupture
can occur as a result of trauma to the chest, but more commonly
it occurs spontaneously with no apparent cause. Surgery will
be required to replace the implant, if desired.
If you are at an age when mammographic examinations should be
conducted on a periodic basis, it will be important for you
to select a radiology technician who is experienced in taking
x-rays of augmented breasts. Additional views of your breasts
will be required. Your plastic surgeon, in some instances, may
recommend other types of examinations such as ultrasound or
magnetic resonance imaging. It is possible that the presence
of breast implants could delay or hinder the early detection
of breast cancer.
Some women with breast implants have reported problems including
certain connective tissue and immune-related diseases. Women
without implants also have these disorders, so the key question
is whether breast implants increase the risk of developing the
conditions. Several large studies have been completed that provide
reassurance that women with breast implants do not have a significantly
increased risk for these diseases.
Results
of Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation will make your breasts fuller and enhance
their shape. You will find it easier to wear certain styles
of clothing. Like many women who have had breast augmentation,
you may have a boost in self-confidence
How long
will the results last?
Except in the event of implant deflation requiring surgical
replacement with a new implant, the results of your breast augmentation
surgery will be long-lasting. However, gravity and the effects
of aging will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually
every woman's breasts. If, after a period of years, you become
dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose
to undergo a breast "lifting" to restore their more
youthful contour.
Maintaining
a Relationship with Your Plastic Surgeon
You will return to your plastic surgeon's office for follow-up
care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress will
be evaluated. Your surgeon will encourage you to schedule routine
mammographic evaluations at the frequency recommended for your
age group.
Please remember that the relationship with your plastic surgeon
does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have
questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional
information at a later time, you should contact your surgeon. |
Content provided by The American Society
for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
For advertising info, please contact Terry McGovern terry.mcgovern@latimes.com
at (213) 473-2599
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