15 Facts You Should Know Before Breast Augmentation

Your body is your job! But when you come to a plastic surgeon with a request to enlarge your breasts, he will definitely ask you for the reasons for the decision. And if it's a desire to look beautiful in a bathing suit or to fulfill your partner's dream of a big breast, you will most likely be denied.

Because you can enlarge your breasts only for yourself and only on the condition that you want to feel comfortable in your body!

Honest information about breast augmentation

periareolar breast mammoplasty

Breast augmentation is a serious operation that requires an informed decision and careful calculation of possible risks. You need to prepare for it: get tested, undergo the necessary examinations, stop taking certain medications in advance, lose weight if the weight exceeds the norm, and stop smoking.

But even careful preparation is not a guarantee of a favorable outcome. Therefore, before you decide to go under the scalpel of the surgeon, find out what awaits you and what can go wrong!

Before and after photos are not always informative

Today, every plastic surgery clinic has its own website where you can see photos of the "before" and "after" surgeries of a particular doctor. But when considering them, the patient must take into account that his breasts may look different.

In order to get an idea of what the breasts will look like after the operation, a doctor of medical sciences, a plastic surgeon, advises to evaluate the results of people with a similar body type. Such shots will give a more realistic picture.

Breast augmentation is possible without surgery

Many women are tempted to enlarge their breasts without surgery in one or two procedures. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons can fulfill this desire by suggesting the use of fillers based on hyaluronic acid or their own fat cells.

However, it should be noted that these are temporary solutions. They have both advantages and disadvantages. And it is more difficult to predict the outcome of the procedure in this case than in surgical breast augmentation.

Fat cell shape correction has a significant drawback.

the girl measures her breast size with a centimeter

Not all fat cells will be "transplanted". According to the doctor of medical sciences, ,30 to 50% of fat cells die.

At the same time, no one knows which cells will survive and which will not. Therefore, your expectations about breast augmentation fillers may not match the reality after the procedure.

The first breast operation will probably not be the last

Implants are not a permanent purchase. According to the plastic surgeon, most need to be replaced within 12-15 years after surgery, and some even earlier.

The implant can begin to leak or form scar tissue around the implant, which spoils the shape of the breast and poses a threat to health. In addition, external and internal reasons can encourage implant replacement - weight gain or loss, breastfeeding, gravity.

The doctor recommends planning the operation only when there is a belief that the budget will enable the reconstruction operation in the next 12 years.

There are several types of incisions during surgery.

Experts say that depending on the initial shape of the breast and the desired parameters, the doctor may suggest surgery with an incision in the armpit, a fold under the breast, in the areola, and in some cases on the abdomen.

The most common options are an incision in the areola and in the fold below the breast. The location of the probable incision should be discussed with your doctor.

It is not always possible to enlarge the breasts to the desired volume

If a representative of the fairer sex has a cup of size A by nature, she will not be able to get DD volume in one operation. Breast skin, as well as the body, needs time to get used to the changes. Therefore, the doctor recommends breast augmentation first by 1-2 sizes, and then, if necessary, after a few years, replace the implants with larger ones.

Drastic changes can be costly

breast augmentation consultations with a mammologist

"The most important thing when planning breast augmentation surgery is finding a good implant, " says MD, a plastic surgeon. "According to my estimates, about 30% of errors and complications during plastic surgery are due to the fact that the doctor or patient chose the wrong implant. "

Choosing an implant that is too large for the patient can lead to thinning of the breast tissue and surrounding muscles, which is difficult to reverse. A good doctor will always tell you the maximum implant size that the patient can orient himself to.

It takes time to recover after surgery

Both after breast augmentation and after breast reduction, the patient needs time to recover. The minimum sick leave will be 5-7 days. Eventually, you can return to work, provided it does not involve hard physical work.

Pain medications work wonders today, but don’t overestimate them!

Implants can be felt under the skin

There is an opinion that implants are always felt when touching a woman's breasts,but that is not the case. It is difficult to find properly selected and well placed. Still, there is such a possibility!

The other person is more likely to suspect the presence of an implant in a woman who initially had a small breast volume (and, consequently, a small amount of tissue) than in a woman whose volume was higher.

Some implants can impair health

how to choose breast augmentation implants

Experts associate some types of breast implants with an increased risk of cancer. "We are talking about such a type as large cell anaplastic lymphoma. There is an opinion that it is in some way related to textured implants in the breast, because most women with oncology are diagnosed with oncology, " warns the plastic surgeon.

Correction may affect the ability to breastfeed

"By cutting on the breast, we disrupt the natural anatomy, we reduce the amount of breast tissue that produces milk, " says the doctor. - However, there is a good chance that you will still be able to breastfeed. If the incision is far from the nipple, it is unlikely that the mammary ducts and glands will be damaged. "

Temporary loss of nipple sensitivity after surgery

A few weeks after surgery, many patients notice a lack of breast sensitivity, but in most cases it is a temporary phenomenon. Complete loss of sensation is rare.

A doctor of medical sciences, a plastic surgeon, says that although she operated on thousands of patients, she never encountered a complete loss of breast sensitivity in a woman.

Surgery can affect a woman's posture

change in posture after breast augmentation

If a woman chooses a slightly larger breast volume than her natural data, it is unlikely that her posture will change as a result. But when it comes to breast implants of impressive size, their weight can be noticeable, so it will be harder to wear them.

If there is a history of back pain, this factor should be considered.

Maybe just breast augmentation will not be enough

After pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, some women dream of breast augmentation as a medicine that will solve all the problems with their appearance. But that may not be enough.

Breast augmentation alone will not make the breasts firm and tight. In some cases, two surgeries are needed at once: breast augmentation and breast lift. The doctor can do them at the same time.

The decision to operate must be well balanced

Before contacting a plastic surgeon, find the answers to the following questions yourself:

  • Is my current breast volume really a problem for me?
  • Why do I need surgery?
  • Do I have an "airbag" - free funds that may be needed if something goes wrong?
  • Am I willing to accept the possible risks of breast augmentation?
  • Do I really need surgery?

The answers to these questions will help you make the right decision.

Expert comment
Oncologist, general surgeon

Breast augmentation or breast augmentation is a type of surgery that requires special preparation.

Mammoplasty is performed as part of cosmetic surgery, ie it is performed at the request of the patient, with the exception of breast reduction operations (reduction mammoplasty), which are often performed for medical reasons. The girl should self-assess the risks before scheduling an examination with a plastic surgeon.

You must first study the contraindications for the procedure. If a woman has severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system, varicose veins, bleeding disorders and oncological diseases, then these chronic diseases will become an absolute contraindication for mammoplasty. During pregnancy and breastfeeding such surgical interventions are also prohibited.

Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, rheumatism, mastopathy, and obesity should consult their physician prior to breast augmentation surgery. In addition, during the period of the procedure, the chronic disease should be in a phase of stable remission.

A woman should also think about future pregnancies. If after the operation the girl plans to become a mother, then it is better to perform the operation through an incision under the breast or in the armpit. Placing implants through an incision in the nipple areola can compromise the integrity of part of the milk ducts, which is likely to make it difficult to feed the baby.

You have to understand that a quality procedure will not be cheap. The average cost of mammoplasty in a good clinic is quite high. Apply for consultations only with proven experts with extensive experience. A careful approach to choosing a doctor will reduce the likelihood of complications after surgery. As a rule, the appointment with a plastic surgeon lasts about an hour and a half. During that time, the girl should ask the doctor about the implants, to determine the volume, future size and shape of the bust.

After the consultation, the date of the operation will be determined. Preparation time is approximately two weeks. During this time, the patient takes the necessary tests to assess the health condition. The list of mandatory studies includes the following medical manipulations: clinical and biochemical blood tests, HIV tests, syphilis, hepatitis, urine tests, coagulogram, ECG, mammography, fluorography (X-ray), ultrasound of blood vessels.

The hospital stay lasts approximately 3-5 days. During this time, the main operation is performed, monitoring the patient's condition after mammoplasty and the first dressing. Then the girl goes home for rehab.

You will need to wear special compression underwear for a month, and you should also not raise your arms above your shoulders and lift heavy objects. You will have to sleep only on your back for two or three weeks, for the next 4-5 months - on your side or back, you can turn on your stomach only after six months. Classes in the gym, as well as going to the bathroom or sauna will have to be postponed for 2-3 months.

During the rehabilitation period, the patient will have to come to the dressings and self-adhesive scars with a special silicone plaster. Recovery will take approximately six months, after which you can return to an active life.

Expert comment
Plastic surgeon

All implants approved for use in our country have a lifetime warranty. This means that they do not need to be changed for medical reasons over time.

There are three types of approaches: axillary, periareolar (along the edge of the areola) and submammary (through the fold below the breast). In my practice, I most often use the axillary approach, because in this case the scar is practically invisible. It is located in the armpit and over time becomes like a wrinkle. There are no visible scars on the chest.

I use endoprosthetics through the areola when the axillary approach does not allow full-fledged surgery. I use the submammary approach for the second operation, if the implants were previously installed in the same way. All types of access are safe if possessed by a surgeon.

Implants differ in gel softness, coating, type and size. The surgeon can take them only on a face-to-face consultation. All implants are of good quality, but usually surgeons have their preferences. So focus on the work of the surgeons and connect them with your own ideas about beauty.

As a rule, I do not use large volume implants - more than 450 cc. see Large implants cause tissue atrophy and become visible over time, even if they are located axillary. That is, they are covered with muscles from above, and they are shaped from below. This occurs in patients with low fiber and narrow breasts. If a woman has wide breasts, then larger implants can be placed. But such cases are quite rare.

Expert comment
Plastic surgeon

Despite the fact that mammoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgeries and has become a fairly common procedure, before performing it, the patient must learn some nuances so as not to be a surprise after surgery.

  1. Nothing lasts forever, and implants have their own lifespan. It is impossible to install them once and for all. Sooner or later it will have to change, because there is such a thing as depreciation. And how these processes will take place in a specific case, how the tissues will behave, no one knows in advance, everything is individual. Therefore, after breast correction, all girls are advised to visit a mammologist at least once every six months, it is necessary to do an ultrasound examination of the breast in order to detect changes in time and prescribe endoprosthesis replacement surgery.
  2. Patients with certain chronic diseases, and especially with reduced immune status, should inform their doctor, who will order an additional examination. And only after that will they make their decision whether it pays to install implants or not.
  3. If the breast is ptosis, lowered down, and the main part of the mammary gland is in the lower half, then in this situation it is better to install a round implant. If there is no pronounced upper pole, then it always involves the implantation of an endoprosthesis under the muscle.
  4. In the case when the nipples "look" to the side, and the patient wants to bring them closer, this is only possible if there is a large volume of skin and breast tissue. If it is not there, then it is impossible to bring them closer and during the installation of the implant, the nipple will remain in its original position, while the prosthesis will be installed in the middle of the nipple.
  5. If the patient has a narrow interathoracic space, then during the implantation the endoprosthesis will remain naturally beautiful. When it is large enough, more than 2-2, 5 cm, it can be reduced during implant placement. However, it is important to take into account the fact that at this point the implant will be palpable, and over time the occurrence of a visual defect - the so-called. ripping, or skin irregularities.