WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BREAST ENLARGEMENT

Breast augmentation or breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to increase the size, shape or fullness of the breast.

To enlarge the breast, the plastic surgeon places implants filled with special silicone, saline or biocomposite material, breast implants under the large chest muscle or under the breast tissue. Modern implants can serve a patient for a lifetime, and most manufacturers give implants a lifetime warranty.

Why should a woman enlarge her breasts?

Breast augmentation is done for:

• Enlarge naturally small breasts
• Restore breast size and shape after pregnancy, weight loss or breastfeeding
• Restore symmetry when breasts are asymmetrical
• Breast reconstruction after breast removal surgery

Plastic surgery includes reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.

Reconstructive breast surgery is performed as part of breast cancer treatment. Aesthetic breast surgery is performed to improve the appearance. Breast augmentation is usually an aesthetic operation.

In 2007, a study by researchers at the University of Florida showed that breast augmentation with cosmetic surgery increases women's self-esteem and feelings and sexuality. It allows you to get a job with a higher salary, achieve more recognition.

What are breast implants?

A breast implant is a medical device that is placed under the breast or under the large chest muscle to enlarge, reconstruct or create an aesthetic shape of the breast.

Breast implants may contain silicone, saline, or some other compound.

There are three main types of breast implants:

1. Physiological implantsare filled with sterile saline, which is simply sterile salt water. The solution is inside a silicone shell. These implants can be filled with different amounts of saline. This affects the feeling experienced by pressing on the mammary gland, it can be softer or stronger, at the request of the patient, in addition, different density will determine different shape of the breast. If the physiological implant is damaged and leaks, the solution will not harm the patient, as the saline solution is natural for the body and the body will easily absorb it without a trace, the only drawback is that the implant will have to be changed as breast volume will decrease.
2. Silicone gel implantsconsist of a silicone outer shell filled with silicone gel. If the silicone implant leaks, the gel will either remain in the sheath or fall into the breast pocket. And it will not spread through the body. Modern implants, even if the shell is damaged, do not spread. These implants are most commonly used today.
3. Alternative composite implantsare rarely used and can be filled with either a biodegradable material or soybean oil or some other material.

What to decide before surgery?

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure, so patients must carefully consider whether they really need this procedure.

1. It is necessary to choose where the implant will be placed - under the large chest muscle or under the glandular tissue. Your surgeon will help you resolve this. Most often, implants are placed under the muscles.
2. Before the operation, the surgeon selects the required implant size together with the patient. This is done either with the help of special dimensions that fit into the bra, and the patient can estimate the size and comfort of wearing. In addition, the patient together with the doctor chooses the density of the implant, its shape (round or anatomical). Implant manufacturer.
3. The surgeon and patient should discuss the possibilities of the incision.

The following options are available:

• Incision below the breast, made in a 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 incision depends on several factors, including augmentation, patient anatomy, implant type, and surgeon-patient preferences.

In addition, the patient must choose the type of anesthesia, this operation is often performed under general anesthesia. But if the patient wants, in principle, it is possible under local anesthesia.

How's the operation going?

After the patient falls into a medical dream or after performing local anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the skin at the site, according to the type of approach agreed with the patient, about 4. 5 centimeters long, and then with the help of special tools forms a pocket. endoprosthesis.

The pocket can be formed either directly under the breast tissue or under the large breast muscle (this is discussed with the patient before surgery):

• With an armpit pocket placed under the large pectoral muscle.
• The submammary or subglandular pocket is simpler, with the pocket being created in the space between the mammary gland and the large chest muscle.

Wound suturing

In their practice, plastic surgeons often use so-called cosmetic or, more precisely, intradermal sutures, usually several rows of threads are applied, which usually do not need to be removed, they dissolve over time. In addition, the plastic surgeon can use a special surgical adhesive and special sterile tapes to tighten the edges of the wound so that the scar is least noticeable in the postoperative period.

The cropped lines will be visible at first, but will almost disappear over time.

Evaluation of results

Surgery can lead to edema, hematoma (bruise), but it should disappear within two to four weeks. The final result is usually formed at the earliest 3-6 months after the operation. Therefore, the patient will be able to decide whether the procedure meets her expectations only after some time.

Recovery period

The recovery period is 1 month. During this period, there are certain restrictions that the patient will tell the patient and issue a special letter for their correct application. The pain worries the patient only the first day after the operation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for the purpose of pain relief. In rare cases, narcotic analgesics. Then the pain practically disappears. There remains a small inconvenience. After the operation, you should not swim in open and closed waters, bathe, sleep on your back, raise your arms high, engage in active sports and hard physical work. All of these restrictions are temporary, for a month. Then the patient can live peacefully as before the operation, you can fly a plane and dive with a dive. The most important thing in the postoperative period is to wear special compression underwear. Underwear must be worn strictly for a month after surgery, and then for another 3 months when doing sports, heavy physical activities.

The next day after the operation, the patient can leave the clinic if he wants to. The patient is monitored once a week, for the first two weeks, then after a month. Then three months later. And then the annual review.

Absorbent (absorbent) threads usually dissolve within 6 weeks. The patient will take care of the suture at home on his own. It's not hard at all.

If the patient has sutures that are not absorbed, an additional visit will be required 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 excerpt with recommendations, where it will be written:

• How to take care of your breasts after the procedure;
• How to use prescribed medications;
• When to come for the next visit;
• When to call your doctor.

You should seek medical attention immediately if you encounter:

• any signs of infection, such as fever above 38 degrees, fever or redness in the chest area;
• severe chest pain or sudden 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, such complications are extremely rare. And in modern clinics, there is all the equipment for resuscitation and anesthesia that minimizes these risks to almost zero.

Some of the risks and complications associated with breast augmentation:

• Painful mammary glands;
• Inflammation of the breast;
• Feeling in the breasts, the nipples may temporarily change or become more or less pronounced;
• Implant rupture;
• Bleeding;
• Accumulation of fluid (seroma).

A specific complication of this operation is capsular contracture - a thick capsule forms around the implant. Which can deform the mammary gland or make it extremely painful and thick. During the consultation, the surgeon will tell you in detail about this complication and how to avoid it.

Also, even cosmetic stitches can become red, thick and painful or flat and wide. This can lead to another operation to remove such scars.