Breast Augmentation

Procedure, Effectiveness, Implant Types and Risks

Procedures
Face
Breast
Body
Hair
Non Surgical

Indications

There are various reasons as to why a woman may want a Breast Augmentation surgery.

  • Ageing: As a woman ages, the breasts tend to lose their firmness. This leads to loss of skin elasticity and tone and the breasts start to look sagging and droopy.
  • Pregnancy and lactation: Pregnancy brings about tremendous changes in the bodies of women. Following Breastfeeding, as the breasts involute, they tend to lose their volume and size and look empty and saggy.
  • Heredity: Heredity also plays a major role in determining the size of the breasts.
  • Hypomastia:Hypomastia is a congenital condition that results in underdeveloped and smaller breasts after puberty.
  • Asymmetrical breasts: Sometimes the size of the two breasts can be different with one bigger than the other. Breast augmentation can ensure proportionate and symmetrical breasts.
  • Improving aesthetic appearance:Breast augmentation can be also done in order to beautify the body further as desired by the woman to improve the overall aesthetic appearance.
procedure-achieve-bg

What does the procedure achieve?

Attractive youthful breasts are desired by all women. They make a woman look feminine, sensuous and graceful.  However, some women do not have adequate breast development after puberty and therefore have a flat chest or very small breasts which are disproportionate with the rest of their body. This may sometimes affect the woman psychologically as the pressure of being physically perfect builds up.

This can be corrected by Breast Augmentation surgery also known as breast enhancement, breast enlargement or even colloquially as boob job etc.

 

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Any patient over the age of 18 years who is physically and mentally healthy can undergo breast augmentation.

Consultation

Patients and the parents of young children should get their doubts explained during the face to face consultation with their plastic surgeon. They can ask about alternative treatments and possible risks or side-effects of the planned procedure.Usually your plastic surgeon will show you pictures of similar cases that he/she has performed and the outcome.Patients should disclose any history of previous surgeries to the doctor.

Your plastic surgeon will then

- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Take photographs
- Discuss your ear surgery options and recommend a course of treatment
- Discuss likely outcomes of your ear surgery and any risks or potential complications

Anaesthesia

Breast augmentation is generally performed under general anaesthesia.

Time For Procedure

The surgery generally takes about 2 hours.

Before the surgery, your plastic surgeonwill have a detailed consultation with you, examine your breasts thoroughly, taking measurements and assessing the tissues. He/ She will need to know your entire medical history to assess whether you are fit for the procedure. It is in your own best interests to honestly and openly give your surgeon details ofall medications,any allergies (including known drug allergies), all past history including previous surgeries or procedures, history of smoking and alcohol intake beforehand to have a safe and smooth procedure. You will be then asked to undergo a few routine blood and urine tests to assess your fitness for anaesthesia.The doctor may also suggest that you undergo a mammogram to assess the breasts before the procedure.

Hospital aHospital admission is necessary. The procedurecan be performed on a Day care basis or at the most, needs overnight hospital stay, according to your surgeon’s protocol. Breast augmentation is generally performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 2 hours.dmission is necessary. The procedurecan be performed on a Day care basis or at the most, needs overnight hospital stay, according to your surgeon’s protocol. Breast augmentation is generally performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 2 hours.

The recovery after breast augmentation, in both the cases of implants and fat grafting, is practically the same. The patient is monitored for a few hours after the surgery to keep a check on the vitals. She may then be discharged by evening or kept in hospital overnight. Post-operatively, the patient has to wear a sports bra for 4-6 weeks so as to provide support.

A course of oral antibiotics is prescribed. Pain medication willalso be prescribed by the doctor to alleviate pain and help in a comfortable recovery.

Vigorous exercises, especially chest exercises must be avoided for at least 6 weeks after the surgery.The patient must visit the doctor after 3-5 days tochange the dressing, and after 10 days to remove the stitches. Routine and timely follow-ups with your surgeon to keep a watch on the healing and recovery procedure are vital for an uneventful recovery.

Complications

- Problems associated with breast augmentation are quite rare. Some of these include:

- Bleeding after surgery and Clot collection

- Chances of infection

- Seroma (Fluid collection around the implant)

- Thickening of Scar

- Temporary numbness around the areola

- Rupturing or leakage of implants (saline implants only)

- Capsular contracture – leading to hardening of breasts

- ALCL (Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma)(specific to textured implant)

Utmost care is taken by your qualified Aesthetic Surgeon at all times during the recovery process to reduce these risks.

FAQs

Breast augmentation is done either through the use of implants or by fat grafting.

Implants are generally of two types: silicone gel implants and saline implants.

- Silicone Gel Implants: Silicone gel implants are used in breast augmentation surgeries all over the world. These implants are further divided into round and anatomical (tear-drop) shapes and are available in varied sizes. The gel used in these implants is cohesive or highly cohesive (gummy bear) which makes them safe and matches the feel of natural breast tissues. These implants do not rupture and cannot leak silicone even on tearing because of the cohesive nature of the gel.

- Saline Implants: Saline implants are made of a silicone shell which is then filled with sterile saline. They can be either pre-filled or filled after inserting them into the breasts

In the case of fat grafting, fat extracted from one’s own body by liposuction is processed and selected and then good quality fat is used to inject into the breasts. As no foreign material is introduced into the body, the chances of rejection are zero. However, because the fat needs to acquire blood supply to survive in the recipient area (breasts), there is a 20-40% absorption rate. So the size that can be achieved with one session is usually smaller than the size possible to be achieved through implants and it may require 2-3 sessions to achieve a desirable size.