Breast augmentation, or breast augmentation or mastectomy, is a surgical procedure aimed at increasing the size, shape or fullness of a breast.
For breast augmentation, plastic surgeons place implants filled with silicone, saline or a special bio-synthetic material, breast implants under the main breast muscle or under the breast tissue. Modern implants can last the life of a patient and most manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on their implants.
Why do women need breast enlargement?
Breast enhancement is done for:
- Naturally big breasts
- Recovering breast size and shape after pregnancy, weight loss or breastfeeding
- Restores symmetry when the sides of the chest are not symmetrical
- Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
Plastic surgery includes reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Breast reconstructive surgery is performed as part of breast cancer treatment. Breast plastic surgery is done to improve your appearance. Breast augmentation is usually a cosmetic surgery.
In 2007, a study by researchers at the University of Florida found that breast augmentation through cosmetic surgery increases a woman's self-esteem as well as their emotional and sexuality. Allows you to get a higher paying job, gain more recognition.
What is a breast pocket?
A chest pocket is a medical device that is placed under the mammary gland or under the main muscle of the breast to enlarge, reconstruct or create an aesthetic shape of the chest.
Breast implants may contain silicone, saline, or other compounds.
There are three main types of breast bags:
- Brine cultureis filled with sterile saline, simply sterile brine. Solution inside a silicone shell. These implants can be filled with different amounts of saline. This affects the feeling when pressed against the mammary gland, which can be softer or firmer depending on the patient's requirements, in addition, different densities will determine the different shape of the mammary gland. If the brine implant is damaged and leaks, this solution will do no harm to the patient, as the brine solution is natural to the body, and it will be simply absorbed by the body without leaving it behind. The only drawback is that the implant will have to change due to the reduced volume of the breast.
- Silicone gel implantconsists of a silicon outer shell filled with silicone gel. If the silicone implant is leaked, the gel will either stay in the sheath or fall into the breast pad. And it will not spread throughout the body. Modern implants, even if the shell is damaged, does not spread. These types of implants are most commonly used today.
- Alternative composite implantsare rarely used and can be filled with both biodegradable material and soybean oil or some other material.
What needs to be decided before surgery?
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure, so a patient should carefully consider whether he or she really needs it.
- Need to choose an implantation site - under the main chest muscle or under the glandular tissue. Your operating doctor will help you deal with this. Usually, the implant is placed under the muscle.
- Before surgery, the surgeon together with the patient selects the necessary implant size. This is done with the help of sizers specially matched to the bras and the patient can assess the size and comfort of wearing it. In addition, the patient along with the doctor selects the density of the implant, its shape (circular or anatomical). Transplant manufacturer.
- Surgeons and patients should discuss surgical options.
The following options are possible:
- An incision under the breast, made in the subcutaneous fold;
- A trans-capillary incision in the armpit;
- The incision around the edge of the areola, (area around the areola) or across the areola (microscopic area).
The choice of the incision depends on a number of factors, including magnification, the patient's anatomy, the type of implant and the surgeon-patient preference.
In addition, the patient must choose an anesthetic, which is usually performed under general anesthesia. But if the patient wants, in principle, local anesthesia is possible.
How does it work?
After the patient falls into medical sleep, or after local anesthesia, the surgeon will incision the skin on the spot, following the agreed approach with the patient, approximately 4. 5 cm long, Then with the help of special tools, a pocket is formed, in which an endoprosthesis is placed.
Bags can be formed directly under breast tissue or under large chest muscles (this is discussed with the patient before surgery):
- With an armpit pocket, it is placed under the sternum muscle.
- A pocket under the mammary gland is simpler, with the sac formed in the space between the mammary gland and the main muscle of the breast.
Dressing the wound
In their practice, plastic surgeons often use the so-called cosmetic sutures, or rather stitches in the skin, usually some of the rows are applied only, usually not required. they must be removed, over time they will dissipate. In addition, the cosmetologist can use special surgical glue and a special sterile patch to secure the edges of the wound so that the scar is least noticeable in the postoperative period.
The cuts will be visible at first, but over time they almost disappear.
Evaluation of Results
Surgery can lead to edema, hematoma (bruising), but this should go away within two to four weeks. Usually, the end result is formed no earlier than 3-6 months from the time of operation. Therefore, the patient will be able to decide whether the procedure meets his expectations after only a while.
Recovery time
It takes 1 month to restore. During this time, there are certain restrictions that will be notified by the doctor to the patient and a special memorandum will be given to them to follow correctly. Patients with pain anxiety only on the first day after surgery, for the purpose of pain relief, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. In rare cases, pain relievers have anesthetics. Then the pain actually disappeared. A little inconvenience remains. After surgery, do not swim in closed and open water, bathe, lie on your back, raise your hands, do physical exercise and hard work. All these restrictions are temporary, for 1 month. Then the patient can live peacefully as he did before the surgery, you can fly on an airplane and scuba dive. The most important thing in the postoperative period is to wear special compression underwear. Underwear must be strictly worn for 1 month after active, and another 3 months when playing sports or exercising heavily.
The next day after surgery, the patient can leave the clinic if desired. Patients were followed up once a week, for the first two weeks, then for a month. Three months later. And then there's an annual test.
The absorbable (absorbable) fibers generally dissolve within 6 weeks. The patient will take care of the seam at home. This is not difficult at all.
If a patient has non-absorbable sutures, further examination is required to remove them.
After surgery, the surgeon will not only tell you how to behave in the postoperative period but also provide you with a quote with recommendations where it will be written:
- How to take care of your breasts after a procedure;
- How to use the drug as indicated;
- When to come for the next visit;
- When to call your doctor.
You should seek immediate medical attention if you encounter:
- any signs of infection, such as fever over 38 degrees, fever, or redness in the chest area;
- severe chest pain or increased breast size /
What are the risks of this activity?
Any surgery increases the risk of death from a heart attack, stroke, or thromboembolism during or immediately after surgery. But, fortunately, such complications are extremely rare. And in modern clinics with a full range of resuscitation and anesthesia equipment, these risks are minimized almost to zero.
Some risks and complications related to breast augmentation:
- Painful mammary glands;
- Mastitis;
- The feeling in your breasts or nipples may be temporarily changed or less or more;
- Broken implant;
- Bleeding;
- Fluid (serum) accumulation.
A specific complication of this surgery is spasticity - a thick capsule is formed around the implant. This can deform the mammary gland or make it extremely painful and dense. During the consultation, the surgeon will tell you in detail about this complication and how to avoid it.
Also, even cosmetic stitches can be red, thick and painful, or flat and wide. This could lead to a second surgery to remove such scars.