Augmentation Mammoplasty

(Breast Augmentation)

Breast enlargement, known as augmentation mammoplasty, can enhance the body contour of a woman who is unhappy with her breast size. Breast Augmentation may also be performed to improve the loss of breast volume following pregnancy and nursing, or help to balance breast asymmetries. The implant is composed of an outer flexible, silicone shell and filled with either saline or silicone gel. The outer surface may be smooth or textured. Implants also have various sizes, profiles and shapes to meet the patient's individual needs. Implants are placed through three standard routes: periareolar (around the areolas), inframammary (via lower breast folds) and transaxillary (through the armpits). Implants are placed either above or below the chest muscle.

The saline implant is likelier to cause cosmetic problems such as rippling, wrinkling, and being noticeable to the eye or to the touch. This is especially true for women with very little breast tissue, and for post-mastectomy reconstruction patients. Silicone-gel implants are the superior prosthetic device for breast augmentation and for breast reconstruction. In patients with more breast tissue where saline breast implants are placed submuscularly, it can afford an aesthetic "look" of breast size, contour, and feel, much like that of the silicone implant.

Breast augmentation will enlarge the breasts, however, the surgery will not alter underlying basic defects in breast shape and form. Major asymmetries may be improved but will not be completely corrected with breast enlargement alone. If breast size and/or nipple position asymmetries are severe, additional procedures are necessary to improve symmetry of the breast. 

Breast augmentation can be used post-mastectomy for breast reconstruction; for correcting congenital defects and deformities of the chest wall; for aesthetic breast augmentation; and for creating breasts in the male-to-female transsexual patient. In surgical practice, for the reconstruction of a breast, the tissue expander device is a temporary breast prosthesis used to form and establish an implant pocket for emplacing the permanent breast implant.

Procedure Description

• Breast Augmentation is usually performed under general anesthesia or conscious sedation with local anesthesia
• Surgical scar(s) are usually hidden as much as possible in skin folds
• The implant is inserted through a small incision and filled with saline
• In case of silicone implant the implant is inserted via a slightly larger incision
• Saline or silicone implants may be placed either above or below the chest muscle
• Incisions are closed cosmetically to have minimum scarring

Recovery

• Discomfort is controlled with oral medications
• A soft bra or compression garment is usually worn for several days postoperatively
• Patients are encouraged to regularly exercise (flex and move) her arm to alleviate pain and discomfort
• All sutures are usually removed in 7 days
• No heavy lifting or exercising for 4 weeks after surgery
• Surgical Scars fade within 2 years of surgery

Please Call or Email Vicky with any questions