Basic understanding of augmentation mammoplasty
You naturally feel good about yourself when you can wear a close-fitting top with confidence - or choose a bra because it's pretty, not just because it fits.
Making your breasts the size and shape you're happy with can change your life in many ways. The emotional aspects are important, but you may also be looking forward to feeling more comfortable.
Many women find that the size and shape of their breasts affects their self-confidence. If you feel that your breasts are out of proportion with the rest of your body, or that age or breastfeeding have caused them to shrink or lose their shape, a Augmentation Mammoplasty surgery can help you.
Breast augmentation is a surgery designed to enlarge the breasts. This Augmentation Mammoplasty surgery is frequently sought by women who are unhappy with the small size of their breasts, sometimes after pregnancy or weight loss.
If you're considering breast augmentation with breast implants, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure.
Breast augmentation is usually quite successful at making the breasts larger and fuller. The results may not look exactly like "natural" larger breasts; with breast implants, breasts tend to be a bit more round and less saggy than natural breasts of the same size. But most women find these differences as improvement.
The best candidates for breast augmentation are: 18 years of age or older; Not currently pregnant or nursing; In good physical health; Psychologically stable; Wanting to improve their appearance; Realistic in their expectations; Having this surgery for the first time.
During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss the changes that you would like to make in your appearance. Because breast enlargment is a highly personal decision, you’ll want to take time to discuss all of your concerns and desires, including how large you want your breasts to be.
Your doctor will also explain the different options available to you, including incision type, location of the implant, type of breast implant, and whether a breast lift might also be beneficial.
Breast implants are used to make your breasts larger, firmer and fuller. Breast implants are available in a variety of shapes, types and sizes and are usually made of an outer layer of silicone, filled with either silicone gel or salt water (saline).
Although several breast implants are available at the present time, the implant being used for nearly all breast augmentation surgeries are saline breast implants.
These saline breast implants are made of a silicone rubber sack filled with a saline solution. Under certain conditions, such as reconstructive surgery, silicone breast implants can be used instead.
The breast implants can be placed either under the chest muscle or directly under the breasts. Placement considerations include the anatomy of your breasts, soreness after surgery, exercise activities and interference with mammograms.
Breast augmentation is carried out under a general anaesthetic and you will usually stay in hospital for one to two nights. You will also need to wear a special supportive bra in the first few weeks after surgery to insert breast implants.
Most likely, the anesthesia you receive will be general, although some doctors use a local anesthetic along with a sedative. Anesthesia type should be discussed with your doctor during the initial consultation.
When you wake up you will feel tired, sore, and stiff. It is important to take the medication prescribed to you by your doctor.
The stitches will come out within a week to ten days, but swelling may continue, gradually subsiding over several weeks. With the swelling, your breasts may seem hard and unnatural, but eventually they should soften to a more natural feel.
Your scars will be pink for several weeks. After several months they will begin to fade. You will probably be able to resume exercise and normal physical activities within a month or two, when the soreness has subsided.
Breast augmentation makes the breasts larger for the life of the implant. Remember, also that larger breasts sag faster than smaller breasts, and augmented breasts do this as well.
It is possible that you may require surgery in later years to correct sagging if you choose to have large implants. Gravity, unfortunately has no exceptions.
Options in breast implants
The advantages of placing the breast implant above the muscle includes less discomfort post-operatively, less swelling, and less chance that the breast will appear to move when you are exercising your upper body.
The advantages for placing the implants under the muscle include less interference with a mammography and less rippling in the upper half of the breast.
Placing the implants under the muscle is more cushion between the implant and skin. In general, thin and small-breasted women are probably better off with implants under the muscle.
Thin, small-breasted, athletic women must weigh the options. You need to realize that many women who work out (and even some professional female athletes) have implants under the muscle and are very happy with their appearance.
Of course, the placement of your implants is your call. Be sure to discuss it carefully with your plastic surgeon.
By implant surface, plastic surgeons are referring to whether the implant is smooth or textured. Once the implants are in place under your breasts, it is impossible to tell whether you have smooth or textured implants.
Unfortunately, studies have not shown a consistent advantage of textured implants over smooth when it comes to capsular contractures.
The most plastic surgeons favor smooth implants for Augmentation Mammoplasty.
ou might be thinking that (of course) teardrop implants would be better. However, most plastic surgeons disagree.
With a high profile implant, the volume is the same, but the diameter (footprint) is narrower and the projection (the amount that it sticks out away from your body) is greater.
Silicone breast implants provide a more natural look and feel, which is particularly important to women who have a modest amount of breast tissue.
Although all women want a natural look and feel, women with larger breasts can often achieve this with saline implants. Women with smaller breasts typically cannot.
The main disadvantage of silicone gel breast implants is that they might have a higher rate of capsular contracture, the incision is usually longer, and the cost is higher than saline breast implants.
