Breast enlargement (breast enhancement, boob job) is clinically referred to as augmentation mammaplasty and used for:
Increasing the fullness and projection of the breasts
Improving the balance of the body figure
Enhancing the self-image and self-confidence
Breast enhancement operation costs may vary acording to the implants used as well as the hospital stay and other related expenses. (anesthesia fees, medical tests,post-surgery garments,prescriptions for medication and the surgeon’s fee) Most health insurance plans do not cover aesthetic breast enlargement costs, related complications or another surgery for revisions.
Good candidates for the breast enlargement must be physically healthy,with realistic expectations, fully developed breasts, who have the feeling that the breasts are too small, dissatisfied with the breasts losing shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss, or with aging, unhappy with the upper part of the breast appearing “empty”, asymmetrical breasts, one or both breasts failed to develop normally or have an elongated shape.
Breast implants can be round or tear-drop shaped, outher shell cover can be smooth or textured. There are different types of breast implants. Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. If the implant shell is broken, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed by the body. Saline breast implants provide a uniform shape, firmness and feel, and are FDA-approved for augmentation in women age 18 or older. Silicone breast implants are filled with silicone gel that feels more like a natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain inside the implant shell, or may escape into the capsulated breast implant pocket. A leaking implant filled with silicone gel will not collapse totaly. Silicone breast implants are also FDA-approved for augmentation in women. They all have different advantages and disadvantages, you can discuss with your surgeon.
As all surgeries breast enlargement has some risks:
Anesthesia risks
Bleeding
Infection
Changes in nipple or breast sensation
Poor scarring of skin
Wrong or faulty position of the implant
Implant leakage or rupture
The formation of tight scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture)
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
Pain, which may persist
Possibility of revisional surgery
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you discuss all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
Scientific researches and careful reviews done by different independent groups have found no link between breast implants and autoimmune or other systemic diseases and breast cancer.
Other important considerations:
Breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime, so future surgery may be needed to replaceor remove the implants
Pregnancy, weight loss, and menopause may influence the appearance of augmented breasts in your lifetime
Breast augmentation requires regular examinations of your breasts’ health and to evaluate the condition of your breast implants
Consultation for the breast enlargement surgery is important to discuss the reason, expectations, desired outcome, medical conditions, drug allergies, previous medical treatments, current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, smoking, drug use, family history of breast cancer and results of any mammograms or previous biopsies.
You will be asked about your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors. Your surgeon will examine and measure your breasts in detail, skin quality, and placement of your nipples and areolas. Your photos will be taken. At the end your aesthetic surgeon will discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment, outcomes of breast augmentation and any risks or potential complications.
Getting prepared for the operation;
Blood tests must be done
Medications for chronic problems youre on should be estimated with your surgeon and your doctor dealing with.
Smoking must be stopped
Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase bleeding should be avoided
Breast augmentation surgery is preffered to be performed in a hospital. Breast enlargement operation includes the following steps:
Anesthesia: General anesthesia, high epidural anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation are the choices which you may decide with your doctor.
Incision: Inframammary, periareolar or axillary incisions are the options and may due to the the type of breast implant, degree of enlargement desired, your particular anatomy and patient-surgeon preference. You and your plastic surgeon will discuss which incision options are appropriate for your desired outcome.
Insertion: After the incision is made, a breast implant is inserted into a pocket under the muscle (a submuscular placement), over the muscle (a submammary/ subglandular placement) or inside the muscle fascia (a subfascial placement) The method for inserting and positioning breast implants depends on the breast shape and dimentions, type of the implant and degree of enlargement desired, and your surgeon’s recommendations.
Wound closure : Incisions are closed with layered sutures that dont need to be removed.
After the beast enlargement recovery you will be taken to a recovery room to be closely monitored following surgery, and then transferred to your private room. Your breasts will be wrapped in an elastic bandage to minimize swelling and support the breasts as they heal. You may go home after a few hours or stay at the hospital for the first night. Before leaving the hospital, you will be given specific information that includes how to care early after the surgery, medications to use and time for follow-up check. You will likely experience pain for a couple of days and soreness and swelling for a few weeks.
In the 7th day control, you are given the support bra and instructions to cleanse the incsion sites and ointment applications. Be sure to follow all instructions carefully.Exercise and normal activity can resume at the direction of your plastic surgeon
Breast enhancement results are immediately visible, however needs time for the final result to appear. Over time, post-surgical swelling will subside and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction increases as you heal after the surgery.
In order to achieve optimal breast enhancement results, it is necessary that you follow post-operative instruction and do follow-up checks.
By the time, breasts may change by aging, weight changes, hormonal factors and gravity. If the problem is getting empty, the breast implant may be replaced with a bit bigger one. But if theres sagging, you may choose to undergo a breast lift.
