Breast Augmentation |
Breast augmentation is surgery to enlarge the size of the breasts or alter their shape by inserting saline or silicone implants inside the breasts. It is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed today. The results are very long lasting, but the aging process may still cause the breasts to sag somewhat over time. Click here to watch a patient review of this procedureView this procedure in 3D:Who Can Benefit From Breast Augmentation?If you are dissatisfied with the size of your breasts, you may be a good candidate for breast augmentation. If your breasts don't match, or if they have changed as a result of pregnancy or weight loss, breast augmentation may improve their appearance. Breast implants can not only make breasts larger and fuller, but they can make them more symmetrical and in better proportion with the rest of your body. Breast augmentation is also often performed after a mastectomy in order to restore the breast to its original appearance. Sometimes, breast augmentation is performed in conjunction with a breast lift, which helps to also correct sagging of the breasts. (See the Breast Augmentation/Mastopexy page for a discussion of the two procedures performed at the same time.) What is the Procedure Like?Most of the time, breast augmentation is performed in the doctor's office on an outpatient basis, but sometimes, it is performed in a hospital. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia to ensure your maximum comfort and safety. A local anesthetic is used to numb the breast area in order to relieve pain after surgery. Based on your specific anatomy and what you want to accomplish, the doctor will determine the ideal size and shape for your implants. Saline implants are filled after they are inserted into the breasts, which allows for very tiny incisions. Silicone implants are pre-filled and require a slightly larger incision. The incisions are usually made under the breast, around the line of the nipple, or under the arm, and their appearance is barely noticeable after they have healed. The incisions will take several months to fully heal, however, during which they may remain a pinkish color. The surgery generally takes one to two hours. In the majority of cases, you will be allowed to go home after only a few hours. The doctor will apply dressings to the breast area and wrap your chest with ace bandages. You may choose to wear a surgical bra (with no underwire) after this dressing is removed. What Can I Expect During Recovery?You will need someone to drive you home, and you will need help around the house for a couple of days. After that, you should feel well enough to take care of your daily household tasks. You will be allowed to shower immediately after surgery, but you may require some assistance. You will probably have to wear a support bra for a period of time for your maximum comfort. Stitches will dissolve on their own in most cases. You can expect some swelling and bruising after surgery, but this should clear up within a month at the longest. This may delay your ability to see how your breasts will ultimately look. The doctor will give you a prescription for pain medication for any post-surgical soreness that you may experience. You will be instructed to avoid bending or lifting for a period of time, and you will need to sleep only on your back for a few weeks. You should be able to return to work within a week of surgery, but vigorous activity should be avoided for three to four weeks. Gentle sexual activity is usually okay after about a week, but your breasts may remain somewhat tender for a month after surgery. You may also experience some temporary loss or gain of sensation. What Are the Risks of Breast Augmentation?Two possible complications of breast augmentation are some permanent loss of nipple sensation or excess scar tissue which makes the breast feel hard. The scar tissue can be treated but may have to be corrected with subsequent surgery. Mammograms may be performed and read using special techniques after you have had breast augmentation surgery. Breast augmentation has not been shown to increase the risk of or delay the diagnosis of breast cancer. Dr. Rubinstein requires a mammogram prior to your breast augmentation surgery as a baseline so that subsequent mammograms can be compared to it. If you plan to lose a substantial amount of weight, you should postpone breast augmentation until after you have reached your goal weight. Breast implants do not affect pregnancy or breast feeding, but pregnancy may alter the results of breast augmentation. Breast implants may not last forever, and trauma to the chest can cause an implant to rupture, although ruptures also occur in rare instances for no apparent reason. If this happens, the saline is absorbed safely into the body, but the implant will have to be replaced during another breast augmentation surgery. In many instances, the manufacturer of the implant will provide financial assistance for replacing the implants.
Patient Review of Dr. Rubinstein
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