Breast Augmentation (Breast Enhancement)

Breast Augmentation (Breast Enhancement)

What is breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure to increase the size of the breasts. Breast augmentation will also correct slight sagging of the breast and can increase breast firmness.

A similar procedure can sometimes be used to recreate a breast after mastectomy. Breast augmentation is useful if your breasts are unequal in size or if they have decreased in size following pregnancy.

How would this procedure help me?

A consultation with your plastic surgeon is the first step in considering breast augmentation. You should frankly discuss your goals and expectations, and your plastic surgeon will advise you whether this is realistic. You should always keep in mind that the desired result is an improvement, not perfection.

How is breast augmentation performed?

Breast augmentation involves a short hospital stay, usually overnight. You should discuss the details of your recovery with your surgeon. There are currently several techniques for augmentation mammoplasty. They all involve the insertion of an implant either behind the breast tissue or behind the pectoral muscle.

The implant is inserted through a small incision (about 5cm long) either under the breast or around the nipple. A surgical drain is usually inserted. Implants can be either filled with silicon gel or saline. Both types of implant have a silicon outer shell. Your surgeon will discuss the relative merits and problems of each type of implant with you.

What happens after the surgery?

Your anaesthetist will prescribe the necessary medication to relieve post-operative pain. The surgical drains will usually be removed in one to three days. Your stitches will be examined five days after surgery to ensure that the wound is healthy and some will be removed two weeks after the operation.

Your surgeon will also see you three months after your surgery. You may have some bruising and swelling of the breasts for two or three weeks.

You should not return to work for two to four weeks after the surgery, depending on the type of work you do. Strenuous activities and sports may be resumed after four to six weeks.

Will the procedure leave any scars?

Although scars are the inevitable results of any surgery, your surgeon will make every effort to make the scars as inconspicuous as possible. However, scarring is an individual characteristic and can vary from patient to patient.

What results can I expect?

The goal of your surgery is to augment your breasts to a size that is in better proportion with your physique. An exact cup size is difficult to achieve, but your surgeon is the best person to determine whether your expectations are realistic.

What can go wrong?

There are risks involved in any form of surgery, and although uncommon, the possibility cannot be ignored. You should discuss possible complications with your surgeon, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.