Breast augmentation is a type of cosmetic surgery, but it may also be performed for reconstructive reasons. In reconstructive surgery, implants are used to restore anatomy due to congenital, traumatic or post-cancer deformity. The implant type and size depends on several factors, such as how much bigger you want your breasts to be, your breast anatomy, skin thickness and elasticity, and body type.
Breast implant surgery is also known as augmentation mammoplasty, can be used to:
- Enlarge small breasts
- Restore breast volume after weight reduction or pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Even up asymmetric breasts
- Reconstruct a breast after mastectomy or injury.
If you are concerned about the way you look or are thinking about cosmetic treatments to boost your confidence, there are alternatives to cosmetic surgery. These may include other treatments, wearing padded bras or accepting yourself the way you are.
Choose a Certified Surgeon
One of the most important decisions you will make regarding your breast augmentation surgery is choosing a surgeon. It is important to be sure that you are consulting a reputed plastic surgeon. Not only do these surgeons undergo extensive plastic surgery training, but they must also be accredited by national and international medical boards. When you find a certified plastic surgeon, be sure to discuss the number of breast augmentation surgeries he or she performs every year, and which implants are used the most in the practice. This will get you an idea of what results to expect.
Think About the Recovery Process
All surgeries have some amount of downtime or recovery afterward. The length of the recovery period and how you’ll feel as you heal can vary based on the procedure. Before breast augmentation, you want to learn as much as you can about the recovery period so that you’re certain that it’s something you’ll be able to make time for and cope with.
- A few things to research about the breast augmentation recovery process:
- How long you’ll need to take off from work
- What you can expect in terms of swelling, bruising, and general discomfort and how you can control any discomfort
- What you can or can’t wear during the recovery (for example, you’ll most likely need to wear a special bra for a few weeks)
- When you can start up regular activities, such as exercise, again
After carefully reviewing the requirements and expectations of the recovery period, some women decide that the surgery isn’t a good fit for their lives at the moment. Others find that they do have enough room in their schedules and that their expectations are in line with reality.
Choosing the Right Breast Implant
Choosing to get breast augmentation is a life-altering decision. You are about to make a major change to your figure. You want to make sure that you get it right the first time. Careful consideration of your breast implant options will help you to make an informed decision before you actually go forward with your procedure. You have two basic alternatives when choosing the type of implant that you are going to live with after your procedure. Silicone and saline implants have arguments in their favor. You’ll want to ask our plastic surgeon about recommendations. We usually use saline implants, but silicone may be used in special cases. Inflatable breast implant options are also available, especially in cases of asymmetry. It’s up to you and our surgeon to decide what will work best for your body. You can also discuss the placement of your implants with our plastic surgeon before you are scheduled for your procedure.
However, keep in mind that breast implants will need to be replaced at some point. While modern breast implants are safe and long-lasting, they are not lifetime devices. Today's implants will commonly last more than a decade before they require replacement. Patients with implants will need to receive annual checkups and perform self-checks on a regular basis. The FDA recommends that those with silicone implants (leaks from which are less obvious) receive MRI scans three years after surgery and every two years after that.
Choose Your Size Carefully
Always keep in consideration that breast augmentation surgery cannot fix sagging breasts, in fact, a volume increase to the breasts can exacerbate the appearance of sagging. The appropriate procedure to correct sagging breasts is a breast lift or mastopexy. Breast lifts involve tightening tissues and removing any excess, as well as potentially repositioning the areolas and nipples to more suitable positions. Many patients, especially those who have experienced pregnancy and breastfeeding, would like to both lifts and augment their breasts, in which case an augmentation mastopexy or combined breast augmentation and lift can be performed.
Size matters when it comes to breast implants. Before you commit to a particular size of the implant, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of that particular size. You can try wearing sizers around for a few days or weeks to a feel for what life will be like with the real deal.
It’s also a good idea to listen to the advice of your surgeon when it comes to the size and shape of the implant. In some cases, women will want implants that are too large for their frame. Your surgeon can point in you the right direction and explain to you why one size or another is a good (or not so good) fit for you.
Breast Implants Might Affect Overall Breast Health and Breastfeeding
It’s good to get an idea of how your breast health will be affected by augmentation because implants don’t just impact the size of your bust – your nipples could become more or less sensitive following the procedure. If you plan on becoming pregnant, your ability to breastfeed may change too, although most contemporary augmentation approaches won’t have much effect. While pregnancy and breastfeeding are possible after undergoing breast augmentation surgery, it is recommended that you hold off on your surgery until after you are finished having children. There will be no physical limitations caused by having implants; however, the strain placed on your body with pregnancy and childbearing will likely affect your augmentation results. During pregnancy, the skin will stretch, your breasts will change very quickly, and there is no guarantee that your implants will not be affected by this. You may be left with undesirable results that may require additional surgery.
Stop smoking two weeks prior to surgery
Even a single cigarette before surgery may be a risk, and many plastic surgeons may refuse to perform the procedure if this rule is not followed. Nicotine can constrict blood vessels and pose a problem for blood circulation, and carbon monoxide can affect oxygen supply to healing tissue.
Breast Augmentation at KIMS Plastic Surgery
If you are interested in enhancing your figure with a breast augmentation, please don’t hesitate to schedule your initial consultation at KIMS Plastic Surgery Hyderabad where Dr. Sharath and his team of plastic surgeons have decades of combined experience in all kinds of plastic and cosmetic surgery.
