15 facts you need to know before breast augmentation

Your body is your business! But when you come to a plastic surgeon with a request to enlarge your breasts, he will definitely ask about the reasons for the decision. And if it is the desire to look beautiful in a swimsuit or to fulfill your partner's dream of a big breast, you will most likely be denied.

Because breasts can only be enlarged for yourself and only on condition that you want to feel comfortable in your body!

Honest information about breast augmentation

Periareolar mammoplasty of the breast

Breast augmentation is a serious operation that requires an informed decision and a careful calculation of potential risks. You need to prepare for it: take a test, undergo the necessary examinations, finish taking pre-determined medications, lose weight if the weight exceeds the norm, and quit smoking.

But even careful preparation is not a guarantee of a favorable result. Therefore, before you decide to get under the surgeon’s scalpel, find out what awaits you and what can go wrong!

Before and after photos are not always informative

Today, every plastic surgery clinic has its own website, where you can see pictures "before" and "after" the operations of a certain doctor. But when examining them, the patient should keep in mind that his chest may look different.

To get an idea of what breasts will look like after surgery, a medical doctor, a plastic surgeon advises evaluating the results of people with a similar body type. Such shots will give a more realistic picture.

Breast augmentation is possible without surgery

Many women are tempted to enlarge their breasts without surgery in one or two procedures. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons can fulfill this desire by suggesting the use of fillers based on hyaluronic acid or their fatty cells.

However, it should be noted that these are temporary solutions. They have both advantages and disadvantages. And it is more difficult to predict the outcome of the procedure in this case than with breast augmentation surgery.

Correcting the shape with fat cells has a significant drawback.

the girl measures the size of the breast by one centimeter

Not all fat cells will undergo a "transplant". According to the doctor of medical sciences,from 30 to 50% of fat cells die.

At the same time, no one knows which cells will survive and which will not. Therefore, your expectations for breast augmentation with fillers may not match reality after the procedure.

The first breast surgery is unlikely to be the last

Implants are not a permanent purchase. According to the plastic surgeon, most of them need to be replaced within 12-15 years after surgery, and some even earlier.

The implant may begin to leak or form scar tissue around the implant, which disrupts the shape of the breast and poses a health threat. In addition, external and internal reasons may delay implant replacement - weight gain or loss, breastfeeding, gravity.

The doctor recommends planning an operation only when there is confidence that the budget will allow the reconstruction operation over the next 12 years.

There are several types of incisions during surgery.

Experts say that depending on the initial shape of the breast and the desired parameters, the doctor may suggest surgery with incisions in the armpits, folds under the breast, in the areola and in some cases in the abdomen.

The most common options are an incision in the areola and in the crease under the breast. The location of the possible incision should be discussed with your doctor.

It is not always possible to enlarge the breast to the desired volume

If a representative of the fair sex by nature has an A-sized cup, she will not be able to get DD volume in an operation. Breast skin, like the body, takes time to get used to the changes. Therefore, the doctor recommends breast augmentation initially by 1-2 sizes, and then, if necessary, after a few years, replace the implants with those that are larger.

Drastic changes can be costly

breast augmentation consultation with a mammologist

"The most important thing when planning a breast augmentation surgery is finding a good implant, " says MD, a plastic surgeon. "According to my estimates, about 30% of the errors and complications during plastic surgery are due to the fact that the doctor or patient chose the wrong implant. "

Choosing an implant that is too large for the patient can lead to thinning of the surrounding breast tissue and muscle, which is difficult to reverse. A good doctor will always tell you the maximum size of implant where the patient can be oriented.

It takes time to recover after surgery

Both after breast augmentation and after breast reduction, the patient needs time to recover. The minimum medical leave will be 5-7 days. At the end of it, you can go back to work, provided it does not involve heavy physical work.

Painkillers work wonders today, but do not overestimate them!

Implants can be felt under the skin

There is an opinion that implants are always felt when they touch a woman's breast,but it is not so. It is difficult to find correctly selected and well installed. However, there is such a possibility!

Another person is more likely to suspect the presence of implants in a woman who initially had a small breast volume (and, accordingly, a small amount of tissue) than a woman whose volume was moregreat.

Some implants can damage your health

how to choose implants for breast augmentation

Experts link several types of breast implants to an increased risk of cancer. "We are talking about a variety such as large-cell anaplastic lymphoma. There is an opinion that it is somewhat related to textured breast implants, as more often women with oncology are diagnosed with oncology, " warns the plastic surgeon.

Correction can affect the ability to breastfeed

"By making an incision in the breast, we disrupt the natural anatomy, reduce the amount of breast tissue that produces milk, " says the doctor. However, there is a high chance that you will still be able to breastfeed. If the incision is away from the nipple, the ducts and mammary glands are unlikely to be damaged.

Temporary loss of nipple sensitivity after surgery

For several weeks after surgery, many patients notice a lack of breast tenderness, but in most cases this is a temporary phenomenon. Complete loss of sensitivity is rare.

A doctor of medical sciences, a plastic surgeon says that although she has operated on thousands of patients, she has never encountered a complete loss of breast tenderness in a woman.

Surgery can affect a woman's posture

change of posture after breast augmentation

If a woman chooses a slightly larger breast volume than her natural data, her posture is unlikely to change from this. But when it comes to breast implants of an impressive size, their weight can be obvious, and, accordingly, it will be harder to wear it.

If there is a history of back pain, this factor should be considered.

Maybe just breast augmentation will not be enough

After pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, some women dream of breast augmentation as a medicine that will solve all the problems with their appearance. But it may not be enough.

Breast augmentation alone will not make the breasts firm and toned. In some cases, two operations are required at once: breast augmentation and erection. The doctor can do them at the same time.

The decision for surgery should be well balanced

Before contacting a plastic surgeon, find out for yourself the answers to the following questions:

  • Is actual breast volume really a problem for me?
  • Why do I need surgery?
  • Do I have an "airbag" - free funds that can be claimed if something goes wrong?
  • Am I ready to accept the potential risks of breast augmentation?
  • Do I really need surgery?

The answers to these questions will help you make the right decision.

Expert comment
Oncologist, general surgeon

Mammoplasty or breast augmentation procedure is a type of surgical intervention that requires special preparation.

Mammoplasty is performed as part of cosmetic surgery, ie it is performed at the request of the patient, with the exception of breast reduction surgeries (reduction mammoplasty), which are often performed for medical reasons. The girl should independently assess the risks before making an appointment with a plastic surgeon.

First you need to study the contraindications to the procedure. If a woman has severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system, varicose veins, bleeding disorders and oncological diseases, then these chronic diseases will become an absolute contraindication for mammoplasty. During pregnancy and lactation, such surgical interventions are also prohibited.

Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, rheumatism, mastopathy and obesity should consult their doctor before breast augmentation surgery. In addition, during the procedure period, the chronic illness should be in the stage of sustained remission.

The woman should also think about the next pregnancy. If after the operation the girl plans to become a mother, then it is better to perform the operation through an incision under the breast or in the armpit. Placing implants through an incision in the nipple areola can jeopardize the integrity of part of the milk ducts, which is likely to make it difficult to feed the baby.

You need to understand that a quality procedure will not be cheap. The average cost of mammoplasty in a good clinic is quite high. Sign up for a consultation only with trusted specialists with extensive experience. A careful approach to choosing a doctor will reduce the likelihood of postoperative complications. As a rule, an appointment with a plastic surgeon lasts about an hour and a half. During this time, the girl should ask the doctor about implants, to determine the volume, size and future shape of the bust.

After the consultation, the date of the operation will be set. Preparation time is approximately two weeks. During this time the patient performs the necessary tests to assess the state of health. The list of mandatory studies includes the following medical manipulations: clinical and biochemical blood tests, tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, urine analysis, coagulogram, ECG, mammography, fluorography (X-rays), vascular ultrasound.

The hospital stay lasts approximately 3-5 days. During this time the main operation is performed, monitoring the patient's condition after mammoplasty and the first dressing. Then the girl goes home for rehabilitation.

For a month, it will be necessary to wear special compression underwear, and also do not have to raise your arms over your shoulders and lift heavy objects. For two or three weeks you will need to sleep only on your back, the next 4-5 months - on your side or on your back, you can return to the abdomen only after six months. Fitness classes as well as trips to the spa or sauna will have to be postponed for 2-3 months.

During the rehabilitation period, the patient will have to come for dressing and close the wounds themselves with a special silicone plaster. Recovery will take approximately six months, after which time you can return to an active life.

Expert comment
Plastic surgeon

All implants that are approved for use in our country have a lifetime warranty. This means that they do not need to be changed for medical reasons over time.

There are three types of access: axillary, periareolar (along the edge of the areola) and submandibular (through the fold under the breast). In my practice, I most often use the armpit approach, because in this case the scar is practically invisible. It is located in the armpit and over time becomes like a wrinkle. There are no visible marks on the chest.

I use endoprosthetics through the areola when armpit access does not allow a full operation. I use submammary access for a second operation if the implants have previously been installed in the same way. All types of access are safe if the surgeon owns them.

Implants vary in gel softness, coating, type and size. The surgeon can only take them with a face-to-face consultation. All implants are good in quality, but usually surgeons have their preferences. Therefore, focus on the surgeon’s work and relate them to your beauty ideas.

As a rule, I do not use large-volume implants - more than 450 cc. see Large implants cause tissue atrophy and become visible over time, even if they are located in the armpits. That is, from above they are covered with muscles, and from below they are contoured. This occurs in patients with a small amount of fiber and a narrow chest. If a woman has a wide breast, then larger implants can be placed. But such cases are quite rare.

Expert comment
Plastic surgeon

Although mammoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgeries and has become a fairly common procedure, before performing it, the patient should learn some of the nuances so that they are not unexpected after surgery.

  1. Nothing lasts forever and implants have their longevity. It is impossible to install them once and for all. Sooner or later they will have to be changed, as there is such a thing as depreciation. And how these processes will take place in a particular case, how the tissues will behave, no one knows in advance, everything is individual. Therefore, after breast correction, all girls are advised to visit the mammologist at least once every six months, it is necessary to do an ultrasound scan of the breast to notice changes in time and prescribe an operation for replacement of endoprostheses.
  2. Patients with certain chronic diseases and especially with reduced immune status should inform their doctor about this, who will order an additional examination. And only then will he decide for himself whether it is worthwhile to install implants or not.
  3. If the breast is ptosis, sitting down and the main part of the mammary gland is in the lower half, then in this situation it is better to install a round implant. If there is no pronounced upper pole, then this always means installing an endoprosthesis under the muscle.
  4. In case the nipples "look" sideways, but the patient wants to bring them closer, this is only possible if there is a large volume of skin and breast tissue. If it is not there, then it is impossible to approach them and during the placement of the implant, the nipples will remain in their original position, while the prosthesis will be placed in the middle of the nipple.
  5. If the patient has a narrow interstitial distance, then during the installation of endoprostheses he will remain just as beautiful naturally. When it is large enough, more than 2-2, 5 cm, it can be reduced during the installation of implants. However, it is important to take into account the fact that in this place the implant will be vulnerable and over time the appearance of a visual defect is not ruled out - the so-called tearing, or skin irregularities.