Description

Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation

Overview

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enlarge
the breast.

In breast augmentation surgery, a breast implant is
placed underneath the mammary tissue or under the muscles of the rib cage to
achieve the desired size of the breast.

If there are problems with the appearance of the
breast along with the size, a mastopexy (breast lift) and other reconstructive
operations can be done in the same session.

If you want to have your breast(s) augmented, please
consult our plastic surgeons for techniques, expectations, potential risks,
size of implant and shape of breast.

Why is the breast augmentation procedure done?

Women may prefer breast implants to make their breasts
appear larger and better toned.

On the other hand, they may need breast augmentation
for the reconstruction of the breast (the combination of reconstructive and
cosmetic indications), if one or both breast is removed due to breast cancer

Therefore, breast augmentation is performed for the
following conditions;

• • Woman feels that the breast is too small
  • Asymmetry of breasts
  • Removal of one or both breasts, most probably
    due to cancer
  • Changes in size, tone or shape of the breast as
    a result of physiological processes such as aging, weight loss, and
    childbearing

You should discuss the aim of breast augmentation with
our plastic surgeon in order to get the most realistic and satisfactory
outcomes.

Risks

Potential risks of breast augmentation surgery are
listed below.

Although all possible measures that modern medicine
allows are taken to prevent the occurrence of risks, it is no means possible to
warrant that the risks will be completely eliminated.

• Loss or change of sensation in the breast: It is
  mostly temporary and disappears after 6 months to 1 year. Sometimes, loss
  or change of sensation is confined to one breast. On the other hand, the
  loss or change of sensation can be permanent, albeit very rare.
• Perforation of implant or leakage
• Breast pain
• Abnormal scar tissue formation around the
  implant: Although the formation of scar tissue can be expected in all
  surgical procedures, abnormal scar tissue around the implant may distort
  the shape of the breast.
• Infection
• Postoperative asymmetry of breasts

Our expert surgery team will employ all practices to
minimize the risk of complications and our plastic surgeons will preoperatively
inform you about risks listed above and all other potential complications and
will address all your concerns.

Preparation

The first phase of preoperative preparation is same in
all Medicana Hospitals.

After you decide to have your breast(s) augmented and discuss
with our plastic surgeons, following examinations are performed to decide
whether it is an option for you:

• Review of health history
• A detailed physical examination
• Necessary laboratory tests and radiology studies
• Assessment by anesthesiologist and other
  laboratory tests and radiology studies to minimize anesthesia-related
  complications

After it is verified that the surgery does not pose
risk, you will be asked to quit smoking, if you are a smoker, and to stop
taking certain medications that increase risk of bleeding. All other prescribed
and over-the-counter medications, herbal products and supplements will also be
questioned and you will be informed to continue or stop taking them.

You will also be instructed to stop eating and
drinking at a particular time before the surgery and you should strictly follow
this instruction in order to undergo the surgery at the scheduled date.

Moreover, it is reasonable to plan discharge,
post-discharge accommodation and travel at this phase in order to manage postoperative
period better.

Surgery and early postoperative period

Breast augmentation is performed by an expert plastic
surgery team mostly under general anesthesia. Therefore, you will be
unconscious during the surgery and you will feel nothing, including pain. The
procedure takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.

Your plastic surgeon makes the incision on a natural
crease of skin, also known as inframammary crease or fold, to hide the incision
line. However, incision can be made on areola or armpit, whenever required. Your
plastic surgeon will decide the place of the incision and inform you before the
surgery.

Then, a pocket or cavity is created between the breast
and the rib cage, and the breast implant is placed in this pocket according to
the plan your plastic surgeon and you made jointly before the surgery.

Finally, the implant is centralized, the incision is
stitched and the breast(s) are covered with a gauze dressing. If deemed
necessary, your plastic surgeon may place small tubes, also known as a drain,
that are removed in your first follow-up visit.

Saline or silicone implants are used for breast
augmentation. You will be preoperatively informed about type, shape, size and
surface features of the implant and the best implant is selected in line with
your condition and preferences.

You may feel pain and recognize swelling in your
breast(s) after the surgery and they are expected symptoms. Or, you may even
notice bruising in the skin of the breast. These are expected symptoms that
will spontaneously disappear within several weeks.

The scar tissue that forms along the incision line
will fade over time, but its color will never be identical to your skin tone.

You will need compression bandage and wear a sports
bra to support breasts and ensure the correct position of breast implants after
the surgery.

Although you will feel minimal pain, your plastic
surgeon will prescribe pain killer pills to manage the pain.

If your plastic surgeon used non-absorbable stitches
and placed a drain to prevent accumulation of excess fluid and/or blood beneath
the incision line, your doctor will instruct you the date they will be removed
(usually the first postoperative follow-up visit).

Patients are usually discharged on the same day after
breast augmentation surgery. However, your plastic surgeon will inform you
whether you need to be observed or you should stay in hospital.

After you recover from anesthesia and you are ready to
walk, you will be mobilized by or under the supervision of our healthcare
professionals.

Before you are discharged, your plastic surgeon or
another healthcare professional will inform you about the time interval that
you should rest and the time that you can start non-strenuous exercises.
Although routine daily life activities are allowed, your doctor will instruct you
to avoid strenuous works for a particular time.

It is substantially important to follow those
instructions to facilitate recovery period and get the best outcome from the
surgery. Therefore, please ask all your questions to your plastic surgeon
before you leave the hospital.

You should visit your plastic surgeon for follow-up
visits that are scheduled before you are discharged.

If you experience warmth and redness in your incision
line or breast, or if you have a fever or any symptoms that you think are due
to surgery after you are discharged, contact your plastic surgeon immediately.

Results

Breast augmentation aims that breast(s) appear larger,
more toned, but also natural.

If you clearly inform your plastic surgeon about your
expectations before undergoing a breast augmentation, your satisfaction with
outcomes will be maximized and the risk of implant removal or revision surgery
will be minimized.

However, you should always remember the following
details about breast augmentation surgery:

Breast augmentation does not eliminate the effects of
the aging on the breast(s).

After breast augmentation, the breasts may sag due to
aging or weight gain and loss.

Breast implants may wear and perforate over time or it
may be necessary to change implants due to any other reason.

If you plan pregnancy after breast augmentation,
breastfeeding can be more difficult than usual.

If you are not satisfied with the results and if you
want the removal of the implants, you may need additional surgery(ies).

You may face difficulties in mammography that is
recommended for all women at a certain range of age, or you may even need extra
techniques and examinations.