What you Should Know Before Getting Breast Implants

Breast augmentation surgery is a well-known procedure used to change the size, shape, and contouring of the breasts using implants. People choose to undergo this surgery for many reasons. For purposes of restoration after a mastectomy, modifying any congenital abnormalities, or simply for personal preferences.

Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to fully understand the process involved in breast augmentation surgery. This certainly is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ procedure and that’s why there are many different options available for you to consider.

The purpose of this article is to take you through a thorough review of the breast implant surgery process — from the surgical preparation and planning to the post-surgical after-care and everything in between.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Preparation

In preparation for surgery, patients are advised to select a trusted board-certified plastic surgeon. Before the procedure, you will have the chance to meet with your surgeon for a full medical history and evaluation. It’s best to prepare your questions ahead of time to get the most out of your initial consultation.

Cost of Surgery

Breast augmentation costs around £5,000 minimum. Depending on your procedure, the price will vary based on implant material, breast lifts, and any additional complex requirements.

It’s unlikely for breast augmentation surgery to be covered by your health insurance. On the rare occasion, if it’s for medical rather than cosmetic reasons this can be either fully or partially covered.

Types of Implants

In terms of breast implant materials, you have a choice between the following options.

• Silicone: as one of the most natural feeling materials on the market, silicone is one of the most common choices for many plastic surgeons worldwide.
• Saline: this type of implant has an outer silicone shell which is filled with saline solution (sterile saltwater) once the implant is inserted. Although less expensive than silicone, this material tends to ripple more showing visible wrinkles under the skin.
• Cohesive gel: also known as the “gummy bear” implants which are known to retain their shape much better than other types of implants, including saline and silicone.
• Autologous fat: one of the less common choices, autologous fat is a procedure that requires 2-3 lbs of your fat to inject into your breasts. This type of implant requires constant touch-ups to achieve symmetry.

Breast Augmentation Surgical Procedures

There is an assortment of breast implant procedures that you can choose from. There are pros and cons to the incision location and implant insertion site, depending on your personal preferences and lifestyle choices.

Types of Incisions

Between you and your doctor, you should decide on the type of incision you want to receive for your breast implants.

1. The infra-mammary incision is located on the lower crease of the breast. It’s a popular method for many people because this location does not interfere with breastfeeding.
2. The circumareolar incision is located around the nipple. This is another very common site for implants because it provides the surgeon with greater control and shows minimal scarring. One important factor to keep in mind is the size of your areolas — smaller areolas make it more difficult for the surgeon to make an accurate incision.
3. The transaxillary incision is located under the armpit. Although not as common, this site is beneficial to those who prefer a hidden incision.
4. The trans-umbilical incision is located in the naval cavity of the stomach. It’s a beneficial site for incision as the scar is hidden within the belly button; however, it’s the furthest site from the breasts, making it difficult to achieve proper implant placement.

Breast Implant Insertion

After thoughtfully deciding on the implant material and site of incision, next you need to determine the insertion placement of the breast implant. There are 3 viable options to choose from.

1. The sub-pectoral site is located under the chest muscle (pectoralis major). This placement is advantageous for many reasons, such as creating a cushion between the implant and your skin, giving you a softer visual transition between the rib cage and breast, and allowing for a better mammography view. However, the downside to sub-pectoral implants is that because they’re located below the pectoralis muscle, you will experience a more painful initial recovery, while also taking you longer to see the final results.
2. The sub-glandular site is located under the breast tissue (on top of the pectoralis major muscle). This placement is advantageous compared to other surgeries because it causes less postoperative discomfort, improves the speed of recovery, and shows minimal movement when flexing your chest muscles. On the other hand, the sub-glandular site has an increased risk of capsular contractures, impairments to mammography results, and less natural feeling breasts.
3. The dual plane site is located partly under the muscle and breast tissue. This location can provide the most natural-looking breasts, improve the speed of recovery, and show the best long-term results. However, similar to the sub-pectoral placement, you could experience some placement abnormalities with the contraction of your chest muscles.

Surgery Time Frame

After you’ve consulted with your surgeon about the various options, you’ll be prepared to book your surgery. The duration of surgery is commonly 2-3 hours in length where you will be sedated under general anesthesia.

Depending on how the surgery goes and if there are any complications, patients are either discharged as an outpatient that same day or required to stay overnight.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Risks

Like any surgery, there are added risks involved in breast augmentation. The most common surgical risks include:

• anesthesia risks
• bleeding
• hemorrhaging
• infection
• scarring

After surgery, some patients risk experiencing breast implant illness. This can cause an arrangement of symptoms such as fatigue, muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbances, and possible hair loss.

Other risks of breast implant surgery include problems with positioning, implant leakage or ruptures, postural issues, and even temporary loss of sensation in the nipples.

Breast Augmentation Surgery After-Care

Before you’re discharged from the hospital or clinic, you’ll be prescribed medications for both nausea (immediately following surgery) and pain (after the anesthesia wears off). Remember not to drive or drink alcohol while taking postoperative medications. Do not take any aspirin or other blood thinners which can slow the healing process down significantly.

For optimal healing, you will be advised on proper postoperative hygiene care. This includes instruction about bathing, handling the wound dressings, and wearing surgical bras. The day after surgery is when you can begin to shower and carefully pat and dry the bandages.

In the first few days following surgery, you will be instructed to limit any excessive movements, especially in the arms. Depending on individual recovery, it usually takes about 5-7 days to get back to work in any non-laborious field and 4-6 weeks to get back to exercise.

For best results, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and return to all scheduled follow-ups appointments. For more information, please visit https://mybreast.org.