Breast Enhancement
Having breasts that are smaller than you would like may feel like a hopeless situation. Many women with small breasts feel unsatisfied and experience body issues and low self-esteem. If you’re feeling like it’s time for a change, you may be considering breast augmentation surgery.
Breast Implants
Through the insertion of breast implants, plastic surgeons are able to increase both the volume and the projection of a woman’s breasts. Implants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and types. The ideal combination of these attributes varies from patient to patient depending on their unique case and their needs and beauty goals.
Procedure Technique Options
Not only is there variation in the breast implants used in breast augmentation surgery, there are also a few other details that impact the results of the procedure.
We offer two options in terms of breast enhancement incision placement: in the breast fold (the inframammary incision) or around the areola (the periareolar incision).
We typically place the breast implant beneath the pectoralis major muscle. This limits the likelihood of rippling on the surface of the breast and also limits the chance of formation of a too-thick scar-tissue capsule around the breast (called “capsular contracture”). This placement creates a more natural teardrop shape for the final results.
The Procedure
Breast augmentation typically takes an hour and a half to two hours to complete. After anesthesia has been administered, the incision is created. Breast pockets are made in the tissue of the breasts in order to make a space for the implants. Once the implants have been placed into the pockets, the incisions are closed using medical sutures.
The Healing Process
As part of the breast augmentation healing process, patients will have to deal with some degree of temporary bruising and swelling in the breast area. For the first four weeks after the operation, you will be able to control these issues by wearing a supportive post-surgical bra. Following this time, you will be able to return to wearing normal bras. After three months, swelling will usually have fully subsided.
It’s important to stay home from work for a period of time as you heal. Those with jobs that are not labor-intensive or strenuous will only need a couple days off. For those who have more physically taxing jobs, staying home from work for up to weeks may be necessary. If the healing process has been going well, however, this can sometimes be shortened to one or two weeks. Check with your surgeon before returning to your job.
Exercise is another strenuous activity that should be regulated during healing. Specifically, you should put your regular exercise regimen on hold until four to six weeks have passed. At this time, you will be able to resume all activity as normal.
Nausea medication and pain medication will be prescribed to make the recovery process as comfortable as possible. An antibiotic will also be necessary in order to avoid infection.
Arrange a Consultation
If you’re interested in finding out more about what breast augmentation surgery can do for you, contact our office and schedule an informative consultation. Experienced board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Cangello will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
