Why is breast augmentation one of the most common surgical procedures? It’s simple. Most women compare themselves with the ideal of beauty existing within their own cultures. The appearance of your body is fundamental to your sense of well-being and to feeling desirable and normal. Undergoing an aesthetic breast procedure can lead to a noticeable improvement in self-esteem. As stated above, statistics tell us that today breast augmentation is one of the most widely performed aesthetic procedures, thousands of women in our country undergo this procedure and experience great satisfaction. This procedure is indicated for augmentation of breasts that are small, undeveloped or have shrunk following pregnancy.
Would you like to see a simulation of your breast? It’s quite simple.
Thanks to advances in informatics it is possible to obtain a computerized simulation of the appearance your breast after a breast augmentation procedure: with three simple photos a three-dimensional model of your chest and breast can be produced, on which the implantation of prostheses can be digitally simulated.
Is an increase in breast dimensions right for you?
During the visit with your surgeon, explain to him what your objectives are and your expectations for the surgical procedure. The doctor will consider the nature of your breast, will take into consideration your hopes and will ask questions regarding pregnancies and breast diseases.
What happens in a breast augmentation procedure?
A breast augmentation procedure is typically done under general anesthesia. The procedure usually lasts less than two hours. The most widely used technique is an incision in the lower part of the breast near the chest or at the lower part of the areola (the darker area around the nipple). Less frequently the incision is made around the nipple, under the armpit or at the navel. Once the incision has been made, a pocket is created under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle. The implant is then securely positioned in the pocket and the incision is closed using tiny sutures.
What will my convalescence be like after this kind of procedure?
Bedrest is recommended for the first day. You will wear a special bra for about a week. Some patients report feeling bloated, sensitivity and bruising; these symptoms diminish in a few days. All the sutures are removed after 1-2 weeks. The surgeon will advise a program for a return to your normal activity. Many patients return to work one week after the procedure.
Are there various kinds of prostheses?
Yes: the prostheses on the market today differ in form and content. The surgeon will explain which one is most suitable for your case. Usually, anatomically shaped silicone gel prostheses are used to give a more natural appearance and consistency to the breast.
Are the prostheses that you use safe?
Absolutely yes: The prostheses we use are very resistant and it is possible to do all kinds of activities without any restriction. Moreover, among all the studies ever done on breast prostheses, there has never been shown any correlation between the implanted prostheses and breast diseases. Women with prostheses are able to nurse and to complete all radiological and echographic breast imaging procedures without problems.
Breast augmentation is the procedure, which aims to restore volume and to give a lovely form to the breast. Naturally, this procedure requires implanting a prosthesis. Two types of prostheses exist on the market: the prostheses with an anatomical form and those with a round form. The prosthetic quality is the same. Naturally, there is a difference in the form, depending on the patient’s taste and the surgeon’s advice.
The breast augmentation procedure is usually done under general anesthesia and the prosthesis is positioned under the pectoral muscle in what is called a dual plane and access is gained through a mere 4 centimetre incision which can be positioned: at the level of the inframammary fold, at the periareolar level, or in some cases in the axilla. This type of surgical procedure usually requires a 24-hour recovery in day surgery. From the end of the breast augmentation procedure, the patient will wear an elasticized bra which must continue to be worn for about 7-10 days day and night.
In the same 7-10 day period following the procedure, it is best to avoid putting stress on the arms and their muscles, but already a month after the procedure the results can be considered complete and definitive. It is advised to resume sports activities around two months after the procedure.
Can people tell when you have “a breast job”?
I’ve heard this question a thousand times. The concept “you can spot a breast job” is a concept that is echoed not only by the common people but also in the media. Plastic and aesthetic surgery should correct and improve NOT transform! If the surgeon adheres to this simple rule, this question is rendered meaningless for any aesthetic surgical procedure, especially for the breasts!
Today we have prostheses of variable forms and dimensions available that are perfectly adaptable to practically every type of breast and every physical structure. Thus the surgeon together with the patient should choose the prosthesis best adapted to the harmony of the body. Furthermore, today we have extremely faithful computerized simulators, which permit the surgeon and the patient to “see” the results with a good degree of certitude.
Unfortunately, I have to admit that some results that one sees at the beaches or in certain media do not help to give our profession a good image and drive highly cultured and sensitive people to consider aesthetic surgery to be no more than a “burqa of flesh”. Aesthetic surgery is not and should not be a burqa of flesh, but rather an aid to improve the harmony of the individual. My answer to the initial question will always be: aesthetic surgery that is noticeable is aesthetic surgery performed by a bad surgeon.