Breast augmentation or breast enlargement is one of the
most commonly performed procedures in Plastic Surgery. Women seeking breast augmentation do so to improve contour and volume
in small breasts, restore volume following childbirth, improve the appearance of slightly drooping breasts or correct asymmetry
in breasts that are different in size.
Your consultation or evaluation for breast augmentation
will include not only a discussion about the size or volume you desire, but also the location of the implant-above or
below the muscle, the placement of incisions-below the breast, around the areola, or in the armpit, and wether to use saline
or silicone implants.
The decision on location of the inplant is based on the
doctors examination of you. Generally implants are placed under the muscle in women who have little breast tissue or fat under
the skin to cover the implant, and is done with the aim of decreasing the risk of rippling which is an issue especially with
saline implants most commonly used for this procedure
The incision placement is usually based on patient preference,
but may be influenced by other factors, such as the need to correct asymmetries.
Your personal and family history of breast diseases including
cancer will heavily influence the decision making process in choosing breast augmentation. Women who have a history of concerns
regarding breast health and women over the age of forty are advised to undergo mammography prior to this procedure if they
have not had a recent evaluation.
It is important to remember that scars from this, as with
any other surgery, are permanent. It is equally important to remember that asymmetries between the breasts will persist after
surgery and may be more or less evident and your brassiere size following surgery is never guaranteed.
Many women who undergo breast augmentation do so with the
intention of being able to " go bra-less". Breast implants are heavy. They are heavier than normal breast tissue and
thus will be affected by gravity and the aging process more than normal breast tissue. It is advisable therefore, that you
wear a supportive brassiere as much as possible following this procedure.
Your doctor will discuss with you the risks associated with
this procedure which include bleeding, infection, capsular contracture, and changes in the sensation of the nipple and
skin of the breast.
