When it comes to cosmetic surgical procedures, no other form of surgery comes close to breast augmentation in terms of popularity. Statistics provided by American Society of Plastic Surgeons prove that breast augmentation surgery has been the most sought after procedure among American women in the past few years. With upwards of 286,000 surgeries being performed just in 2014, it is clear that this is the most popular plastic surgery today.
As the name suggests, breast augmentation, otherwise known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgery that aims to enhance the appearance of a woman’s breasts. Breast enhancement can be achieved by inserting saline or silicone-based implants to provide more volume and fullness as well as to refine naturally asymmetrical breasts. A breast augmentation can also be performed after a mastectomy – the surgical removal of breast(s) due to diseases like cancer – or after an injury to the chest area.
Saline and silicone implants have their advantages and disadvantages. Our patients’ safety is the first priority of Madison Avenue Plastic Surgery and our surgeons will recommend the best implant type for you and your needs. The outer shells of saline as well as silicone implants are constructed of durable silicone material making both implants strong and long-lasting. With that said, let’s look at some of the differences between each of the implants:
Saline Breast Implants:
Silicone Breast Implants:
Regardless of which implant one uses, New York City’s Madison Avenue Plastic Surgery doctors recommend that patients have an MRI scan every one to three years to ensure the implants are in good condition and do not need to be replaced. It is important to discuss one’s needs and outcomes with the surgeon before settling on either of these implants.
Breast augmentation surgery can be summarized in four major steps: administering anesthesia, making incisions, inserting implants, and sealing the incisions.
Your surgeon will decide which form of sedation to use for the procedure. Both, local and general anesthesia, are common for breast augmentation procedures. Along with receiving anesthesia, you will also be attached to various monitors so your vital signs can be monitored during the surgery. The next step will be to carefully place incisions on the body in order to insert the implants. When it comes to incisions, they are of three types:
While all three of these methods work well, your doctor will be the best judge of which type of incision to use.
After the incisions are made, the implants will then be inserted. There are two areas where the implants can be placed. The first area is directly under the chest muscles. This placement is called submuscular placement. The other type is the submammary (or subglandular) placement where the implants are deposited on top of the chest muscles and under the breast tissue.
The last major step is to close the incisions. Usually, the surgeon will stitch close the incisions, but surgical tapes may also be applied. The whole procedure typically lasts about one to three hours and it is an outpatient procedure which means you can go home after the surgery.
When it comes to recovery, just like other forms of surgery, breast augmentation is also largely dependent on several factors. The length of recovery period and the amount of discomfort you experience is affected by elements such as the location of the incision, the placement and size of the implants, your overall health, and whether you are a smoker or not. Following proper instructions from your doctor is very important in order to achieve a successful recovery.
What to expect during the recovery period:
Generally, ideal candidates for breast augmentation are women who naturally have smaller breasts, have lost the proper shape/size of their breasts following a weight loss program, or those who have disproportionate breasts. In addition, ideal candidates should be in good health prior to the surgery, not be pregnant, have fully developed breasts, and have realistic expectations from the procedure.
It is important that you consult with an experienced surgeon to learn more about breast augmentation and what it will entail for you. The surgeons at New York Madison Avenue Plastic Surgery are available to offer their guidance and determine whether breast augmentation will be right for you. Set up your initial consultation today.