Breast Augmentation Chicago - Breast Implants

What is Breast Augmentation?

Also known as augmentation mammaplasty, breast augmentation involves using implants to fulfill your desire for fuller breasts.

Enhancing your appearance with breast augmentation

If you are unhappy with your bra cup size, breast augmentation surgery may be for you. Breast augmentation can:

  • Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
  • Improve the balance of your figure
  • Enhance your self-image and self-confidence

The procedure involves using implants to fulfill your desire for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy.

What it won’t do

Breast augmentation does not correct significantly drooping breasts. If you want your breasts to look fuller and to be lifted due to sagging, a breast lift may be required in conjunction with breast augmentation.

Breast lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation. Your plastic surgeon will assist you in making this decision.

Is it right for me?

Breast augmentation is a very personal decision, and you should do it if the decision is right for you.

Breast augmentation may be a good option for you if:

  • You are physically healthy
  • You have realistic expectations
  • Your breasts are fully developed
  • You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small
  • You are dissatisfied with your breasts losing shape and volume after

    pregnancy, weight loss, or with aging

  • Your breasts vary in size or shape
  • One or both breasts failed to develop normally

What to expect during your consultation

During the consultation, you will discuss with your surgeon your goals for the breast augmentation. You will be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be prepared to discuss:

  • Why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome.
  • Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
  • Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol,

    tobacco and drugs

  • Previous surgeries
  • Family history of breast cancer and results of any mammograms or

    previous biopsies

  • Any history of bleeding problems

Your surgeon may also:

  • Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
  • Examine your breasts, and may take detailed measurements of their size

    and shape, skin quality, placement of your nipples

  • Take photographs for your medical record
  • Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
  • Discuss likely outcomes of breast augmentation and any risks or potential

    complications

  • Discuss the use of anesthesia during your breast augmentation
  • Discuss the benefits of both silicone and salt water (saline) implants
  • Discuss the three options of incisions for placement of the implants

Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:

  • Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
  • Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
  • Depending on your age, obtain a baseline mammogram before surgery and another one after surgery
  • Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Just before surgery

You will be given a list of medicines and supplements to avoid before surgery. It is recommended that you be at your regular stable weight. Aspirin should be avoided for at least a week before surgery, and motrin/advil for 48 hours before surgery. It is required that you do not eat for the six hours before surgery. You should have no chance of being pregnant at the time of surgery.

Special instructions you receive will cover:

  • What to do on the day of surgery including where to report for the procedure.
  • Post-operative care and follow-up
  • Breast implant registry documents (when necessary)

You’ll need help

If your breast augmentation is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

Procedural Steps

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The incision

Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to minimize visible scarring. You and your plastic surgeon will discuss which incision options are appropriate for your desired outcome. Incision options include:

Inframammary incision. This is located at or near your native inframammary fold (underneath your breast).

Periareolar incision. This is located at the lower border of your areola.

Transaxillary incision. This is located in a crease in your armpit.

Incisions vary based on the type of implant, degree of enlargement desired, your particular anatomy, and patient-surgeon preference.

Step 3 – Implant choice

Breast size and shape are important, so be honest and open about your expectations when talking with your surgeon.

Implant type and size will be determined not just on your desired increase in size but more importantly on your breast anatomy, skin elasticity and body type.

Options for Breast Implants

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water (saline). They can be filled with varying amounts of saline which can affect the shape, firmness and feel of the breast. Should the implant shell leak, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body.

Silicone implants are filled with an elastic gel. The gel feels and moves much like natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket. Due to the fact that they are pre-filled, the insertion of silicone implants requires a slightly longer incision than saline implants.

A leaking implant filled with silicone gel may not collapse. If you choose these implants, you may need to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. An ultrasound or MRI screening can assess the condition of breast implants.

Implant manufacturers occasionally introduce new styles and types of implants, so there may be additional options available. Currently, saline implants are FDA-approved for augmentation in women 18 years of age and older. Currently, silicone implants are FDA-approved for augmentation in women 22 years of age and older. Saline or silicone implants may be recommended at a younger age if used for reconstruction purposes.

See www.breastimplantsafety.org for current information.

Step 4 – Inserting and placing the implant

After the incision is made, a breast implant is inserted into a pocket either:

  • Under the pectoral muscle (a submuscular placement), or
  • Directly behind the breast tissue, over the pectoral muscle

    (a submammary/ subglandular placement)

The method for inserting and positioning implants depends on the type of implant, degree of enlargement desired, your body type, and your surgeon’s recommendations.

Step 5 – Closing the incisions

Incisions are closed with layered sutures in the breast tissue and with sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape to close the skin. Over time the incision lines will fade and in most instances are not visible upon cursory examination.

Step 6 – See the results

The results of breast augmentation are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. The implants often look high initially, but they typically fall a bit with time. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize the fulfillment of your goal for fuller breasts.

Illustrations of procedure

The Incision:

illustration

Inframammary incision, Transaxillary incision, Periareolar incision

Inserting and placing implant:

insertion

Closing the incisions:

closeing

Important facts about the safety and risks of breast augmentation

The decision to have breast augmentation surgery is extremely personal and important for you. You will need to understand the risks of the procedure with the help of your surgeon so that you can make an informed decision.

Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

The risks include:

  • Unfavorable scarring
  • Bleeding (hematoma)
  • Infection
  • Poor healing of incisions
  • Changes in nipple or breast sensation, may be temporary or permanent
  • Capsular contracture, which is the formation of firm scar tissue around the implant, which can be painful and distort the appearance of the breast.
  • Implant leakage or rupture
  • Wrinkling of the skin over the implant and visibility of the underlying implant
  • Anesthesia risks
  • Fluid accumulation
  • Blood clots in the legs
  • Pain, which may persist
  • Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
  • Possibility of revisional surgery

Breast implants do not impair breast health. Careful review of scientific research conducted by independent groups such as the Institute of Medicine has found no proven link between breast implants and autoimmune or other diseases.

Other important considerations:

Breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery may be required to replace one or both implants.

Pregnancy, weight loss and menopause may influence the appearance of augmented breasts over the course of your lifetime.

My Recovery

You will likely go home the same day as your surgery. You will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few weeks, but should be able to take care of yourself immediately after surgery.

Exercise and normal activity can resume at the direction of your plastic surgeon. Over time, post-surgical swelling will decrease and incision lines will fade.

You will be given specific instructions that may include: How to care for your breasts following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

  • Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can

    expect during your individual recovery period, including your activity levels, pain expectations, activity and driving restrictions, and need for follow-up visits.

When you go home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Be careful

Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

The results will be long-lasting

The results of your breast augmentation surgery will be long-lasting. You will find it easier to wear certain styles of clothing and swim wear.

Implants may need to be replaced or revised

It’s important to know that your breast implants are not permanent and may require replacement during your lifetime. You should expect to have future visits with your plastic surgeon to discuss changes in your breasts.

Over time, your breasts can change due to aging, weight fluctuations, hormonal factors and gravity. If, after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a breast lift or implant exchange to restore a more youthful contour.

Continue to follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.

Words to know

Areola: Pigmented skin surrounding the nipple.

Augmentation mammaplasty: Breast enlargement by surgery.

Breast Augmentation: Also known as augmentation mammaplasty; breast enlargement by surgery.

Breast Implants: Medical devices placed in your body to enhance an existing breast size or to reconstruct your breast. Breast implants can be filled with either salt water (saline) or silicone (elastic gel).

Capsular contracture: A complication of breast implant surgery which occurs when scar tissue that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes the implant and becomes firm.

General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.

Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.

Inframammary incision: An incision made in the fold under the breast.

Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.

Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of oan incisin during an operation to relieve pain.

Mammogram: An x-ray image of the breast.

Mastectomy: The removal of breast tissue, typically to rid the body of cancer.

MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a painless test to view tissue similar to an x-ray.

Periareolar incision: An incision made at the edge of the areola.

Saline implants: Breast implants filled with salt water.

Silicone implants: Breast implants filled with an elastic gel.

Submammary or subglandular placement: Breast implants placed directly behind the breast tissue, over the pectoral muscle.

Submuscular or subpectoral placement: Breast implants placed under the pectoral muscle, which is located between the breast tissue and chest wall.

Transaxillary incision: An incision made in the underarm area.

Ultrasound: A diagnostic procedure that projects high frequency sound waves into the body and records the echoes as pictures.