15 facts you should know before breast enlargement

Your body is your business! But when you come to a plastic surgeon with a request to enlarge your breasts, he will surely ask you the reasons for the decision. And if this is the desire to look beautiful in a bathing suit or to fulfill your partner's dream of large breasts, you will most likely be denied.

Because the breasts can only be enlarged for yourself and only under the condition that you want to feel comfortable in your body!

Honest information on breast augmentation

periareolar mammoplasty of the breast

Breast augmentation is a serious operation that requires an informed decision and careful calculation of possible risks. You need to prepare: take the test, undergo the necessary tests, finish taking some medications in advance, lose weight if the weight exceeds the norm and quit smoking.

But even careful preparation is not a guarantee of a favorable result. Therefore, before deciding to go under the surgeon's scalpel, find out what awaits you and what can go wrong!

Before and after photos are not always informative

Today, any plastic surgery clinic has its own website, where you can see "before" and "after" photographs of a particular doctor's operations. But when he considers them, the patient must take into account that her breasts may look different.

To get an idea of what your breasts will look like after surgery, a doctor of medical sciences, a plastic surgeon recommends evaluating the results of people with a similar body type. Such shots will give a more realistic image.

Breast enlargement is possible without surgery

Many women are tempted to enlarge their breasts without surgery in one or two procedures. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons can fulfill this desire by suggesting the use of fillers based on hyaluronic acid or their own fat cells.

However, it should be noted that these are temporary solutions. They have both advantages and disadvantages. And it is more difficult to predict the outcome of the procedure in this case than with surgical breast augmentation.

Correcting the shape with fat cells has a significant drawback.

the girl measures the size of the breast with a centimeter

Not all fat cells will undergo a "transplant". According to the doctor of medical sciences,30 to 50% of fat cells die.

At the same time, no one knows which cells will survive and which will not. Therefore, your expectations about breast augmentation with fillers may not coincide with the reality after the procedure.

The first breast surgery is unlikely to be the last

Implants are not a permanent purchase. According to the plastic surgeon, most of them need to be replaced within 12-15 years of surgery, and some even sooner.

The implant may begin to lose or form scar tissue around the implant, which ruins the shape of the breast and poses a health threat. In addition, external and internal reasons can lead to implant replacement: weight gain or loss, breastfeeding, severity.

The doctor recommends planning an operation only when there is certainty that the budget will allow for the reconstruction operation over the next 12 years.

There are several types of incisions during the operation.

Experts say that depending on the initial shape of the breast and the desired parameters, the doctor may suggest surgery with an incision in the armpit, fold under the breast, in the areola and in some cases in the abdomen.

The most common options are an incision in the areola and the crease under the breast. The location of the probable incision should be discussed with the doctor.

It is not always possible to enlarge the breasts to the desired volume

If a representative of the fair sex by nature has a cup of size A, she will not be able to get the DD volume in one go. The skin of the breast, like the body, takes time to get used to the changes. Therefore, the doctor recommends 1-2 sizes of breast augmentation first, and then, if necessary, after a few years, he changes the implants to larger ones.

Drastic changes can be costly

breast augmentation consultation with a mammologist

"The most important thing when planning breast augmentation surgery is finding a good implant, " says MD, plastic surgeon. "According to my estimates, about 30% of errors and complications during plastic surgery are due to the fact that the doctor or patient chose the wrong implant. "

Choosing an implant that is too large for the patient can lead to thinning of the breast tissue and surrounding muscles, which is difficult to reverse. A good doctor will always tell you the maximum implant size that the patient can orient to.

It takes time to recover after surgery

Both after breast enlargement and after breast reduction, the patient needs time to recover. The minimum sick leave will be 5-7 days. At the end of it, you can go back to work, as long as it doesn't involve hard physical work.

Painkillers work wonders today, but don't overestimate them!

Implants are felt under the skin

There is an opinion that implants are always felt when touching a woman's breasts,but this is not the case. They are hard to find properly selected and well installed. However, there is such a possibility!

Another person is more likely to suspect the presence of implants in a woman who initially had a small breast volume (and, consequently, a small amount of tissue) than in a woman whose volume was larger.

Some implants can compromise health

how to choose breast augmentation implants

Experts associate certain types of breast implants with an increased risk of cancer. "We are talking about a variety such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma. It is believed to be somehow related to structured breast implants, as very often women with oncology are diagnosed with oncology, " warns the plastic surgeon.

Correction may affect the ability to breastfeed

"By making an incision in the breast, we destroy the natural anatomy, we reduce the amount of breast tissue that produces milk, " says the doctor. - However, there is a high probability that you can still breastfeed. If the incision is far from the nipple, the milk ducts and glands are unlikely to be damaged. "

Temporary loss of nipple sensation after surgery

For several weeks after the operation, many patients notice a lack of breast tenderness, but in most cases this is a temporary phenomenon. Complete loss of sensation is rare.

A doctor of medical sciences, a plastic surgeon, says that although he has operated on thousands of patients, he has never experienced a complete loss of sensation in a woman's breasts.

Surgery can affect a woman's posture

posture change after breast augmentation

If a woman chooses a breast volume that is slightly larger than her natural data, her posture is unlikely to change from this. But when it comes to breast implants of impressive size, their weight can be noticeable and, as a result, it will be more difficult to wear them.

If there is a history of back pain, this factor should be taken into consideration.

Perhaps breast augmentation alone will not be enough

After pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, some women dream of breast augmentation as a panacea that will solve all problems with their appearance. But that may not be enough.

Breast augmentation alone will not make your breasts firm and toned. In some cases, two operations are required at the same time: breast augmentation and lifting. The doctor can do them at the same time.

The decision on surgery must be well balanced

Before contacting a plastic surgeon, find out the answers to the following questions yourself:

  • Is my current breast volume really a problem for me?
  • Why do i need surgery?
  • Do I have an "airbag" - free funds that may be required if something goes wrong?
  • Am I ready to accept the possible risks of breast augmentation?
  • Do I really need surgery?

The answers to these questions will help you make the right decision.

Expert comment
Oncologist, general surgeon

Breast augmentation or breast augmentation procedure is a type of surgery that requires special preparation.

Mammoplasty is performed in the context of cosmetic surgery, that is, it is performed at the request of the patient, with the exception of breast reduction operations (reductive mammoplasty), which are often performed for medical reasons. The girl must independently assess the risks before making an appointment with a plastic surgeon.

First you need to study the contraindications for the procedure. If a woman has severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system, varicose veins, bleeding disorders and oncological diseases, these chronic diseases will become an absolute contraindication for mammoplasty. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, such surgeries are also prohibited.

Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, rheumatism, mastopathy and obesity should consult their physician prior to breast augmentation surgery. Also, during the period of the procedure, the chronic disease should be in a stable phase of remission.

The woman must also think about her future pregnancy. If after the operation the girl intends to become a mother, then it is better to carry out the operation through an incision under the breast or in the armpit. Placing implants through an incision in the areola of the nipple can compromise the integrity of part of the milk ducts, which could make feeding the baby difficult.

You have to understand that a quality procedure will not be cheap. The average cost of mammoplasty in a good clinic is quite high. Sign up for a consultation only with trusted specialists with extensive experience. A careful approach to choosing a doctor will reduce the likelihood of complications after surgery. As a rule, an appointment with a plastic surgeon takes about an hour and a half. During this time, the girl must ask the doctor about the implants, to determine the volume, future size and shape of the bust.

After the consultation, the date of the operation will be fixed. The preparation time is approximately two weeks. During this period, the patient carries out the necessary examinations to assess the state of health. The list of mandatory studies includes the following medical manipulations: clinical and biochemical blood tests, tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, urinalysis, coagulogram, ECG, mammography, fluorography (X-ray), vascular ultrasound.

The hospital stay lasts about 3-5 days. During this period, the main operation is performed, monitoring the patient's condition after mammoplasty and the first dressing. Then the girl goes home for rehabilitation.

For a month you will need to wear special compression underwear, and you shouldn't even raise your arms above your shoulders and lift heavy objects. For two to three weeks you will have to sleep only on your back, the next 4-5 months - on your side or back, you can turn on your stomach only after six months. Classes in the gym, as well as trips to the bathhouse or sauna must be postponed by 2-3 months.

During the rehabilitation period, the patient will have to come for dressings and self-seal the scars with a special silicone patch. The recovery will take about six months, after which you can return to an active life.

Expert comment
Plastic surgeon

All implants approved for use in our country have a lifetime warranty. This means that they do not need to be changed for medical reasons over time.

There are three types of access: axillary, periareolar (along the edge of the areola) and inframammary (through the fold under the breast). In my practice, I use the axillary approach more often, because in this case the scar is practically invisible. It is located in the armpit and over time becomes like a wrinkle. There are no visible scars on the chest.

I use the endoprosthesis through the areola when the axillary access does not allow a full operation. I use the submammary access for a second operation, if the implants were previously installed in the same way. All types of access are safe if the surgeon has them.

Implants vary in gel softness, sheath, type and size. The surgeon can only collect them in a face-to-face consultation. All implants are of good quality, but surgeons usually have their preferences. Therefore, focus on the surgeon's work and relate them to your ideas about beauty.

As a rule, I do not use large volume plants - more than 450 cc. see Large implants cause tissue atrophy and become visible over time, even if located in the axillary area. That is, from above they are covered with muscles, and from below they are shaped. This occurs in patients with a small amount of fiber and a narrow chest. If a woman has a large chest, larger implants can be placed. But such cases are quite rare.

Expert comment
Plastic surgeon

Despite the fact that mammoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgeries and has become a fairly common procedure, before implementing it, the patient must learn a few nuances so that they do not surprise after the operation.

  1. Nothing lasts forever and implants have their lifespan. It is impossible to install them once for a lifetime. Sooner or later they will have to be changed, as there is such a thing as depreciation. And how these processes will unfold in a particular case, how the tissues will behave, no one knows in advance, everything is individual. Therefore, after breast correction, all girls are advised to visit a mammologist at least once every six months, an ultrasound of the breast should be performed to notice changes over time and to prescribe an operation to replace the endoprostheses.
  2. Patients with certain chronic diseases and, in particular, a reduced immune status should inform their doctor, who will order a further examination. And only then will it issue its own verdict on whether it is worth installing implants or not.
  3. If the breast is ptosis, lowered down, and the main part of the mammary gland is located in the lower half, then in this situation it is better to install a round implant. If there is no pronounced upper pole, this always implies the installation of an endoprosthesis under the muscle.
  4. In the event that the nipples "look" to the sides, but the patient wants to approach them, this is only possible if there is a large volume of skin and breast tissue. If she is not there, it is impossible to approach them and during implant installation, the nipples will remain in their original position, while the prosthesis will be installed in the center of the nipple.
  5. If the patient has a narrow interthoracic distance, she will naturally remain beautiful during the installation of the endoprosthesis. When it is large enough, more than 2-2. 5cm, it can be made smaller when installing implants. However, it is important to take into account that in this place the implant will be palpable and, over time, the appearance of a visual defect - the so-called tearing or irregularity of the skin is not excluded.