Breast Augmentation
- Breast Augmentation
- Are You A Good Candidate
- Meeting With The Doctor
- How The Procedure Is Performed
- What To Expect After Surgery
- Possible Side Effects And Risks
- How Long Will The Results Last
- Questions You May Have
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation, also known as breast enlargement, is a surgical procedure that uses a silicon gel or saline breast implant to enhance the size and shape of your breasts. The doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery work closely with you to ensure that your breast augmentation goes smoothly and that you are happy with your breasts after the procedure.
Women choose to have breast augmentation for many reasons:
- To enlarge their breasts to a more desirable size
- To correct a noticeable imbalance in the size of their breasts
- To correct sagging or ptotic breasts
- To reconstruct one or more breasts after breast surgery
Are You A Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
If you are in good health and have realistic expectations regarding the results of your breast augmentation surgery, you are an ideal candidate for the procedure. While breast enlargement will enhance the size and shape of your breasts, it is important to understand the limitations of the surgery. The procedure, along with its limitations, will be discussed with you at length during your initial consultation with the doctor.enage girls whose breasts cause serious discomfort may be considered for the procedure.
Meeting With The Doctor
Prior to scheduling your surgery, you will meet at length with the staff and doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. You will have your breasts evaluated and will discuss how you want your breasts to look after the procedure. With the guidance of the staff at the Institute, you will decide the type of implants to be used, as well as the position, texture, shape, and size of the implants.
The doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will:- Review the various breast augmentation options with you
- Clearly discuss the potential risks of the procedure
- Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
- Provide detailed cost, insurance (if applicable), and payment information
- Discuss the current FDA regulations governing the use of implants
- Answer all your questions
You will be asked to provide:
- Details about your medical history
- A list of all medication you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
- Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use
How The Procedure Is Performed
Your breast augmentation procedure is performed at the hospital or at the Center for Ambulatory Surgery, Inc. (CASI) on an outpatient basis. The doctors and staff at the Institute are dedicated to ensuring your complete comfort during and after the procedure. The surgery generally takes one to two hours to complete and is performed under general anesthesia.
The doctor makes a small incision in each breast area in order to insert the implants. Your individual anatomy determines the best place for the incision; however, the doctor makes every effort to place the incision in a position that minimizes any resulting scars.
Once the incision is made, the doctor lifts the breast tissue and skin to create a pocket to hold the implant. The pocket will be either directly behind your breast tissue or beneath your chest wall muscle. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved implant made of either a silicone gel or saline (salt-water) solution is centered beneath the nipple. The incision is stitched closed and may be taped to add support. A special surgical bra is placed over the breasts to keep them in the best position for healing.
What To Expect After Your Surgery
| Activity | When |
| Shower or Bath | Day After Surgery |
| Back to Work | Few Days After Surgery |
| Driving | Usually Within a Week After Surgery |
| Physical Contact With Breasts | Three to Four Weeks After Surgery |
| Strenuous Activity | Three Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars | Several Months to One Year |
Immediately After Your Surgery
In most cases, you will be ready to go home shortly after the procedure. Because you may be a bit sleepy after the anesthesia and will experience a good deal of soreness in the area of your incisions, it is important for someone to drive you home after your surgery. You may also want to have someone stay with you for the first few days after the surgery.
The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you will feel tired from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery. The doctor will prescribe pain medication to alleviate much of the discomfort. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first two days.
You can take a shower or bath the day after your surgery; however, don't let the bandages covering your incisions get wet for more than a minute or so. You can take the special elastic bra placed over your breasts after the surgery off during your shower or bath, but it must be worn at all other times (even while sleeping) for the first two weeks after your surgery.
If gauze dressings have been placed over your breasts during surgery, they will be removed after a few days. Your first post-operative visit usually takes place two to three days after surgery. Subsequent visits are scheduled every one to two weeks for the first six weeks and then every one to two months for the next six months. In addition, a massage program will be demonstrated at the first or second post-operative visit. This program is to help ensure soft implants and should be performed four to five times a day for the first six months after surgery.
The First Two Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery:
- Any bruising you experience will usually disappear in about two weeks.
- Some patients experience a burning sensation in their nipples, which generally disappears within 7 to 14 days after surgery.
- Your stitches will be removed within 10 to 20 days after surgery.
You should sleep on your back for the first week after surgery to help keep your implants in the best position possible during initial healing. Placing pillows on either side of your body often helps ensure that you do not roll onto your side while sleeping.
During the first two weeks after surgery, you should also:
- Wear the specialized elastic bra provided by The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery at all times, even while sleeping, to help hold your breasts in the correct position. You may take the elastic bra off to shower or bathe, but must put it back on immediately after drying off. If the bra is too tight, call the staff at the Institute immediately - bras that are too tight can cause skin problems.
- Avoid heavy lifting and straining for at least two weeks.
Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following are general guidelines:
- You can most likely return to work or school within three to five days after your procedure, unless your work is strenuous.
- You can resume driving as soon as you experience no pain when you turn the steering wheel, usually within a week for cars with power steering and a little longer for manual steering.
- Two weeks after surgery, you can begin to sleep without the special elastic bra you've been wearing. However, you should continue to wear this bra during the day for four to six weeks after your surgery, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
- When you begin to wear your own bras again, you will probably be more comfortable wearing a bra without underwire support until your incisions are healed.
- You should not go braless, except while sleeping, for four to six weeks following your surgery. At your follow-up appointment, the doctor will let you know when you can begin to go without a bra.
- Strenuous exercise can begin about three weeks after surgery. Our patients are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
- The scars on your breasts should be protected from sunlight for at least a year after surgery.
Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
- Your breasts may heal at different rates. One breast may swell, one may feel less comfortable, or the shapes of your breasts may look different. This is normal; however, when your body is fully recovered, your breasts will look very similar and natural.
- You may hear or feel a "sloshing" sensation after surgery. This is not the implant; it is fluid that has accumulated in the area around the implant immediately after surgery. Your body will naturally absorb this fluid within a few weeks.
- The skin of your breasts may appear shiny due to swelling. Within a few weeks, the swelling will disappear and the skin will return to a normal appearance.
What Are Possible Side Effects or Risks?
Like all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with breast augmentation. During your pre-surgery consultation with your doctor, your individual risks will be assessed and discussed and it will be determined if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation.
As with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks associated with your breast augmentation by closely following the instructions provided to you by the staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. And, the doctors and staff at the Institute will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome.
Some possible side effects include:
- Capsular Contracture
- Infection
- Changes in sensation
- Wrinkling
- Ruptured implants
- Difficulty with Mammograms
- Scars
How Long Will the Results of Your Breast Augmentation Last?
Results of your breast augmentation are permanent. However, keep in mind that as your body ages, your breasts may sag somewhat and the skin may wrinkle over time. Many patients wish to have their implants adjusted over time to maintain as youthful a figure as possible; however, this is not a necessity.
Questions You May Have
Are there other procedures that could be done along with breast augmentation to enhance the size and shape of my breasts?
If your breasts are sagging due to pregnancy, weight loss, aging, or loss of muscle tone, a breast lift, or mastopexy, can be performed to enhance your breast augmentation.
Will my insurance coverage pay for my breast augmentation surgery?
Except in cases of reconstruction, breast augmentation is considered a cosmetic treatment and, therefore, is not covered by your insurance. You are responsible for the full payment for your procedure. Cost and payment information will be discussed in detail with you during your initial consultation.
Are there alternatives to breast augmentation surgery?
Currently, no other intervention exists that provides the results possible with breast augmentation. The Brava® system uses suction and time to "grow" more breast tissue. Reports have noted minimal to modest improvements, but long-term implication and stability are as yet undetermined.
