What is Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Breast Augmentation is the surgical placement of Breast implants to increase the fullness and projection of the breasts or to improve the symmetry of the breasts. Clinically referred to as “Augmentation Mammaplasty”, the procedure is used cosmetically to:
It can be performed at the same time as another procedure, such as a brow lift, face-lift, or skin resurfacing.
- Enlarge a naturally small breast, most commonly the result of heredity
- Restore breast volume lost following pregnancy, as a result of breast-feeding or due to weight loss
- Achieve better symmetry when breasts are moderately disproportionate in size and shape
Indications for Breast Augmentation:
- Small Breast size
- Underdeveloped Breasts
- Loss of firmness after Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Change in shape and size after weight loss
- Noticeable difference in the size of one Breast
- Change in Breast volume due to aging
Breast Augmentation procedure for the emplacement of breast implant devices thus serves three purposes:
- Primary Reconstruction — the replacement of breast tissues damaged by trauma (blunt, penetrating, blast), disease (breast cancer), and failed anatomic development (tuberous breast deformity).
- Revision and Reconstruction — to revise (correct) the outcome of a previous breast reconstruction surgery.
- Primary Augmentation — to aesthetically augment the size, form, and feel of the breasts.
Procedure:
An incision is made either underneath the breast, just above the crease, around the lower edge of the areola or within the armpit. Once the incision is made, the surgeon creates a pocket into which the implant will be inserted. The implant is then placed in the pocket. The size and type of breast implant are determined by the goals for breast enhancement, existing body frame and mass and breast tissue. All breast implants include a solid silicone rubber outer shell, called a lumen.
Types of Breast Implant:
- Saline Breast Implants:
They are filled with sterile saline solution pre-filled to a predetermined size. They may also be filled at the time of surgery to allow for minor modifications in implant size. One of the advantages of a saline-filled implant is that, because it is filled with saltwater, after being inserted only a small incision is needed. Often, an incision of less than one inch is made underneath the breast, just above the crease, where it is usually quite inconspicuous. - Silicone Filled Breast Implants:
They are filled with viscous silicone gel. They have a uniformly textured surface, to reduce rotation; smooth-surface and textured-surface types. The newer varieties are made of a semi-solid gel that mostly eliminates filler leakage (silicone gel bleed) and silicone migration from the breast to elsewhere in the body. All silicone breast implants are pre-filled and may require a longer incision for implant placement.
Benefits of the Procedure:
- Aesthetic Improvement:
Breast augmentation with breast implants enhances a woman’s figure by increasing breast size, reshaping the bust line, and providing shapelier body contour. Small breasts can cause some women to feel that their bust line is disproportionate; creating an overall figure that lacks balance. Breast enlargement can add curves and definition to the body’s profile for an appearance that is more conventionally attractive. Breast enhancement surgery with breast implants can be used to restore breast size and shape following a mastectomy. If a woman’s breasts are of noticeably different sizes, a single breast implant can make the breasts more similar in size, creating an attractive symmetry. - Increased Confidence:
Reduced confidence and feelings of inadequacy are common when a woman feels that the size of her breasts is detrimental to her outward appearance. These feelings can be alleviated after a successful breast enhancement surgery adds size and youthful contour to the breasts. Women who have undergone breast enlargement surgery consistently report experiencing increased self-esteem and confidence. - Post Mastectomy Option:
A mastectomy, or the removal of one or both breasts as a treatment for cancer, can be traumatic for many women. To regain the bust line they had before their mastectomy, many women will choose to undergo reconstructive breast enhancement surgery, often with breast implants to achieve the most natural look possible.
