Breast Augmentation Surgery

• If you are uncomfortable with the fact that your breasts are too small.
• If you feel that the upper part of your breast needs to be fuller.
• If your breasts have lost shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss, or with aging
• If your breasts are asymmetrical- and one of your breasts is noticeably smaller than the other.

Other important factors to decide your suitability for the surgery

• Your breasts are fully developed
• You are physically healthy
• You have realistic expectations

Women with smaller breasts may experience psychological distress about their personal appearance and this may impact their self-esteem. This surgery could enhance their self-image and self-confidence.
Breast augmentation is a very personal procedure and it is important that your motivation is right. It should be something that you want to do, not something that you are doing to please someone else.

Many nutritional supplements are being marketed as a natural means of breast enlargement. However, no medical studies have ever demonstrated a benefit. Breast enlargement might be a side effect of certain prescription drugs — such as hormone therapy (estrogen), birth control pills and certain antidepressants but these are not approved for breast enhancement.

Maintaining an erect posture and doing exercises to develop your chest muscles are safe and healthy ways to enhance breast appearance.

• Breast enlargement surgery using implants :  In this technique, the surgeon makes an incision, lifts your breast tissue, creates a pocket within the breast tissue and places an implant in the pocket. Or the implant may be place behind the pectoral muscle that is behind the breast.
• Fat transfer technique : Fat transfer breast augmentation uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body and inject it into your breasts. This is an option if you want a relatively small increase in breast size and would prefer natural results.

Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. If the implant shell leaks, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. Saline breast implants provide a uniform shape, firmness and feel.

Silicone breast implants are filled with silicone gel. This feels more like natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket. However, it will not collapse.

Round breast implants have a tendency to make breasts appear fuller than form-stable implants.

Smooth breast implants are the softest feeling. These implants can move with the breast implant pocket, which may give more natural movement.

Textured breast implants develop scar tissue to stick to the implant, making them less likely to move around inside of the breast and get repositioned.

Breast augmentation is a safe procedure but as with any other surgery, there are risks associated with anaesthesia as well as the risk of infection and bleeding.

Specific to the surgery, there may be changes in nipple or breast sensation, poor healing and scarring of the incision, implant leakage or rupture, faulty position of the implant, pain that may persist and the need for a revision surgery.

In addition it is important to note that:

Breast implants may not last a lifetime and may require further surgery to replace the implants. It is important for you to monitor your breast implants and follow-up with your plastic surgeon for appropriate checkups to evaluate your breast health.

Any breast surgery can have a small effect on breast cancer screening in the future. Breast health is important. Before the surgery, you will need to have a proper breast exam with your gynecologist and a mammogram if you are over 40 years of age (earlier if you have a strong family history of breast cancer).

Placement of the implant underneath the pectoral muscle interferes less with breastfeeding.

• You will be given anesthesia before you undergo surgery.
• An incision will be made depending upon the implant, your body contours, the type of implant and your surgeon’s preference. It may be either in the crease under your breast or in the armpit or around your nipple.
• Breast implants are inserted into a pocket created through the incision made. The implant can be placed either under the pectoral muscle or over the pectoral muscle, behind the breast tissue. The incisions are then closed.

The suture lines which are evident initially will eventually fade.

• You may experience pain once the effect of anesthesia wears off.
• Your skin around the breasts may feel warm or itchy.
• You may experience difficulty raising your arms.
• You may feel tenderness or tightness in your breasts.
• Some swelling will occur initially, but this will disappear very soon.

Any surgical dressings will be removed within a few days. External sutures if any, will be removed in about a week. You may return to work within a few days to a week.

You will be able to walk without assistance immediately after breast augmentation surgery.

Most patients are allowed to go home on the same day of surgery with proper instructions. Occasionally patients may have to stay overnight. You must ensure that you have someone to drive you home after surgery, as the effect of anesthesia lasts for some time.