Breast Augmentation surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries done today. If you wish that you had a larger breast contour, Breast Augmentation surgery may be right for you. This procedure is highly customizable, so patients can be sure to meet their aesthetic goals.
Breast Augmentation surgery is done by inserting implants into the breasts to add fullness. There are a variety of types of implants to choose from, including saline implants and silicone implants.
Saline implants are comprised of silicone shells filled with a sterile saline solution. These implants are inserted into the breasts empty and then filled once they are placed. If saline implants were to rupture, the implant would deflate and the saline solution would simply be absorbed into the body.
Silicone implants are made up of a silicone shell filled with a silicone gel. Many patients claim that silicone implants feel more natural than saline implants. It can be more difficult to tell whether a silicone breast implant has ruptured because the implant will not deflate. Unlike saline implants, the silicone gel cannot be absorbed by the body, so it is important to contact your plastic surgeon immediately if a rupture occurs.
Patients have the choice of having their implants placed underneath or on top of the pectoral muscles. During your consultation, Concord Plastic Surgeon Dr. Narasimhan will help to determine which implant placement option is right for you to achieve your breast contour goals.
When it comes to breast augmentation incisions, there are three main options: The periareolar incision, the inframammary incision, and the transaxillary incision. The periareolar incision is comprised of an incision placed around the lower half the areolar border. The Inframammary incision is done along the breast crease. Lastly, the transaxillary incision is done under the armpit. During your consultation, you will discuss which type of incision is right for you.
Patients whose breasts are fully developed but are dissatisfied with the fullness or shape of their breasts are considered good candidates for Breast Augmentation surgery. Those who are generally healthy and who have realistic expectations for their surgery are often the happiest.
The cost of a breast augmentation will vary depending on the type of implants and the extent of the surgery. This may depend on if a breast lift or certain reshaping work may need to be done to help you achieve your desired look. A consultation with Dr. Narasimhan will allow you to review your option and personal goals to allow for the most accurate quote. Once pricing is discussed based on your individual procedure, you can begin to explore financing options with us or if your breast augmentation is reconstructive, your insurance company will work with you to establish coverage.
After Breast Augmentation surgery, patients should take two weeks to recover. Some patients with desk jobs are able to return to work within five to seven days. You will be asked to wear a support bra to help your breasts heal. It is imperative to follow the specific recovery instructions you will be given by Dr. Narasimhan to ensure a quick and safe recovery.
If you are interested in a larger breast contour, Breast Augmentation surgery may be able to help. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact us today at (978) 369-1579.
What is Breast Augmentation?
Your breast size is determined by your genes; however, once your breasts have fully developed, they may fluctuate in shape, size, volume and contours due to several factors like pregnancy, breast feeding and massive weight loss. With aging, your breasts may droop and this is termed as ptosis. There might also be a slight difference in their sizes or asymmetry which is usually not so apparent. The breasts are an integral part of a woman’s anatomy and they affect her self esteem and self confidence.
Breast augmentation is a common cosmetic surgery for enhancing the shape, size, volume and contours of your breasts. There are several reasons women opt for breast augmentation including alignment restoration, increasing their size and shape and restoration after undergoing mastectomy.
There are different ways to augment your breasts and once your surgeon has evaluated them and understood your goals, a customized treatment plan is developed. While fat transfer may be used to offer small corrections, the most common augmentation method is with the use of saline or silicon implants. Both have their unique advantages and risks which are shared in detail with you, alongwith the other options you have while undergoing a breast augmentation surgery. The procedure offers beautiful, perky and youthful breasts and certainly boosts the self confidence of women who were unhappy with the change in their breasts.
How long to recover from breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation has been helping millions of women across the globe achieve the contours they desire. Just like any other surgical procedure, the most crucial part of breast augmentation as well is the recovery period. It is essential that you set the right expectations for your recovery period, and it will ensure that your surgery is successful and the results satisfying. Your surgeon and his team will give you post surgical instructions to follow and also be just a phone call away during the entire time; you must attend all the follow up appointments so as to ensure that you are healing well.
Even though each woman has a different body meaning healing times will differ; most women are able to return to their jobs within 2 weeks and the swelling goes down completely by week 4 to 6. You will, however, keep seeing improvements in your results for a few months as the implants settle in their pockets and the skin, tissue and muscles continue to heal. You can reduce your risks to infections and the overall recovery period by diligently following instructions like wearing the compression garment and taking the prescribed medications. After the 6th week, your surgeon may allow you to slowly return to exercises and any physically demanding tasks. In a few months, any leftover tightness will disappear and scars will also become less visible.
What to expect after breast augmentation
Breast augmentation adds size, symmetry, shape and curvature to your breasts helping you achieve the attractive contours you always desired. When you choose an experienced surgeon and take care of yourself during the recovery period, you can enjoy long lasting results with your augmentation. Your surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes about 2 hours, you will stay in the recovery room for another 2 hours. The incision will be covered in a small gauze and you will be wearing a post-operative bra.
The first 2 days after your augmentation should be spent in complete rest. The more you allow your body to heal, the faster and better your recovery. Eat well during the first week and rest as much as you can. Any heavy lifting or strenuous activities must be completely avoided. You might feel sore for about a month and you will be required to wear a surgical or sports bra during most of this time.
When the implants are placed under the pectoral muscle, they may appear sitting high on the breasts for the first few weeks. You must not get alarmed since this is not your final result; with time, the implants will settle into their intended position giving you the curves you always desired. As you continue to follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions, you will find that recovery from breast augmentation is fast and safe.
What not to do after breast augmentation
When you have taken the first step towards getting fuller and beautiful breasts with an augmentation surgery, you must gather all information you require for the recovery period. When you follow your surgeon’s instructions and take care of your new breasts after the surgery, you can ensure you stay free of risks and complications and your results last longer. You will undoubtedly be told all that you should do during your recovery period, here are some things you must Not do during this period.
Ensure that you do not sleep on your stomach or sides for the first 6 weeks after your augmentation. This prevents any strain over your incisions and ensures that healing is even on both sides. During this period, it is also important to not indulge in any strenuous activity like running or jumping that could dislodge your implants or open up the wounds. Your surgeon will guide you about the gradual increase in activities depending on your healing.
For the first few weeks, you must avoid lifting your arms to reach over the shoulders, especially if you have armpit incisions. It is also not advised to pull up your breasts to look at the scars in the folds. These could lead to the wounds breaking open.
You must avoid getting the wound wet in the first 2 days of the surgery. Even though surgeons use waterproof bandages, it is usually safer to not get the area wet in the first 2 weeks to avoid any risk of infections. If you do shower, use a hair dryer to completely dry the dressing.
You must also avoid wearing an underwire bra for 6 weeks or till your surgeon gives his OK. Following the aftercare instructions will ensure that you enjoy expected results from your augmentation surgery.
How long does breast augmentation surgery take?
The breast augmentation surgery usually takes from 1 to 3 hours to complete. However, it is dependent on several factors including the anesthesia used during the surgery, the anatomy of your body, the placement of the implants and the technique your surgeon chooses to use.
During your augmentation surgery, an incision is made to create a pocket for the placement of the implants. This incision can be made at the navel, armpits, areola or under your breasts. Your implants may be placed under or over the pectoral chest muscles and this is decided depending on your breast anatomy, your level of exercises and activities as well as future need of getting mammograms.
Other than these considerations, some women may have an extensive surgery which includes other combination procedures as well. In case you wish to correct the sagginess in your breasts in addition to increasing their size, your surgeon will combine a breast lift with augmentation. This will increase the time of your surgery while your surgeon ensures that you get the best results from the procedure.
After your surgery, you will stay in the recovery room for a few hours to recover from the anesthesia. Your surgeon will also monitor you for any complications from the surgery before you are allowed to go home. You must have somebody to drive you home.
How to sleep after breast augmentation
You may have chosen to undergo breast augmentation due to one of the many reasons women have. However, it is only when you take care of yourself during the recovery period can you ensure results that last and are in sync with your expectations. One of the most important change you have to make in your daily life after breast augmentation is in the way you sleep.
Your surgeon will recommend that you sleep on your back for the first few weeks after your surgery. This prevents any undue strain on the incisions and the implants. It also allows sufficient time for the scar capsule to form on the implants which prevents deformation that could be caused by sleeping on your stomach.
It is common for most people to sleep on their stomachs. Not only should this be avoided for better healing, it will also be uncomfortable after your augmentation since the breasts will be larger than before. You can use pillows to help elevate your back. If you are unable to sleep lying flat or elevated, you may lie on your side.
Experienced surgeons use the latest in techniques and tools to ensure that your augmentation recovery period is short with less harm to the tissue and nerves. With the correct sleeping posture and sufficient rest, you can ensure that you heal well and faster as well.
What type of bra to wear after breast augmentation
Most women take months, if not years to finally make the decision to undergo breast augmentation. It is, then, natural to want to flaunt their new breasts in the sexiest lingerie. It may be difficult to understand why you need to wait longer to get into that perfect underwire that never did justice to your curves earlier.
During your augmentation surgery, the tissue surrounding your implants goes through severe trauma and it may even leave the bottom portion of your breasts numb for some time. If you begin wearing underwire bras, it may irritate the sensitive skin in this area and due to the numbness, you may not even know.
The incisions in the breast folds can get inflamed with the underwire, the friction caused by it can be painful and prolong their healing. This could leave you with ugly scars. Some surgeons are also of the opinion that when you wear underwire bras too soon after your augmentation, it can alter the shape of your new breasts.
You will be given surgical or sports bras to wear for the first few weeks of your augmentation; in some cases, you may be wearing a compression garment. All of these minimize swelling and keep your new breasts in place helping with healing. During your follow up appointments, your surgeon will advise you about the best time to begin wearing underwire bras and it is best to follow such instructions.
How long do breast implants last?
It is natural for women undergoing breast augmentation to want to know if their implants are for life or need replacement after some time. Every woman has a different body and so is the life expectancy of her implants. Several factors affect this including your anatomy, lifestyle, the type of implants and your surgeon’s skill.
The misconception that implants have to be ‘lifted’ or replaced regularly keeps many women away from this beneficial surgery. Even though there is no guarantee about the life of your implants, they last much longer than what is commonly believed. A secondary surgery to replace your implants is only required in case of a complication or when you are unhappy with your augmentation results.
While some breast implants may only last a few years, some may actually last an entire lifetime. On an average, implants are known to last for 10 to 20 years. According to the FDA, only 20% women have had to go in for replacement or repair surgeries within 10 years of their augmentation.
The most common reason for getting a replacement is aging when the implants are no more suitable. Gravity may also change the size of the implants over the years or cause sagging and ripples. In certain cases, the body’s immune system reacts unfavorably to the implants forming a capsular contracture. A surgery is required in such cases to remove the capsule and implant before replacing it with a new implant.
What are breast implants made of?
When it comes to choosing the right breast implants for your augmentation, there is no perfect kind. The implants that look fabulous on your friend may not be the right kind for you. This is why it is essential that you undergo a face to face consultation with an experienced surgeon who will help you determine the best implants based on your body type and a physical assessment.
Breast implants are made up of a silicone outer shell with different filler materials. The filler in your breast implants can be silicone gel, saline water or cohesive silicone gel. The look, feel and overall performance of each of these implants is different.
The regular silicone gel implants have been approved for use in those above the age of 22 years. They feel more natural when compared to the saline implants. They are also less prone to rippling and are hence, chosen more commonly.
The highly cohesive gel implants are also known as gummy bear implants. They are firmer and thicker than the silicone gel and are fast gaining popularity. The rate of rippling, rupture and capsular contracture is lower with these implants. You can find them in round and teardrop shapes; and these kind of implants are able to maintain their shape for a longer time period meaning there is a lower rate of them bottoming out or malposition.
If you do not wish to get silicone gel implants for any reason, it is recommended that you get saline implants. These are adjustable and offer the required fullness on the upper pole of the breasts with better projection.
How long do saline breast implants last?
For women who have small breasts or who have experienced changes in the shape and size of their breasts, breast augmentation offers the best option for enhancement of overall shape and volume. There are several decisions you will have to make for your augmentation and the most important is choosing the kind of implants you would want to use. The most commonly used are saline and silicone implants. Depending on your body type and individual needs, your surgeon will help you make this decision.
Saline breast implants are filled with a sterile salt solution and consists of an outer silicone shell. In case of a rupture, saline implants are the safest since the natural salt solution can be safely absorbed by your body. Saline implants also offer flexibility in size since they are inserted as empty shells before being filled with saline water. This means they also require a smaller incision.
Even when saline implants suffer from a rupture, you will be able to figure since they immediately deflate and there will be apparent asymmetry. This is unlike a rupture in silicone gel implants which is difficult to determine and is called a silent rupture posing the danger of the gel getting absorbed through the lymphatic system.
Saline implants have a significantly high safety rates recorded with the FDA. However, most human made implants have a lifespan ranging from 10 to 15 years. For some women though, the saline implants could last a lifetime. It is important that you keep up with your annual check up to ensure your implants are doing good.
(978) 369-1579 
Concord, MA 
