What are the Indications?
- Breast augmentation is carried out on young women who remain
virtually flat chested.
- For women whose breasts have shrunk after pregnancy.
- For women whose breasts have dropped with age and the nipple
hangs below the crease underneath the breasts. In such cases an
uplift operation is best.
- There is also a large group of women who receive implants as
part of reconstructive surgery following breast removal
(mastectomy) due to cancer.
- There is a small number who receive implants because of two
rare developmental disorders - the first is when one breast fails
to grow (Poland's syndrome) and the second is when the breasts
grow into long thin tubes with a large nipple pointing downwards
(tubular breasts).
How does breast augmentation help the
patient ?
Breast augmentation can have a huge
psychological impact on women who feel inadequate in bed, on the
beach and even in the shops - where it can be hard to find clothes
which fit properly.
What are the incisions involved ?
The incision may be made in
either the armpit, around the areola, or beneath the breast.
Armpit Incision ?
The advantage of cutting through the armpit is that
the resulting scar is rarely seen. The disadvantages are that it can
be difficult to stop any internal bleeding, plus there is a risk of
tightness across the armpit down to the elbow and damage to a nerve
causing numbness in the inner arm.
Incision around the areola the advantage of cutting
through the areola is that the scar heals well but it may be
visible. The disadvantages are that it gives poor access to the
muscle: It may interfere with sensation in the nipple: and there's a
limit to the size of the implant that can be inserted.
Incision below the breast The advantage of cutting below
the breast is that it gives good access. However, some surgeons cut
a little higher than the crease beneath the breast so that the scar
higher than the crease beneath the breast so that the scar does not
show when you are lying on your back in a bikini. Doctors of AMS
prefer giving the incision around the lower crease of the breast.
Where is the breast implant
placed ?
The implant is placed either in front of the
chest muscle or behind it. This has an impact on the subsequent
shape of your breasts. Some surgeons prefer to place the implant in
front of the muscle, which may work well to fill out a breast if it
is an empty bag of skin. If it is placed behind the muscle (against
the ribs) then there will be more padding in front of the implant,
so it is less likely to be felt. We mostly prefer placing the
implant against the ribs and behind the muscle.
Consulting a surgeon?
The surgeon will take a full medical history, including any
history of breast lumps or breast, arthritis or neurological
problems. Your breasts will then be examined and the position of
each nipple will be checked. The surgeon will look at your breasts
carefully and measure them to check their symmetry. The surgeon will
also feel for any lumps in the breast and armpits and check the skin
tone and look for stretchmarks. Bring along a bra that your would
like to fill. And the surgeon will fit it with test implants for you
to see.
Having the operation
When preparing for surgery, you should take no aspirin for two weeks
and cut right down on smoking, stopping completely three days before
the operation, to avoid any complications with the anesthesia. When
you wake up from the operation, your new breasts will be taped in
position with elastoplasts. In general, it is best to stay in
hospital for one night in case of pain. A tube may be inserted to
drain any fluid which might collect around the implant. The pain
will resolve in five to six days, and dressings and stitches will be
removed after ten days. You will also be asked to wear a Tubigrip
around the chest for a special bra to hold the implants in the right
place for a month after surgery. You should sleep on your back or
side · not your front · for at least four weeks. You can drive after
ten days and three weeks after your operation you may resume gentle
exercise.
