Augmentation Mammoplasty - Breast Enhancing Surgery

Introduction

Augmentation mammoplasty is commonly known as breast augmentation. This is plastic surgery done to enlarge the breasts. This surgery makes the breast look bigger. Augmentation mammoplasty is an invasive procedure which means this surgery is performed through cuts or incisions in order to access the breast tissues.

What Is Augmentation Mammoplasty?

Augmentation mammoplasty also referred to as a boob job or breast aug, is a surgery that includes placing breast implants or fat transfer to enlarge the breasts. This surgery can also correct natural breast size asymmetry, provide a more rounded appearance of the breast, and restore breast volume lost due to pregnancy or weight loss. In addition, augmentation mammoplasty is also known as fat transfer breast augmentation, when fat from another area of the patient's body is used to produce the increased breast volume.

What Are the Advantages of Augmentation Mammoplasty?

Augmentation mammoplasty can make the following changes in the breast in order to enhance its appearance:

• Boost the breasts' prominence and fullness.

• Enhance symmetry between the breast and hip outlines.

• Improve self-confidence and self-image of a woman.

• The goal of this plastic surgery is to get healthy breasts. This surgery can provide significant benefits to women with smaller breasts or breast cancer. This procedure also includes reconstruction, the elimination of cancerous cells, and the repair of all imperfections of the breasts.

What Is the Procedure of Augmentation Mammoplasty?

Augmentation mammoplasty is done by inserting the breast implants behind the tissues of the breast or below the chest muscles. Breast implants are artificial devices called prostheses surgically placed within the breasts. These implants resemble a sac that is filled with saline or silicone. Following are the procedural steps of this surgery:

1. General anesthesia is administered to perform this surgery.

2. After that, the surgeon makes an incision or cut to open the breast tissues and inserts the breast implant. There are several methods for the insertion of breast implants. These methods are listed below:

• The most common method for implant placement used by surgeons is creating an incision on the skin fold that naturally exists on the bottom of the breast. The surgeon uses this incision to insert the implant. The scar can be slightly more noticeable if the patient is young, skinny, and childless.

• An incision beneath the arm may be used to insert the implant. The surgeon may use an endoscope to carry out this procedure. This device has a camera and surgical devices at the end. The cut is used to insert the endoscope. In this method, the breast will not have any scars. However, the patient may develop a scar that is visible underneath the arm.

• Another method used by surgeons for the placement of implants is making an incision around the areola's edge. The areola is the darkened circular region that surrounds the nipple. Through this incision, the implant is inserted. However, with this approach, there are chances of increased breastfeeding issues and sensation loss around the nipple area.

• When saline implants are to be inserted, the surgeon prefers making an incision near the belly button. This implant is moved to the breast region with the help of an endoscope. When the implant is placed properly, it is filled with saline, and the procedure is completed.

3. After placing implants, the surgeon closes the cuts or incisions with the help of stitches.

What Are the Types of Breast Implants Used In Augmentation Mammoplasty?

There are various types of implants used in augmentation mammoplasty. These implants are listed below:

• Saline Breast Implants: These implants are filled with saline. This is the reason it is called saline breast implants. A saline implant will collapse if the implant shell leaks and the saline will then be naturally absorbed and eliminated by the body. These implants are FDA (food and drug administration) approved and can be used for women aged 18 or more.

• Silicone Breast Implants: Silicon gel is used to fill silicone breast implants. These are also FDA-approved and can be used for women aged 22 or more. This type of implant will not collapse if the implant leaks. In addition, in case of a leaking implant, the silicone gel will either stay within the implant shell or move into the breast implant pocket.

• Gummy Bear Breast Implants: These implants can retain their shape even if the implant shell breaks. This is why they are referred to as form-stable implants and are firmer than other traditional implants.

• Round Breast Implants: These implants make the breast look fuller than a gummy bear breast implant.

• Smooth Breast Implants: These implants can move freely with the breast implant pocket and feel soft. However, these implants may give a prominent and noticeable rippling beneath the skin.

• Textured Breast Implants: These implants have a rough surface that attaches to the surrounding tissues, preventing them from moving around within the implant pocket.

How Long Does It Take To Recover From Augmentation Mammoplasty?

After the surgery, the patient might experience swelling and pain for the first few weeks. During the healing phase, patients are advised to wear a compression bandage to support the implants. The patient can resume their job within a few weeks or as instructed by the surgeon. Strenuous activities are avoided for a minimum of two weeks.

What Are the Risks Involved With Augmentation Mammoplasty?

Although this plastic surgery is safe, some rare risks are still involved. These risks are listed below:

• Infection.

• Shortness of breath.

• Chest pain.

• Scarring.

• Alteration in the breast and nipple sensation.

• Changes in the position of the implant can occur.

• The implant may break or leak.

In addition, there is a risk of getting breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a type of cancer. BIA-ALCL has been reported in patients having breast implants with textured surfaces.

Conclusion

Augmentation mammoplasty is a plastic surgery done to provide fullness and enlargement of the breast by inserting an artificial implant into the breast. This surgery is different from a breast lift as it cannot lift the sagging breasts; instead, it can increase the size of the breast.