Breast Augmentation & Implants (Mammoplasty)

Breast Augmentation

Reasons for Considering Breast Augmentation:

• Enhance body shape if breasts are too small.
• Increase breast volume after pregnancy and nursing.
• Equalize a difference in breast size (cup size) to gain breast symmetry.
• Reconstruct breasts following a mastectomy or injury.

Breast augmentation is also known as mammoplasty, is a surgical enhancement procedure to accentuate the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. While breast augmentation will make the breasts larger, the surgery will not move the breasts closer together or lift sagging breasts.  Breast augmentation is tremendous help to patients who desire a fuller profile, who have lost breast volume due to pregnancy or nursing, or who have undergone breast reconstruction and want to gain a more natural look again.

Breast augmentation is the most common procedure performed at the Smith Plastic Surgery Institute.  This procedure is instantly rewarding and truly life-changing for many of our patients.  Patients have many options when considering breast augmentation which include the type of implant, the place of the incision, and the position of the implant.

At our practice, you are seen in an initial consultation with Dr. Smith.  After his consultation is complete, you are then given an opportunity to “try on” different implants.  The sizing process includes our skilled medical assistants placing you in a special bra and filling it with implants of different sizes until your perfect size is found.  Once this is determined, a note is made in the chart which indicates your requests.  If you change your mind or wish to rethink the size you picked, you are welcome to come by the office at any time during business hours to be sized again.

Breast Implants

A breast implant can be silicone or saline, which is your choice.  They can also be placed through three different incisions.  One incision is in the fold under the breast, the second is around the areola (through the dark part around the nipple), or through the axilla (armpit).  These choices are totally up to you as the patient and can be made just minutes before the operation begins.

Breast augmentation surgery consists of creating a pocket in which the implant will be placed.  This pocket can be above or under the muscle, which will be determined by you and Dr. Smith before the surgery.  After the pocket is made, the implant is placed.  The augmented breasts are compared for size and symmetry and adjusted as appropriate.  After proper positioning is achieved, the pocket and incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures.  Sterile bandages are placed as well as a special surgical bra.  You are then awakened and sent to the recovery area. The surgery itself lasts approximately one hour and requires a one to two hour recovery time.  You are then discharged home the same day.   You can generally return to work in three to four days.  Vigorous exercise can be resumed in three to six weeks. If you are contemplating breast augmentation, please call our office for a personalized consultation with Dr. Smith.

• General Breast Augmentation Procedures

Breast augmentation involves making a small incision to insert a breast implant into the breast area in order to enlarge the breast.  The surgery is commonly performed on an outpatient basis at a hospital or state-of-the-art surgical unit while the patient is under a general anesthesia and asleep.  There are several possible locations for the small incision that will be used for inserting the breast implant.  The most frequent technique utilizes an incision made in the lower portion of the breast.  Another technique, though less frequently used, involves making an incision in the armpit.  A third technique makes an incision around the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple).  A newer technique uses an incision in the belly button, thus reducing the chance of scarring in the breast area.  The best technique will be decided together between the patient and the surgeon during the consultation.

During surgery, the breast tissue is raised to create an open pocket under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle.  Inserting an implant behind each breast can increase a woman’s breast size by one or more bra cup sizes.  Implants typically contain a saline solution (similar to saltwater) although in special cases the implants can contain a silicone gel.  In some circumstances, particularly those in which there is breast asymmetry (uneven breast size), an inflatable implant may be used to allow the surgeon to adjust the level of inflation to attain breast symmetry and balance.  Surgery typically lasts from 1 to 3 hours.

Breast Implant Recovery 

Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time.  Bandages are applied right after surgery to aid the healing process and to minimize movement of the breasts.  Once the bandages are removed, a specialized surgical bra will need to be worn for several weeks.  Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with the surgery.  This pain can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given by the physician after surgery.