What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast Augmentation (breast enlargement) is one of the most popular aesthetic procedures, worldwide. It is about surgical placement of silicone breast implants, aiming at the following:

• increasing breast fullness
• improvement of breast symmetry
• restoration of lost breast volume which was caused by weight loss or pregnancy

What are the advantages of Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation offers a natural and aesthetically satisfactory result to each woman improving her physical appearance, emphasizing her strengths and enhancing her self esteem.

Who is a good candidate for a Breast Augmentation?

Candidates for a breast augmentation are the following:

• women who are not satisfied with their natural breast size
• women whose concern is their breast and shape volume caused by weight loss, pregnancy or due to natural aging process
• women who are not pleased with the look of “small bust”
• women who may experience some degree of breast asymmetry
• when one or both breasts have not been normally developed or have a tubular shape
• women whose breast is fully developed
• women with realistic expectations

What is the appropriate age in order to perform breast enlargement?

Women may undergo breast augmentation provided they are healthy, aged 18 years or older.

What to expect at your first appointment:

At your first appointment, you will discuss:

• what exactly is your concern in the appearance of your breast
• if breast augmentation is the appropriate treatment for you
• your past medical history, if you are on any medication, vitamins or other herbal supplements, if you have any allergies or any other operations in the past
• if there is family history of breast cancer
• mammogram or previous biopsy results

Afterwards, Dr Karmiris:

• will evaluate your general health condition and any other risk factors
• will examine you and will take all the detailed measurements from your breast size and shape. He will also evaluate your skin quality, as well as the positioning of nipples
• will take preoperative photographs
• will discuss with you all possible surgical options,depending on your case, as well as risks or potential complications
• will discuss with you about the anaesthetic plan

Preoperative check:

Before the operation you will undergo a preoperative check, including:

• blood tests
• chest X-ray
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• any other specialized tests, depending on the case

Dr Karmiris will answer all the questions related to the necessary pre-op check and he will inform you in detail.

The surgical procedure:

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure which is performed under general anaesthesia. The incisions are placed in such a way to be easily hidden and nearly indistinguishable post-op. Most often, scars are placed:

• at the inframammary fold line (IMF)
• in the armpit
• at the nipple border

The selection of the incision is related to the type of the implant which will be used, its size, woman’s body frame as well as surgeon’s preference. For instance, in women with small nipples the incision cannot be made to the specific area.

After creating the pocket of the breast, the implant is placed in a specific anatomic position, depending again on the body frame and particular characteristics of each woman.

Selecting and applying the appropriate method for you is something that you will discuss in detail with the doctor in order to achieve an optimal and natural result.

What are the implant placement techniques?

The main anatomic positions of implant placement are the following:

• subglandular placement
• subfascial placement
• subpectoral placement
• dual plane placement

After successfully placing the implants, the incisions are closed with absorbable sutures. The scars are permanent but, in most cases, they are small and nearly indistinguishable.