Nikolaos Ι. Karmiris | MD, FEBOPRAS, Plastic Surgeon
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:
Breast augmentation offers a natural and aesthetically satisfactory result to each woman improving her physical appearance, emphasizing her strengths and enhancing her self esteem.
Candidates for a breast augmentation are the following:
Women may undergo breast augmentation provided they are healthy, aged 18 years or older.
At your first appointment, you will discuss:
Afterwards, Dr Karmiris:
Before the operation you will undergo a preoperative check, including:
Dr Karmiris will answer all the questions related to the necessary pre-op check and he will inform you in detail.
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:
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.
The main anatomic positions of implant placement are the following:
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.
Regarding the safety of silicone implants, there are extensive scientific studies, made by independent University Institutions, which have shown that until nowadays, there is no correlation between silicone implants and autoimmune or other systemic diseases.
Last years, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been monitoring the correlation between certain types of breast implants and a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the anaplastic large cell lyphoma (ALCL).
For the time being, the data are under evaluation and the certified incidents are very rare (approximately 1 in 30.000 cases), while the majority of them can be cured. Dr Karmiris will answer any questions related to that.
Immediately after the surgical procedure, you will have medical gauze or bandages on the incisions which will be reduced quickly. If drains have been used (these are the drains that absorb fluids accumulating in the wound), they will be removed in a couple of days the latest.
You will need to wear a surgical bra in order to minimize oedema and to ensure breast support during recovery.
In most cases, patients are discharged on the same day. In addition, the recovery will be quite fast. There is an element of ache and mild discomfort the first days following surgery, which can be treated effectively by using simple painkillers.
Dr Karmiris will give you particular instructions on how to take care of your incisions immediately post-op, what medication you should take and when you will be seen for a follow up.
In general, breast augmentation is a safe surgical procedure, which is performed with great success. However, like any other surgical procedure, breast augmentation has some risks, as well as potential complications that every patient should be aware of and should understand fully, before entering operating room.
The most important potential complications are the following:
In some cases, breast enlargement should be combined also with breast uplift (mastopexy) in order to achieve an optimal and natural result.
Is pregnancy contraindicated to breast augmentation?
Pregnancy will change the size and the shape of a woman’s breast, either with implants, or not. These changes can adversely affect the result of breast augmentation.
If you are not considering pregnancy, there is no correlation between breast augmentation and possible pregnancy after years.
Breastfeeding is not affected from implants and has been proven to be safe not only for the fetus, but also for mother.
Does breast augmentation can also be successful in breast ptosis?
Women with breast sagging, showing a drooping tendency, can also proceed to breast enlargement. Depending on the degree of droopiness, an additional surgery may be necessary, meaning that patients might need to perform the so-called augmentation mastopexy. Without this additional surgical procedure in order to remove excess skin, the implant placement may not adequately correct sagging and worsen the degree of breast droopiness.
Is the sensation affected? will the patient experience nipple sensitivity?
Following breast augmentation, there is a possibility that nipple sensation may be affected, which is usually described as total or partial loss of sensation (hypoesthesia), while there are women who experience increased sensation in the area (hypersensitivity).
In most cases, however, this is transient and within 6-12 months sensation returns to normal levels. A small percentage may have permanent changes in nipple sensation.
Postoperatively, since when should patients avoid regular exercice?
After 2 weeks, they can start more vigorous exercice, such as treadmill workout or uphill walking. Almost a month following surgery, most patients can return to normal activities, having as a general rule to avoid any heavy lifting. Finally, after 6 weeks all patients have recovered completely.
Following breast augmentation it is recommended- especially if patients have implants under the muscle – to try to avoid vigorous exercising, such as push-ups.
The reason is that since the implants are located under the muscle is applied pressure on the implants -pointing down and out- by extremely intense and continuous contractions. Natural aging process can cause breast ptosis or even implants displacement.
Postoperatively, when can I start driving?
Patients can start driving 1 week following the surgical procedure, provided they are not taking pain killers.
Dr Karmiris will explain you, in detail, the whole surgical procedure and will answer any questions related to that.
For more information regarding the cost of breast augmentation, book today your appointment with Dr Nikos Karmiris.