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Breast Augmentation

 

 

Please make sure to watch the video about Breast Augmentation

 

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.

 

 

How safe are the implants?

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.

 

Post operatively:

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.

 

 

Risks and safety information:

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:

  • bleeding or haematoma in about 1% of patients
  • wound infection
  • poor scaring
  • altered nipple sensation
  • asymmetry
  • capsular contraction (scar tissue which is formed around the implant)
  • rippling
  • implant rupture
  • bottoming out
  • general risks from anaesthesia, such as deep vein thrombosis, cardiac or pulmonary complications

 

Which other operations can be combined with breast augmentation?

 

In some cases, breast enlargement should be combined also with breast uplift (mastopexy) in order to achieve an optimal and natural result.

 

Frequently asked questions

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?

Patients can start walking on the same day following the surgery. Moving as normal contributes to faster recovery and prevents conditions related to blood circulation, such as “blood clots”.

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.

What is the next stage?

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.