A woman’s breasts can define who she is, both her femininity and her individuality. Some women are not satisfied with the different size, shape or color of their natural breasts, others need medical reconstruction, and some are just unhappy with the changes that occur due to the aging process (such as loss of skin elasticity, degenerating muscle tissue, and weakened supersensory ligaments in the nipple or areola). Genetics, childbirth and breastfeeding, and weight and hormonal changes can also change the size and shape of a woman’s breasts and her overall happiness.
Using a surgical scalpel and a handful of other medical tools, a plastic surgeon can perform a breast implant or breast augmentation surgery. Breast augmentation surgery includes breast enlargement, breast reduction, and/or breast lift. A skilled plastic surgeon can help you make important decisions about which procedure is right for you, along with going over the breast implant procedure, recovery, and how to minimize the risks. The plastic surgeon can also help you, the patient, make important decisions such as using a silicone or saline implant, the position of the nipple or areola after surgery, and what size and shape you want for your breast implant.
Often times silicone or saline implants are not enough to correct the problems mentioned above, so a plastic surgeon will combine the breast enlargement surgery with a breast lift, which helps reshape the breast and areola to a more youthful position.
There are three main incisions your plastic surgeon might use for your breast augmentation surgery. With a surgical scalpel, he or she will make an areolar (around the areola), inframamary (under the breast), or transaxillary (side of the breast and under the armpit) incision. These allow the plastic surgeon to place the silicone or saline breast implants properly. For a breast lift procedure, there are three additional types of incisions that can be used: areolar, vertical incision, or anchor. These three incisions determine where the extra skin will be removed to perform the lift, along with the final position of the silicone or saline implant and the areola.
A complete breast augmentation surgery may take around two hours. After drawing guidelines on the breast and giving the patient anesthesia, the plastic surgeon will make one of the incisions described above with their surgical scalpel, and then create a pocket for the implant. Silicone breast implants are already filled, while saline implants will be filled to the desired size once inserted into the breast. After completing the breast enlargement, the plastic surgeon will work on the breast lift. The plastic surgeon will make an incision, removing excess skin from the breast. After moving the areola and nipple and suturing it into place, the plastic surgeon pulls the remaining skin tight to close up the incisions made with their surgical scalpel.
For more information on recovery and the medical risks involved with breast augmentation, along with the differences between silicone and saline implants, read on.
For the very best in plastic surgery please visit the site of Dr Darshan Shah at www.drshah.com, or go to the sites of Beautologie Bakersfield (www.beautologie.com) or Beautologie Malibu (www.plasticsurgerymalibu.net).
