Characteristics of breast implantation

Relatively recently, a new branch of medicine has emerged - cosmetic surgery, which aims at breast implantation. According to statistics, the fairer sex, dissatisfied with the size of their breasts, most often resort to the services of plastic surgeons. Breast augmentation surgeries are performed with the help of special implants.

Indications for this may be:

1. The patient's desire to increase the size of the breast and give it a more attractive shape.
2. Breast reconstruction after radical mastectomy (removal) due to various diseases.
3. Asymmetry of the mammary glands.
4. Congenital anomalies and anatomical defects.
5. Consequences of trauma.

When a woman decides that she needs breast augmentation surgery, she faces 3 main tasks, on which the positive result will largely depend: the choice of clinic, specialist surgeon and types of breast implants.

The choice of specialist

How to choose the right clinic and plastic surgeon? There are many clinics in the big cities offering plastic surgery services. There is a fear of not encountering unscrupulous specialists, and then for many years to pay with your health and worn out nerves. There are many precedents in legal practice when they have been held liable and forced to pay material and moral damages.

It should be remembered that the cost of good implants and the work of a team of doctors is quite high. You should not buy various promotions and discounts, if the operation is offered at a price much lower than the market average, then it is better not to risk your health and refuse.

There are several criteria for competent choice of clinic:

1. The institution has permits, relevant licenses, its specialists have undergone specialized training and present notarized copies of university diplomas, specialization courses.
2. The clinic has all the necessary equipment, including resuscitation and intensive care equipment.
3. The operation is performed by a team of surgeons, resuscitators, operating room nurses.
4. The price of the services includes postoperative care and monitoring.
5. The clinic has good reviews from patients and is respected in the medical community.
6. The doctor tells in detail about the nuances of the operation and the service agreement, including a section on possible complications.
7. The clinic carefully checks the patient's health before setting a date for surgery.

So, the clinic and the plastic surgeon who will perform the operation have been determined. It remains to choose breast implants.

Choice of implants

What are they? Breast implants are a shell full of a certain composition.

The following are used as filler:

• saline;
• gel;
• mixture of solutions.

Saline breast implants are practically not used at this stage of the development of cosmetic surgery. They can not provide a long-term cosmetic effect - over time, wrinkles and tubercles appear on the surface of the breast. The gel content in the implant cannot move so freely, so it is preferable.

The latest generation of implants from leading Western manufacturers is based on a special gel that does not move when changing body position. As a result, the breast retains its attractive shape for many years.

Gel breast implants have:

1. Durable silicone fiber outer shell.
2. Cohesive gel filler with jelly-like consistency.
3. When broken, the gel does not leak into the breast tissue, but remains inside.

It is important to choose an anatomical implant that matches the natural shape of the patient's breasts. With a flat chest, it is recommended to install drop-shaped implants, with sagging - round. The surgeon and the patient must come to a common decision about mammoplasty and implants. In good clinics, it is proposed to create a 3D model that allows you to assess the outcome of future surgery.

In addition to the shape, the size of the implants is also chosen. In modern models, one size corresponds to 150 ml of gel filler. If you plan to increase the size of the breast by two sizes, implants with a volume of 300 ml are chosen.

There are special cases when the surgeon injects the filler into the shell during the operation. He decides individually on the amount of gel to inject based on:

• body proportions,
• chest width
• current breast size
• skin density.

After the implant is placed in the breast, a capsule of connective tissue forms over time, which penetrates its pores. The breast becomes naturally soft to the touch and does not deform over time. In some patients, a very dense capsule forms, which makes the mammary glands hard. Over time, this can cause them to lose their shape.

Location of implants

How are implants placed during surgery? The location of the implants in the breast determines the shape of the mammary glands. How quickly and well they "take root" in the body depends on the right choice.

There are several ways to place implants:

1. Above the pectoral muscle. Patients quickly and easily go through the rehabilitation period, the swelling disappears in a short time. Contraction of the pectoral muscles does not cause deformation of the implant. But over time, it can grow into a dense connective capsule, making mammography difficult.
2. Under the pectoral muscle. In this case, the implant will not interfere with mammography, does not overgrow with a dense capsule, but may be deformed due to contraction of the mammary glands.
3. Intermediate position between the fascia of the pectoral muscle and the tissues of the mammary gland. This allows you to securely fix the implant and avoid negative effects.

Breast implantation is performed in a clinic, usually under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision under the armpit under the fold of the breast or around the areola. In this case, less noticeable scars remain. The duration of the operation, depending on the complexity, is 1-2 hours.

Recovery period after mammoplasty

On the first day after the operation, the patient remains under the supervision of doctors and medical staff at the clinic. In normal health, she is discharged after dressing on the second day. On the 5th-7th day after the operation, control examinations are performed and, if necessary, bandages are made, and on the 10th-14th day, the sutures are removed. The rest of the rehabilitation period, in the absence of complications, is performed by the patient herself.

She must:

• wear special compression underwear prescribed by a doctor,
• limiting the physical load on the shoulder girdle,
• in the process of recovery to engage in a normal way of life,
• protect the chest from injuries from overheating and hypothermia,
• gradually return to the sport.

The whole period of rehabilitation, when the swelling completely disappears and the results of mammoplasty can be assessed, is 4-6 months.

Risks of breast augmentation surgery

Mammoplasty belongs to the category of complex operations, after which general surgical complications may occur:

1. Bleeding. The risk of bleeding is increased by poor blood clotting, sometimes the cause may be an unsewn blood vessel or a torn suture.
2. Infection. The surgical field for mammoplasty is extensive, infection of the surrounding skin can get into the wound.
3. The formation of dense scars. Sometimes disfiguring scars form at the site of the stitches. They are removed by excision.

In addition to the general surgical complications, there are specific inherent breast augmentation surgeries:

1. Implant rupture. In rare cases, this occurs due to disturbances in the patient's regimen during the rehabilitation period or as a result of implant defects.
2. Breast deformity with round implants. Occurs if the patient neglects to wear compression underwear or due to incorrectly chosen tactics for implant placement.
3. Loss of sensitivity in the nipple and areola. The reason is a violation of the integrity of the nerve endings.
4. Swelling due to impaired lymphatic drainage.
5. The formation of a dense capsular membrane that can deform the breast with anatomical implants.

Alternative breast augmentation

Is there an alternative to breast augmentation surgery? The use of cosmetics - creams, gels, ointments does not give positive results. You can't enlarge your breasts this way. In addition, the hormones they contain can cause a state of imbalance that is very difficult to correct.

The lack of volume and asymmetry can be compensated by wearing a special bra. However, only breast augmentation surgery can restore a woman's self-confidence and attractiveness.