Breast Surgery – Augmentation

Breast enlargement is a very popular procedure suitable for patients with a smaller bosom. This surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. During this procedure, breasts are enlarged using silicone implants. The patient consults the size and resulting shape that she wishes to achieve with a physician. Excessive breast size may put strain the spine, which is why the physician has a say in the decision making process regarding implant size - the decision is not the patient’s own to make.

Pre-op Assessment

The patient must undergo a pre-operative assessment during which the anaesthesiologist and surgeon will check whether she is able to undergo the procedure. This assessment may be performed by a GP and internist or it may be done at the plastic surgery clinic. The assessment includes a blood and urine test, an EKG, lung auscultation, physical examinations and any other tests that your physician might recommend. Each plastic surgery clinic has its own anaesthesiologist who will ask you several questions about the state of your health before the operation and who will explain to you once again what general anaesthesia involves. An ultrasound examination of your breasts is required. If necessary, a mammography is also performed. The patient should undergo this surgery at the end of her menstrual cycle when tissue retains the least amount of water and blood flow is reduced.

Procedure

A silicone implant may be placed on top of the breast muscle that is under the mammary gland or below the breast muscle. The decision about the placement of the implant will be made by the physician on the basis of his experience and the patient’s anatomic proportions. Three surgical approaches are used most frequently. In the first, the incision is made along the line between two types of skin, i.e., between the skin of the breast and the pigmented skin of the areola. A scar in this area is only minimally visible. The second type of incision is made in the inframammary fold. The length of the cut is usually between 4 and 5 centimetres. The scar is in the fold and is nearly invisible. The third approach uses an incision in the armpit. The advantage is an absolutely invisible scar. The most frequently used approach is that involving the inframammary fold. The procedure takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes.

Recovery

You will be provided with a special compression bra and compression band during surgery. The band prevents the implants from being displaced upwards and the bra from being displaced downwards. After surgery, drainage tubes will be inserted in order to conduct away any greater amounts of secretions or blood that may form. The tubes are left in place until secretion drops below a certain volume. Given that the drainage tubes must be cared for properly, it is advisable for the patient to remain at the clinic until the tubes are removed.

First Visible Effects

The patient will usually have to stay home from work for approximately two weeks. The time for which a compression bra and band must be worn is individual, usually ranging between 4 and 6 weeks. The compression underwear can first be removed for a few hours and later is only used for sleeping. The effects are visible after 3 weeks.