Breast augmentation, sometimes referred to as a "boob job" or augmentation mammaplasty, involves using breast implants or fat transfer to enhance or increase the size of your breasts. This procedure can also restore breast volume lost after weight loss or pregnancy, achieve a more rounded breast shape or improve natural breast size asymmetry.
Procedure
Breast augmentation improves the size and appearance of the breasts by implanting saline or silicone breast implants either under or over the chest muscle, thus producing a cosmetic enhancement.
Length
This procedure takes approximately two hours.
Anesthesia
A general anesthesia is administrated and the patient is completely asleep, or an intravenous sedation is used, combined with local anesthesia.
Inpatient/Outpatient
Either inpatient or outpatient depending on the preference of the surgeon.
What breast augmentation surgery can do
Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
Improve balance of breast and hip contours
Enhance your self-image and self-confidence
Breast implants may also be used for breast reconstruction after mastectomy or injury.
What breast augmentation surgery can't do
Breast augmentation does not correct severely drooping breasts. A breast lift may be required along with a breast augmentation for sagging breasts to look fuller and lifted. Breast lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation.
Who is a good candidate for breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a personal choice and it's important that you're doing it for yourself and not for anyone else, even if that person is paying for it. The chances of you being satisfied with the outcome increases if you are doing it for the right reasons.
You may be a candidate for breast augmentation if:
You are physically healthy and you aren't pregnant or breastfeeding
You have realistic expectations
Your breasts are fully developed
You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small
You are dissatisfied with your breasts losing shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss or with aging
You are unhappy with the upper part of your breast appearing "empty"
Your breasts are asymmetrical
One or both breasts failed to develop normally or have an elongated shape
If you are considering surgery, it is recommended you research breast augmentation, look at photos and learn about what to expect during recovery. Preparation ahead of time helps patients have reasonable expectations and a smoother recovery.
Possible Side Effects
Mild, temporary discomfort, mild to moderate swelling, a change in nipple sensation (either increased or decreased), and temporary bruising. Breasts may be sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks.
Risks
Either one breast implant or both may need to be removed and/or replaced to treat problems including: deflation, implant leakage or rupture, the formation of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture), which may cause the breast to feel tight or hard, bleeding and/or infection.
Other risks are an increase or decrease in sensitivity of the nipples or breast skin, which occasionally may be permanent, anesthesia risks, bleeding, hematoma, infection, changes in nipple or breast sensation, poor scarring, wrong or faulty position of the implant, fluid accumulation (seroma), wrinkling of the skin over the implant, persistent pain
Recovery
The patient can return to work within a few days. She should avoid any physical contact with her breasts (excluding her bra) for approximately three to four weeks. Scars should fade and flatten anywhere from three months to two years after surgery, depending upon how the individual patient heals.
Results
The outcome varies from patient to patient. However the overall effect is enhancement of breast size for improved appearance.
What types of breast implants are available?
Saline breast implants
Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. Should the implant shell leak, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. Saline breast implants provide a uniform shape, firmness and feel, and are FDA-approved for augmentation in women age 18 or older.
Structured saline breast implants
Structured implants are filled with sterile salt water, and contain an inner structure which aims to make the implant feel more natural.
Silicone breast implants
Silicone breast implants are filled with silicone gel. The gel feels a bit more like natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket. A leaking implant filled with silicone gel will not collapse.
If you choose silicone implants, you may need to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. An ultrasound or MRI screening can assess the condition of breast implants.
Round breast implants
Round breast implants have a tendency to make breasts appear fuller than form-stable implants. Higher profile options can achieve even more projection.
Because round implants are the same shape all over, there is less concern about them rotating out of place.
Other important considerations:
Breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery may be required to replace one or both implants
Pregnancy, weight loss and menopause may influence the appearance of augmented breasts over the course of your lifetime
Breast augmentation requires regular examinations of your breasts' health and to evaluate the condition of your breast implants
Over time the incision lines will fade. The quality of scar depends on many things, including your genetics, exposure of your body to nicotine and infection.
Closing and incision lines
Placement of breast implant
Types of Incisions