It has been an ongoing debate to which is better; a natural breast augmentation using your own fat or implants? The ability to use your own natural tissue for enhancing your breasts sounds like the perfect solution for many patients. It’s possible to go up one or two cup sizes without worrying about your implants rupturing or the fear of capsular contracture. Since the procedure of fat grafting is so widely used for breast reconstruction, then why not use it for an augmentation as well?
There is a risk involved with a fat transfer- some of the fat cells may not survive. There is also a possibility of lumpiness, inflammation, calcification or fatty cyst formation from a fat transfer.
The calcium deposits from a fat transfer in your breasts increases the suspicion of breast cancer, which may lead to an unwanted biopsy. Those who have a family history of breast cancer may want to be cautious about this procedure.
The use of implants for a breast augmentation will add volume and plumpness to smaller breasts. If the amount of droopiness is only mild, the nipples and the areola will still be placed in the correct spot and the implants will help fill in the loose skin. In Tampa, Florida, Dr. Shienbaum will aid you in determining whether a breast augmentation will help you achieve your desired results.
A breast lift is a necessary procedure in cases of large breasts where the nipples are pointing downwards and the areola placement is near the bottom of the breasts; the nipples, in this case, are below the folds of the breasts. With a breast lift it is possible to achieve an aesthetically pleasing shape to the breasts when dealing with sufficient volume loss.
Top Tampa, FL surgeons can also combine a breast lift with a breast augmentation. Augmentation mastopexy is a procedure necessary in the case of inadequate breast volume for the construction of a round, full breast.
Tampa, Florida cosmetic surgery offers you various alternatives to implants. Here are your top 4 options for implant alternatives:
During a breast augmentation, the pectoral muscles are detached and elevated, which is where most of the pain stems from. This procedure of moving the muscle is necessary to make space for the placement of the implants. The discomfort of moving the muscle can be reduced by a gentler technique which will help avoid trauma to the underlying rib peritoneum.
Dr. Shienbaum administers a block of bupivcane (Marcaine) locally, which is an anesthetic that lasts for several hours and reduces the requirement for post-surgery pain medication after a breast augmentation. The severity, as well as duration of pain, differs in individuals depending on their perception and tolerance levels.
After 30 years and thousands of breast augmentation procedures, Dr. Shienbaum has developed this technique to offer the most comfortable results for his patients. Patients can consult Dr. Shienbaum to know more about what you can expect during your breast augmentation procedure in Tampa, FL.
It is recommended that you massage your breasts to reduce any risks of capsular contracture after a breast augmentation. Massaging the breasts maintains the implant pocket, allowing more space for the implant and leading to better results.
Patients should keep in mind that they need to massage the implant and not their skin. The massage should move the implant itself in a circular motion in every direction – sideways and up and down. This massage technique works well in displacing the implant and not allowing for any breast tissue to tighten around it.
Patients should not massage textured implants, as the value of this been questioned by several experienced cosmetic surgeons.
Pregnancy does not damage the shape or integrity of your breast implants. However, the characteristics of the breast tissue surrounding your implants may change due to the rapid stretching, hormonal changes, lactation and breast feeding.
The most common breast concerns after pregnancy involve ptosis (sagging), stretch marks, loss of volume (atrophy) and discoloration of the areola. It is possible that one breast be affected more than the other, leading to asymmetry in the breasts.
A breast lift can help with loss of volume, which benefits the elevation of the breast tissue, bringing it back to its original position. It is more difficult to deal with stretch marks on breasts after pregnancy. Genetics play a major role in determining how pregnancy may affect your breasts.
A breast augmentation is not age specific. The most important thing to consider before a breast augmentation is whether you are medically fit enough to undergo a surgical procedure safely. Any serious medical conditions such as compromised lungs, labile hypertension, coronary artery disease and advanced diabetes need to be carefully evaluated before a breast augmentation, since they may increase the potential for risks.
American Society for Cosmetic Surgery has reported that almost 11% of breast augmentation patients are over 50 years old. Older women tend to replace their old implants rather than remove them.
Age should not be a deciding factor for your breast augmentation surgery. A breast augmentation is a personal decision, and patients should consider safety and health in addition to self-perception. In Tampa, FL patients of all ages are opting for a breast augmentation.
Most surgeons in Tampa, FL agree that breast implants do not cause autoimmune disease or worsen the disease. However, it is possible that the medication taken for the condition may delay your healing process or add to the risk of infections for those undergoing a breast augmentation.
The FDA found that there is no difference in the incidence of autoimmune disease in women with implants as opposed to those without them. The belief that removal of your implants will rid you of your autoimmune disorder is also not verifiable. There is no studied proof that links breast implants with autoimmune disorders.
In case of a leak in your saltwater implants, there will be a rapid and sudden reduction in size. Since the implant contains saltwater, it is harmlessly absorbed into your body. There may be an exceptionally slow leak leading to a slow decline in the size. In most cases it is easy to feel the deflated implant within your tissue.
Some of the symptoms and signs of your silicone implant leaking include a sudden soreness or firmness, misshapen breast contours, an irregularity of the surface or obvious lumps. There may also be an inflammatory response to a leaking silicone implant, leading to a tight capsular contracture.
Since there is no decrease in the volume of the breast, it can be difficult to detect implant leakage. This holds true specifically for the modern “gummy bear” implants which, due to their high viscosity, maintain shape. The older silicone implants are less viscous and droplets may leak into the tissue surrounding the implant.
Even though the silicone shell ruptures, the contents are contained within the breast capsule. This intra-capsular implant leak is not easy to diagnose.
A routine mammogram offers a clue to the implant rupture. Additionally, an ultrasound can detect a rupture whereas an MRI is required to detect tiny and intra-capsular implant leakage. Keep in mind that MRI reports contain some percentage of false negatives and positives. In the Tampa, FL area, your physician can help you with detection of any breast implant issues when they arise.