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Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery that increases the size of the breasts using either implants or fat transfer. This procedure can be done to help restore lost volume, restore balance and enhance a person’s overall figure and bring newfound self-esteem. Patients can choose from saline, silicone, and cohesive gel implants, as well as autologous fat transfer for their breast size enlargement.
One of the many breast augmentation options involves choosing an incision site for Dr. Shienbaum to access the breast pocket and place implants. Different techniques have various pros and cons and may not be available for every candidate.
Immediately after surgery your breasts will most likely feel very sensitive and have some bruising and swelling. Soreness in the chest area is common for the first several days but getting up to walk every couple of hours can help, as it promotes blood flow and healing. The only major limitations after breast surgery involve lifting of any kind, otherwise returning to light daily activity should be fine as long as the patient feels up for it.
Massaging breast implants is thought to reduce the risk of capsular contracture by maintaining the implant pocket. This allows additional space for the implant and, hopefully, a more supple result.
Be certain to massage the implant and not the breast skin. The implant itself should be gently moved in all directions– up, down and sideways in a circular motion.
Any surgical procedure involves some risk. Luckily, breast augmentation has a long and successful record in which serious complications are infrequent. Since anesthesia is used, there is the potential for an adverse reaction to it, although this is uncommon. Other risks include bleeding, poor scarring, and unsatisfactory results.
Even if the implant shell integrity has been compromised, the silicone contents will be contained by an intact breast capsule. This intracapsular leak is often “hidden” and difficult to diagnose.
Rupture is relatively easy to detect in saline implants, as the saline solution is absorbed by the body as it leaks, causing the breast to have a “deflated” appearance. If you notice a sudden change in breast shape or size, call Dr. Shienbaum to have it examined, and he can schedule a time to remove the implant and replace it if desired.
Even if the implant shell integrity has been compromised, the silicone contents will be contained by an intact breast capsule. This intracapsular leak is often “hidden” and difficult to diagnose.
Your routine mammogram will often provide the first clue. An additional ultrasound study will demonstrate frank rupture, while an MRI is typically needed to detect small and intracapsular silicone leakage. Remember that your MRI report includes a certain percentage of false positives and negatives. In the Tampa, Lakeland, and Brandon areas, your physician may be able to detect any problems as they occur.
Breast implants can plump up and enhance the volume of the breasts for results ranging from slight to dramatic depending on your preferences. If the associated breast sag is mild, meaning the nipples point forward and not down, and the areolae are still in the center of the breast, then a breast implant alone may work to help you achieve the self-confidence you want. In the Lakeland, Brandon, and Riverview areas, Dr. Shienbaum can help you determine if breast implants would suit your desires during a breast augmentation consultation.
A breast lift procedure is usually necessary for large, drooping breasts if the nipple points down, or if the areola is at the bottom of the breast and the nipple sits below the breast fold. An aesthetically pleasing breast shape is possible with only a breast lift procedure if you are currently satisfied with your breast volume. A breast lift can also help correct any breast asymmetry you may have.
In some cases, a woman can benefit from both breast augmentation techniques and achieve an incredible enhancement to the overall shape and contour of the body. By combining the lifting benefits and volume enhancement, these two surgeries provide eligible candidates with a totally personalized, more youthful breast appearance with minimal downtime.
Many plastic surgeons feel that it is important to gently and progressively stretch the pectoral chest muscles after surgery. These exercises can aid in relaxing any spasms or abnormal muscle tightness, as well as reducing pain and tenderness. However, proceed cautiously, without sudden or forceful lifting or pushing. These exercises can include alternating rolling and circular movements of the shoulders and arms, as well as stretching backward with the hands cupped behind the head.
Some people refer to a certain breast shape as having a tube-like appearance. This is due to a narrow, constricted base at the chest wall, with a tight skin envelope and a sagging, overhanging nipple-areola complex. This causes breast tissue to appear to be pushed forward, and the areolae are often enlarged and asymmetric. The net effect is a drooping breast that sags over the natural breast folds with downward-pointing nipples.
This appearance can be adjusted with strategic implant placement and breast lift surgery procedures. It involves expanding the narrow base with the insertion of a wide-based implant. In addition, a release of the prolapsed areolar breast tissue is performed to relax and drop the breast. This facilitates the reduction of an enlarged areola and asymmetrical correction via mastopexy (breast lift).
Tampa plastic surgery has many alternatives for people looking to enhance their breasts in some way, and here are the four main options:
Having your own natural tissue injected for breast enlargement sounds intuitively appropriate. A one or two cup size increase may be possible without the worry of implant rupture or capsular contracture, plus the results are permanent, although not as dramatic as implants. Fat transfer is already widely used for breast reconstruction, so why not breast augmentation?
Well, there are risks. Only a certain percentage of the fat cells ultimately survive. The remaining cells can cause inflammation, lumpiness, fatty cysts, or calcium granulomas. Calcium deposits in the breast raise the suspicion of breast cancer and may lead to unnecessary biopsy. For these reasons, Dr. Shienbaum may not recommend this plastic surgery technique for you.
With all the options for implants, surgical techniques, and combination procedures, the decision to have breast enhancement surgery is complicated yet deeply personal. For guidance on which procedure and implants are right for you, trust board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Marvin Shienbaum. Schedule your consultation by calling or contacting us online today.
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