Breasts

Cosmetic surgery has grown in popularity over the last few years. One of the most popular surgeries is breast augmentation which gives patients the size and shape they have always desired with their breasts.

Breast augmentation is known by other names including augmentation mammoplasty and a “boob job”. The procedure is performed to increase the fullness of the breasts and to enhance the contour and appearance of the breasts.

There are multiple methods available to patients that are looking to enhance the appearance of their breasts. Let’s take a closer look at natural breast augmentation and the results that can be achieved by having the surgery:

How Breast Augmentation with Implants is Performed

A popular method of performing breast augmentation is by having implants placed in the body by a board-certified surgeon. The implant process starts when the surgeon makes an incision in the crease of a number of locations on the body. These locations include:

• The armpit (transaxillary)
• Under the breast (inframammary)
• The areola/pigmented area located around the nipple
• The belly button (transumbilical)

Once the decision is made regarding where to place the implant, it is positioned in the designated location. The implant can be placed under the muscle (submuscular) or above the muscle (subglandular). Once the implant is put in the proper position, the incision is closed through the use of sutures.

The list of FDA-approved implants includes:

• Saline breast implants contain sterile salt water. They are usually filled when the surgery is performed and they give the final results a uniform feel and shape.
• Silicone breast implants are filled with a silicone gel that is elastic. These implants are only approved for patients that are age 22 or older. They are pre-filled and require a longer incision than other implant choices.
• Gummy bear implants are silicone implants and they are filled with a thick form-stable gel that retains its shape. This type of implant has a teardrop shape which gives them greater projection at the bottom of the breast.

Additional Breast Augmentation Options

Fat grafting is a technique that allows patients to increase the volume of the breasts using fat removed from another part of the body via liposuction. In general, the fat is removed from areas such as the thighs or abdomen. The fat is purified and then it is re-injected into the breasts.

Breast augmentation can also be performed in combination with other procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast lift or Brazilian butt lift to provide a better contour to the body.

Breast Augmentation Candidates

Good candidates for breast augmentation include people that are least 18 years of age with breasts that have lost some of their shape or volume due to the aging process, pregnancy or weight loss. Patients with breasts that are misshaped or asymmetrical are also ideal candidates.

Recovery and Results

After undergoing breast augmentation, patients can expect to have some bruising and swelling for a few weeks after the surgery. Scars that are a result of the surgery can be visible for 3-6 months before they start to soften and fade. In general, it takes about a year before the scars completely mature.

The amount of breast augmentation seen after the surgery varies per patient. The final decision on the amount of augmentation provided by the surgery depends on the amount of breast tissue that already exists and the amount of elasticity in the breasts. Overall, patients will see an increase in the fullness and shape of the breasts. The doctor must take the shape and size of the body into account when determining the amount of augmentation so the results will look natural to the patient and anyone else viewing the results.

Breast augmentation through the use of implants can last anywhere from 10-25 years. The results of fat grafting last a lifetime.

Breast augmentation provides long lasting results so patients need to make sure they want to make the desired changes to their body. Once they make the decision to undergo breast augmentation, they should visit a board-certified doctor that can perform a thorough examination to determine the amount of augmentation that can be achieved as well as the best method to produce the desired results.

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