Breast

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation restores your breast volume after weight reduction, the affects of aging, or pregnancy. Breast augmentation surgery achieves a more rounded shape or improves natural breast size symmetry.

Breast augmentation (also known as “augmentation mammoplasty”, “breast implants” or a “boob job”), uses breast implants or fat transfer to increase the size of your breasts.

Over time, your breasts will change due to aging, weight fluctuations, hormonal factors and gravity. Some patients elect to have a breast lift or an implant exchange to restore a firmer contour. Patients need to have regular checkups to determine wether or not implants need to be replaced, increased in size or reduced in size.

Fat transfer breast augmentation

When fat from another part of your body is used, the procedure is known as fat transfer breast augmentation.

Breast implants

There are two basic types of breast implants: saline and silicone gel. Saline-filled implants are silicone shells filled with sterile salt water (saline).

Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices and may need to be replaced. Your plastic surgeon should evaluate your breast health and implant integrity annually.

Breast augmentation surgery can:

• Increase fullness and projection.
• Balance of your breast and hip contours.
• Reconstruct your breasts after a mastectomy or injury.
• Boost your self-image and self-confidence.

Breast augmentation surgery cannot:

• Correct severely drooping breasts (a breast lift may be required). This can often be done in tandem or may require a separate operation.

Are you a candidate for Breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation is a deeply personal choice. Do it for yourself and no one else (even if someone has offered to pay for it). You’ll be much more satisfied with the end result if you have the procedure to please yourself. You must, however, have realistic expectations.

You may be a candidate if:

• You’re physically healthy.
• Your breasts are fully developed.
• You’re not pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You feel your breasts are too small.
• Your breasts have lost shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss or with aging.
• The upper part of your breasts appear “empty”.
• Your breasts are unbalanced.
• One or both breasts failed to develop normally or are elongated.

Spend some time looking at breast augmentation photos and understand what is expected during recovery. The more insight you have, the better you’ll recover and your expectations will be more realistic.

Recovery from Breast augmentation surgery

Immediately after surgery you will be taken into the recovery area for close monitoring. Your breasts will be wrapped in soft gauze dressings and an elastic bandage (called a bandeau) or support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts while they heal.

Once stable, after an hour or so, you may be allowed to go home. Before leaving, you’ll be given specific postoperative instructions and a follow-up appointment with your plastic surgeon.

Medications

You may also receive prescribed medications or a prescription (many plastic surgeons prescribe in advance). These usually include pain pills and an antibiotic to prevent infection.

Support

Wear your support garment around the clock. Some plastic surgeons ask you to clean the incision and apply ointment, while others request you keep the tape or a bandage on. It is vital you follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully.

Just so you know…

You may bleed into the pockets around your breast implants for several days, so take it easy! Acute pain usually decreases after one to five days, but you may experience tenderness and swelling for a few weeks.

Only resume exercise and normal activity according to your plastic surgeon’s directions.

What results can you expect?

You’ll enjoy fuller breasts right away! The final results take a few more weeks while swelling reduces and the skin stretches. You may need to continue wearing a bandeau to help shape your breasts, especially if you had underlying asymmetry or very small breasts to start with. Incision lines can take several months, even a couple of years, to fade.

Breast Reduction Surgery

Large, heavy breasts can be incredibly uncomfortable to live with and in some cases may result in back, neck or shoulder pain from weight and bra straps. In most cases, after breast reduction surgery, these symptoms are immediately relieved.

There are many reason that women may decide to have this elective surgery. These include the ability to perform more effectively in various sporting or other physical activities. To improve the proportions where breasts sizes are unequal or for purely proportional balance of the body.

What is involved in breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction surgery involves the removal of breast tissue to reduce the size of the breasts, including the removal of skin that will now hold your breast new shape and size. In many cases the nipple and areola are moved and the size of the areola reduced for aesthetic reasons. The result is the familiar anchor shape scars which is particularly concerning to some patients. Correct scar management can dramatically reduce the appearance of these scars, leaving a thin white line over time.

Liposuction in breast reduction

In some cases, liposuction can effectively reduce the size of breasts and in cases where skin elasticity is good, may not need any skin removal, leaving you with small incisions where the liposuction instrument is inserted.

A typical surgery without any complications takes approximately 2 to 3 hours. It is performed under general anaesthesia and the patient is usually discharged from hospital the next day.

Breast reduction surgery should not be confused with a breast lift.  A breast lift, or mastopexy, involves the removal of excess skin to raise or lift sagging and drooping breasts as a result of age or child bearing. In both mastopexy and in typical breast reductions, the nipple is repositioned. Sometimes a breast augmentation is combined with a breast lift to help reshape the breasts.

Breast reduction surgery results in better proportioned, smaller, lighter and firmer breasts.

Frequently asked questions:

Will I lose the feeling in my nipples if they need to be relocated?

In most cases the loss of sensation is temporary, typically lasting a few months, but can last a lot longer or may become permanent.

Will I still be able to breastfeed after the surgery?

In some cases, breast feeding after a breast reduction is possible but you should consult Dr Padilha before drawing any conclusions.

Will I be left with bad scarring after the surgery?

The nature of the surgery typically requires 3 incisions, one at the base of the breast in the inframammary fold, a vertical scar from nipple that joins the inframammary scar and a circular scar around the nipple and areola, resulting in an anchor shape scar. With effective scar management and time, the scars will typically fade over time.

Breast reduction surgery can make an incredible difference to your quality of life and your ability to perform physical activities.

Breast Lift (Mastoplexy)

Elasticity of our skin and firmness are lost as we age, during pregnancy or weight fluctuations over the years.

A breast lift is not meant to increase the volume of the breasts. Excess skin and tissue are removed and typicallyt the areola and nipple are moved to a more aesthetically pleasing position. During the procedure, the size of the areola can also be reduced if required.

Many women choose to have a combination of a breast lift and breast implants to not only improve the shape but to create more volume, resultying in fuller, firmer breasts.

To determine if you are a suitable candidate for a breast lift, please contact us.