Important Things to Know Before Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Although breast augmentation surgery is the most performed surgery in the field of dermatologic surgery; certain points need to be kept in mind before going for your breast augmentation surgery.

Things to Know Before Your Breast Augmentation

Here we discuss a few points that need to be discussed with your surgeon:

Breast Implants or Fat Grafting?

Saline or silicone implants are not your only option for breast augmentation surgery. Autologous fat grafting can also be a choice. Autologous fat grafting involves the use of liposuction to remove fat from other areas of the body and the fat extracted is then processed and injected into the breasts. It is important to keep in mind that only about one or two cup size increase is possible with this technique of autologous fat grafting.

Breast implants need to be replaced:

Breast implants are not lifetime devices and need to be replaced at some point in life. Normally, breast implants are replaced about a decade later. FDA recommends that women who have undergone breast augmentation surgery should undergo regular screening tests. MRI scans should be obtained three years after surgery and every two years after that.

Breast augmentation does not work for sagging breasts:

Breast augmentation can improve the appearance of sagging breasts but the appropriate procedure to lift sagging breasts is mastopexy or breast lift. Women who were pregnant or were breastfeeding their child require both augmentation and breast lift, in which case they need to undergo combined breast augmentation and mastopexy. 

You should be ready for further surgeries:

Breast implants are not lifetime devices and you may need to undergo further surgeries for implant replacement. Moreover, complications can occur which may require additional surgeries. So, you need to remain in close contact with your surgeon and go for regular check-ups.

Complications of breast augmentation surgery:

Complications can begin to arise immediately after surgery and the risk of developing the complications increases with the passage of time. These include:

• Wrinkling
• Capsular contraction
• Rupture/ deflation
• Asymmetry
• Pain
• Scarring
• Infection
• Dimpling

Increased risk of developing cancer:

Breast implants tend to increase the risk of developing a special type of cancer known as “breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma” (BIA-ALCL). Treatment of this type of cancer involves the removal of the breast implant and the capsule surrounding it. Some patients may require radiotherapy or chemotherapy as a part of their treatment.

Additionally, some women may experience “breast implant illness (BII)” which is characterized by muscle and joint pain, fatigue, confusion, forgetfulness, and lack of focus.

Deciding the right type of breast augmentation incisions:

Incisions are an unavoidable part of any surgery and you need to discuss with your surgeon what type of incision you need to opt for. Incisions that cut along the natural lines of the body do not leave evident scars and heal earlier. The different types of incisions that are used in breast augmentation surgery include:

• Trans-axillary: in the armpit
• Infra-mammary: Under the breast
• Periarealor: Around the nipple
• Trans-umbilical: Along the belly button

References

6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING A BREAST AUGMENTATION. (2019, October 22). Retrieved from Advanced Aesthetics: https://plasticsurgerycorner.com/6-things-you-should-know-before-getting-a-breast-augmentation/

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