Boost Self-Confidence with the Help of Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation, also referred to as augmentation mammoplasty, or “boob job”, is a surgery done to improve the appearance of the breast. It helps improve the size, shape, firmness, and tenderness of the breast.
The procedure involves having breast implants or fat deposits from other parts of your body under your breast tissues or muscles of the chest.
Some people do breast augmentation as a cosmetic procedure, but others do it to correct their breasts due to the effects of some factors like breast cancer treatment.
Some of the reasons why you can consider having breast augmentation include;
- Increasing the size of naturally smaller breasts.
- Restoring the size and shape of your breast after weight loss, pregnancy, or breast cancer treatment.
- Correct unevenness or asymmetry of your breast.
- Balancing out the proportions of your body, for example, if you have wider hips and smaller breasts.
All of these reasons help you improve not only your appearance but also your self-confidence.
Types Of Breast Implants
There are different types of breast implants you can choose from, depending on your goals;
- Saline- These were the original ones used in the first breast augmentation procedures, and they are the ones commonly used. They are usually made of a silicone shell filled with a saline solution.
- Ideal implant- These implants combine the features and advantages of both saline and silicone-gel implants.
- Silicone-gel implants- These are also made of a silicone shell filled with silicone gel, which feels similar to natural breast tissues.
What To Expect With Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation surgery is done in an outpatient hospital facility or a surgical center. It does not require you to stay in hospital a lot, and you can go home the same day after the surgery. Before the procedure, there will be an examination to determine if you are a good candidate, depending on your overall health, age, and medical history.
During the procedure, the plastic surgeon will use either local or general anesthesia to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the whole procedure. The procedure involves making incisions, and your plastic surgeon will choose between three types;
- Inframammary incisions done beneath your breasts.
- Periareolar incisions, done in the tissues around your nipples.
- Axillary incisions, done under your arm.
After making the incision, the surgeon will make a pocket to separate your breast tissue from your chest tissues and muscles, where the implants will be placed.
After the implants are securely placed in the pocket, the incisions are then stitched with stitches that dissolve into the skin. The surgeon then bandages the stitches using surgical glue or surgical tape.
What To Expect After Breast Augmentation
After the procedure, you will experience swelling and soreness on the surgical site and the rest of your breast. You will also experience a certain level of pain and bruising. Some of the factors that may influence how much pain you experience include;
- Implant type- Different implants have different weights, and the heavier the implant, the more the weight.
- Implant size- The larger the implants, the more the pain.
- Implant position- Sub-muscular implants placed under the breast’s muscles cause more pain than sub-glandular implants located between the chest muscle and natural breast tissue.
- Previous pregnancy Women who have been pregnant and breastfed before experience less pain after breast augmentation than those who have.
Immediately after your surgery, you will not experience a lot of soreness, pain or swelling, because the anesthesia may still be active. However, after a few days, you will experience the highest level of pain and discomfort because the healing process will have started.
The pain, soreness, swelling, and discomfort will start slowing down after a few weeks. Your plastic surgeon will advise you to put on a bandage or a sports bra to compress your breast and offer support during recovery.
They may also recommend that you put on special recovery bras that you need to wear for 24 hours. They may also prescribe medication to help with the pain.
Some of the other guidelines they may give you to help speed up the healing process include;
- Avoid strenuous activities.
- Get a lot of rest.
- Sleep on your back.
- Avoid a lot of heat.
- Do not take showers with a lot of water.
- Do not use harsh soaps and products on the incisions.
Depending on your general health, age, and placement of the implants, total recovery may take between 6 and 8 weeks.
Risks Or Side Effects Of Breast Augmentation
One major problem with breast augmentation is that you have to keep going back to your plastic surgeon for follow-up examinations in case there are any problems with the implant. Also, you might need a different implant size as your skin stretches or a breast lift.
Some other common side effects include;
- Pain in the breasts.
- Bruising and bleeding.
- Leaking or rupture of the breast implant.
- Infections at the incision sites of the surrounding areas.
- A change in the feeling and tenderness of your breast.
- Capsular contracture, or development of scar tissue inside your breast. That can result in the breast implant becoming misshapen, painful, or displaced.
- Fluid buildup around the breast implant.
- Rippling of your skin over your breast implant was placed, mainly under the breast.
- Incorrect movement or placement of the breast implant.
- Difficulty healing of the scars.
- Severe scarring of your skin.
- Discharge at the incision site.
- Severe sweating at night.
Some of those side effects could be managed by some prescription medication given by your plastic surgeon. However, if you experience any of the following side effects, you should visit your surgeon immediately;
- A warm sensation in the areas around the incisions.
- Redness around or in your breast, especially if it appears as red streaking on the skin.
- Fever.
Any of those signs could indicate an infection. After full recovery, any changes in your breast shape or size or pain in the breast or armpit should also be examined by your plastic surgeon, as that could indicate ruptured implants.
Before having breast augmentation in Houston TX, you should ensure you have the best surgeon. Some of the things to consider include;
- Experience.
- Education and skills.
- Certification.
- Equipment used.
Prices
The price of breast augmentation differs depending on the;
- Surgeon you choose.
- Type of breast implant.
- Size of breast implant.
- Anesthesia.