What You Should Know About Breast Augmentation

If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery there are a few basic things you should know before you schedule a consultation so you will know what to talk to your doctor about.
The first thing you should be aware of is that breast implants are not lifelong devices. At some point implants can be punctured or rupture and when they do you will need to have the old ones surgically removed and replaced.

If you opt to have your implants removed and not replaced you may have to consider having future cosmetic procedures such as a breast lift due to excessive skin wrinkling or dimpling.
If you have breast implants and get pregnant you may still experience saggy breast and may need to have a breast lift. Implants may also impact your ability to breast feed depending on which method your surgeon using to insert the implants.

Mammograms can be more difficult to perform because of the implants so if you are over the age where you need to have annual mammograms done you may want to discuss how you can still have screenings with implants in place. Most insurance won’t pay for implants unless it is being done for medical reasons such as to reconstruct a breast after cancer.

Your implants can be done either under local anesthesia in which you are awake but your breast area is numb and you are given a sedative to relax or under general anesthesia in which you are asleep during the procedure.

Implants themselves can be smooth or textured, round or tear drop shaped. All implants consist of a silicon shell filled either with saline or silicone gel.

Your breast augmentation surgeon can place your incisions for implants in three different locations including under your armpit, around the nipple or in the breast fold. If you plan to breast feed at some future point you may want to opt for an incision under your arm pit since an incision around your nipple can damage your milk ducts and ability to breast feed.

With any surgery, even a cosmetic procedure there are certain risk factors including the possibility of infection, bleeding, scarring, sensation changes around the nipples or a reaction to the anesthesia. Swelling is common after surgery and so are some minor discomfort levels. You should discuss the possible risk factors with your doctor so you fully understand any complications that may occur.

After breast augmentation surgery your breast will be packed in surgical wrap and a compression bandage and you will have a drainage tube installed to drain excessive fluid and blood common after any surgical procedure.

Your total healing time will vary but overall you should be able to resume normal activities within a few days, including showering and resume most of your normal life activities within one to three weeks.