Cosmetic Plastic Surgery In New York City:
Breast Augmentation
For centuries the female form has been celebrated and immortalized in clay, stone and on canvass, depicting an ideal of health and fertility with round hips and full breasts. For women who feel they lack the characteristic traits of femininity, life can be difficult, feeling they are incomplete and unattractive.
Thousands of women each year are finding a new sense of confidence and satisfaction through one of the most common plastic surgery procedures in North America – Breast Augmentation.
Augmentation Mammoplasty
A Breast Augmentation, also known as Augmentation Mammoplasty, involves the insertion of an implant or fat from a donor area to enlarge the breast and enhance its contour. There are many reasons why women choose Breast Augmentation which include:
Correcting volume lost after pregnancy
Balancing breast size
Reconstructing the breast following a lumpectomy or other previous breast surgery
Enhance underdevelopment due to heredity
The Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammoplasty) can be performed two ways:
Breast implants vary in shape, volume and type of filler. Dr. Born prefers using a smooth, round implant, as other shapes do not provide any advantage in the end result and shape of the breast. The implant can be filled with either Saline Solution or Silicone. In the fall of 2006, Silicone filled implants were approved by the FDA and Health Canada. Approximately 80% of Dr. Born’s patients choose Silicone filled implants, as they confer a texture closer to actual breast tissue, have less risk of rippling, and maintain a better breast shape and projection than a Saline filled implant.
The surgery is performed with the patient asleep and on an outpatient basis. The incision may be made at the edge of the areola or underneath the fold of the breast; depending on the amount of skin envelope adjustment that is needed. The implant may be placed on top or under the pectoralis muscle, depending on the patient’s preference, the shape of the breast, the shape of the patient’s chest wall, the position of the breast relative to the muscle and the amount of breast tissue.
Preparation As with all surgeries performed by Dr. Born, patients are prescribed supplements to take before and after the surgery, to help prepare and recover faster and without complications.
Procedure length Breast Augmentation is an outpatient procedure and can take approximately two hours to complete. The length of the procedure varies according to the technique used, the placement of the implants, and the patient's goals.
Recovery You are encouraged to lift your arms above your head and place them behind your back immediately after surgery. This helps keep the chest wall muscles loose, decreases the amount of pain and increases the speed of your recovery. Three days after surgery, you will be instructed on how to massage the breasts. A small stitch is removed a week following surgery (you may have dissolving sutures only). Oral antibiotics are prescribed for the first week after surgery. Bruising may be present for 3 to 10 days. The breasts will swell for 3 to 5 days and then begin to settle by the end of the first week. There will be changes in size for the first month as the swelling resolves, and the breasts will soften and feel more “natural” in this time period.
Micro-Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation/Lifting and Contouring
The breast’s shape can be changed by adding a patient’s own fat through a procedure called Micro-Fat Grafting, which can be performed on persons of varying size and shape, but the patient must have enough fat to harvest safely enough to make the desired change. Much like “liposuction”, the fat is harvested in a way that preserves it. The fat is then prepared in a specialized way so that it can be injected into the breast through small incisions hidden in the fold and at the edge of the areola, increasing the size, and adding shape where needed.
The fat is placed in small amounts into the tissue where it takes on a new blood supply and behaves the same as the fat anywhere else in your body. If you gain weight it will grow, if you lose weight the fat will get smaller.
This technique can increase the breast by one cup size, and can be used to:
Add volume around an implant
Decrease the implant’s palpability/delectability
Improve the shape of the breast, with or without an implant present
Correct contour deformities resulting from breast biopsies or irradiation for cancer treatment
Correct asymmetries or differences in breast sizes
This is a very safe and effective procedure and provides pleasing, reproducible results.
Recovery You are encouraged to lift your arms above your head and place them behind your back immediately after surgery. This helps keep the chest wall muscles loose, decreases the amount of pain and increases the speed of your recovery. Three days after surgery, you will be instructed on how to massage the breasts. The healing is fast so patients can resume all activities by the fifth day following surgery. No sutures are required. Bruising may be present up to three weeks, and the breasts will swell for 3 to 5 days, then begin to settle by the end of the first week. There will be changes in size for the first month as the swelling resolves, and the breasts will soften and feel more “natural” in this time period.
There may be some lumpy areas which are tender to touch; these will soften over time. The maximum change will be in the first four months. A touch-up (additional grafting to the breasts) may be needed. The earliest this could take place would be two months from the original surgery, keeping in mind that there must be some fat left to harvest.
Loss of sensation to the breast and or the nipples
Firmness along the incision – this is normal for the first few months
Asymmetry – this is normal and expected, and pre-exists in most people
Implant palpability – depends on the amount of tissue covering the implant
Scar – reduced greatly if the tape is worn for three months following the surgery
Capsular contracture – rate is 2 to 5 % and can be recurrent
Implant mal-position
Implant displacement/shift
Infection
Calcification of the capsule
Implant failure
Replacement
Mammogram/ultrasound interference – disruption of the implant
Changes in breast shape with age/pregnancy
Difficulty breast feeding
Implant exposure
Cancer/acquired systemic disease (no direct link has been shown)
Fluid collection or seroma around implant
Incorrect size - too big or too small
Harvest Site Risks:
Pain
Bruising
Irregular contour
Incision scar
Numbness
Stain/discoloration of skin
Seroma/fluid collection
Recipient Site Risks
Pain
Bruising
Swelling
Lumps/bumps
Cysts
Seroma
Fat Necrosis
Irregular contour
Asymmetry
Incomplete correction
Calcification on Mammogram
Scarring interfering with Mammogram or Ultrasound exam
There are some general risks intrinsic to all surgical procedures; please take a moment to review them.
Preparation As with all surgeries performed by Dr. Born, patients are prescribed supplements to take before and after the surgery, to help prepare and recover faster and without complications.
Procedure length Breast Augmentation is an outpatient procedure and can take approximately two hours to complete. The length of the procedure varies according to the technique used, the placement of the implants, and the patient's goals.
The Result The results of Breast Augmentation surgery are immediately visible and long lasting. Breast Augmentation results in larger, fuller breasts – improving the confidence of women who felt self conscious about their breast size or shape.
It is important to note that each surgery is tailored to meet the unique needs and features of individual patients.
What other patients want Many patients combine Breast Augmentation with Liposuction of the flanks, thighs and/or calves, as well as Abdominoplasty and/or facial surgery to achieve an overall enhancement of their appearance.
Stop spending money on gel inserts, and water filled and push-up bras which can boost confidence while clothed, but can also lead to a fear of intimacy. It’s time to find a long-lasting solution, book your consultation with Dr. Born today
