Breast Augmentation
It can be said that the importance of breasts comes from the fact that it has been a symbol of both femininity and fertility throughout history. This is why fuller breasts have always remained attractive and become an object of desire. For this reason, the number of women who have breast augmentation surgery is increasing day by day and it has become the most frequently performed plastic surgery in America today. If you are not satisfied with your breast size, the most valid and safe way to enlarge is to have breast augmentation, in other words, silicone prosthesis surgery.
What Are Breast Augmentation Methods?
Nonsurgical Methods
Many methods and medicine have been tried to avoid breast augmentation surgery. Creams that claim to enlarge the breast usually cause temporary edema by increasing blood circulation and edema in that area rather than a real enlargement. The enlargement you can achieve with these creams is very limited and temporary. Creams and pills containing oestrogen (female hormone) provide breast augmentation. However, oestrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer whether it is synthetic or herbal. In other words, the use of external oestrogen can cause breast and uterine cancer. It should absolutely be not used.
Breast augmentation methods, which are applied by injecting into the breast or under the breast and presented as non-surgical breast augmentation, have also become popular recently. However, what is injected into your breast is very important because inappropriate substances (liquid silicone, unapproved fillers) can cause infection in the short term and foreign body reaction (redness, swelling, and stiffness) in the long term. Unfortunately, there are many women who have lost their breasts as a result of inappropriate substance injection.
There are also a few problems with newly released substances such as an aqua filling or hyaluronic acid. First, it is difficult to achieve significant enlargement with these substances. In order to reach the goal, a large amount of these substances must be injected, which increases the cost. These substances also have the risk of causing foreign body reactions (redness, swelling, and painful stiffness). If this reaction occurs, it can be very difficult to correct as it is widely injected into the breast (unlike injecting into a small area as on the face).
When the edema regresses 2-3 months after the injection, the volume decreases. The permanence of these substances is limited and your breast gradually loses volume. In addition, none of these substances have been used for many years as breast prosthesis (silicone), which is the standard method in breast augmentation, and they cannot provide as much volume increase as breast prosthesis, so there are possible risks that may arise in the long term as well as in the short term.
Surgical Breast Augmentation
Surgical breast augmentation can be performed with a fat injection or silicone prostheses.
Breast Augmentation with Fat Injection
Breast augmentation with fat injection is performed by injecting the fats, which are taken from the person herself., into the breast. Although it sounds very nice, this method has some limitations and disadvantages in reaching the results. First of all, it has started to be used later than prostheses, and there is no consensus among plastic surgeons in terms of its use. However, studies show that more and more surgeons have started to apply this technique abroad and in our country.
One of the disadvantages of this method is that only a certain part of the injected fat survives (30-45%). In other words, there will be a certain amount of volume loss after the application, and it may require more than one session to reach the desired size. However, not all patients are suitable for this technique. If the person is thin, there may not be sufficient fat to be extracted. Even if sufficient fat is extracted, sufficient enlargement may not be obtained in cases where a large amount of volume increase is desired.
Although this method is not a standard method at the moment, I recommend you have a detailed interview with your surgeon before the application.
Breast Augmentation with Silicone Prostheses
It is the oldest, most effective, and standard method of breast augmentation. The first silicone prosthesis was produced in 1962 and has been used since then. In this method, breast augmentation is provided with silicone prostheses placed under the breast tissue or behind the muscle. This method is mentioned in the rest of the article.
Are Breast Prostheses (Silicones) Safe?
Even though there are numerous speculations about it, the answer is yes, it is SAFE. Although there are many urban legends such as ‘breast prosthesis causes cancer, it causes rheumatic diseases, silicon is mixed with breast milk, it is necessary to remove it during pregnancy’, it has been proven that these concerns are not true. However, it should be added that they are extremely safe surgeries when performed under the right conditions (in the operating room), by the right people (Plastic Surgery Specialists) and using quality (FDA Approved) prostheses. I do not want to reflect that this operation has no risk. It should be noted that this operation has some risks and complications as in any operation.
Is Breast Prosthesis an Obstacle for Breastfeeding?
There is an important unnoticed fact about breastfeeding, not all women are able to breastfeed. According to the statistics, 60% of women who give birth are able to breastfeed. In breast prosthesis surgery, silicone is placed under the breast tissue. Through the incisions made under the armpit and under the breast, the prosthesis is placed without touching the breast tissue. Breast augmentation surgery made through these incisions is absolutely not an obstacle to breastfeeding. But, in the incisions made from the nipple, some (less than half) of the milk ducts can be cut. Therefore, if you are planning to give birth and inform your doctor beforehand, he can plan the surgery considering this situation and perform the operation in a way not to prevent breastfeeding.
Can Natural Looking Breasts Be Achieved with Breast Prosthesis?
Natural-looking breasts can be achieved with breast prosthesis surgeries. Natural-looking breasts and artificial-looking breasts are completely a matter of preference. Unfortunately, artificial-looking silicone prosthesis surgeries, which are made in line with the preference of many world-famous women, have become eye-catching in the media. Patients’ preferences are also important when performing these operations. Some patients demand especially larger and artificial-looking results. However, more natural results can be achieved with breast augmentation surgeries with silicone prostheses. The shape and size of the chosen prosthesis, the surgical technique, and the shape of your current breast are closely related to whether the results are artificial or natural. I recommend you discuss your preferences in this regard with your surgeon in detail.
False facts about breast prosthesis
What Is FDA Approval?
FDA means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In other words, it is the official government agency that controls medical supplies in America. It is essential for your health that the prosthesis is FDA approved because there are cheaper prostheses made of industrial silicone to reduce costs instead of medical silicone. Although the use of FDA approved brands used in our country increases the costs, it is definitely recommended.
Types of Breast Prostheses
Breast prostheses, in other words, silicones, are basically divided into two groups as those filled with serum and those filled with silicone gels. Silicones filled with gel have a dark consistency of the gel. Although silicon explosion is reflected as a very common magazine event, it is actually quite rare and usually occurs after contact with piercing objects such as traffic accidents or stabbing. Although the consistency of the new generation silicones used today is very dark, it does not pose a danger since the silicone will not disperse to the body.
Prostheses are produced as rough and flat according to their surface properties. Capsule formation is less common in prostheses with a rough surface.
Prostheses are divided into two as round or anatomic (drop) according to the shape. While the round ones are in the form of hemispheres, the upper parts of the anatomical ones are made flatter and the lower parts are produced more swollen, trying to imitate the breast shape. There are situations where both of these prostheses are preferred and advantageous.
Who Are Ideal Candidates for Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation (silicone prosthesis) surgeries can potentially be performed to all women who have completed breast development (over the age of 18) and are not satisfied with their breast size. However, your motivation while having this surgery is very important. It will not help you in many issues (although it is thought to be rarely useful), such as getting a better job, getting promoted at work, finding the prince charming that she has never found. If the spouses are in a bad odour with each other, it will not fix this problem or it will never help you to keep your husband closer. The motivation of a person who wants to have this surgery should be only herself and the only thing that she aims after the surgery is to have bigger and beautiful breasts.
Women who have the right motivation, who think that they do not have a developmentally sufficient breast size, who have shrinkage – deflation – volume loss after pregnancy and breastfeeding or after weight loss are suitable candidates for breast augmentation.
Before the Breast Augmentation Operation
Before the breast augmentation operation, patients under the age of 40 should undergo ultrasound and ones above the age of 40 should have mammography, and these tests should be saved. Breast prosthesis does not prevent having mammography afterwards and it appears as an empty area in the mammography. Aspirin, coumadin, and similar blood-thinning drugs should never be used before the operation. It is not preferred to perform this operation during the menstrual period since there is a tendency of bleeding; you should definitely inform your doctor if you are in your period.
It would be good to bring a dress that can be opened from the front side in order to get dressed easily after the operation.
Breast Aesthetic Operation
A breast prosthesis is placed under the muscle or under the breast tissue, above the muscle. The selected prosthesis can be round or drop-shaped, depending on the need and preferences of the patients. It can also be serum-filled or silicone gel. After all, there are many possibilities here. The effect of all these preferences will be different in terms of appearance and usage. I recommend you discuss these possibilities with your doctor in detail and take advantage of your doctor’s experience.
Surgical incisions can be made through 3 parts: armpit, nipple, and under the breast. Each incision has its own advantages and disadvantages. The preference of these incisions may vary among surgeons, as well as from patient to patient for the same surgeon. An invisible, short (4-5 cm) scar that may change depending on the size of the prosthesis can remain in most of the patients. If this incision is done under the breast, it is placed to be hidden under a bikini.
After the Breast Augmentation Operation
If the operation has been performed in the morning, the patient can discharge from the hospital in the evening or the following day. The postoperative period is not so painful. If the prosthesis is placed behind breast muscle, there may be a restriction in arm movements for a few days. Bra or dressing is put on the breast after the operation. Dissolvable stitches are used and there is no need for stitches removal. In the early period, there may be swelling, loss of sensation on the nipple, and slight bruises on the skin. These disappear by themselves in a short time. The patient can return to her work in 3-4 days. If the prosthesis is placed under the muscle, the patient cannot work in heavy physical jobs for 3 weeks. Patients are recommended to avoid heavy sports and physical activities for 2 months.