Breast augmentation is the most popular and most commonly performed operation with liposuction and tummy tuck in the USA. Silicone prosthesis, inflatable prosthesis, or individual’s own fat tissue can be used for breast augmentation. Silicone is processed in the laboratory and converted into a silicone prosthesis that we use today safely. Nowadays, concentrated thick silicone jelly called cohesive gel is used. The latest generation 5th generation silicone prostheses are FDA approved in the US and do not leak even if they are drilled because it is not liquid. Most facilities produce a variety of silicone implants with different surface structures.
Silicone prosthesis can be produced with smooth and rough surface, round or tear-drop (anatomic) shaped and can be placed with low, medium and high projections according to your breast features and various incisions can be made to various plans of the breast. All of these will be discussed in the office setting prior to your operation and your doctor will decide the most appropriate option with you.
Various brand prostheses are used safely on the market. The choice of this prosthesis depends on the choice of the physician and the patient.
Who are the eligible candidates for breast augmentation surgery?
- To have an asymmetric breast size that one breast is more and the other breast is less developed
- Having small pockets that are not sufficiently developed
- To complain about breast structure and size
- Loss of breast tissue due to breast cancer
- Being 18 years old when the anatomical development of breast tissue is complete
- The absence of any disease that will prevent the operation
Silicone prosthesis can be placed in different planes in your breast such as subglandular, submuscular, subfascial or dual-plane with well-defined incisions such as axillary, inframammary or peri-areolar incisions. In addition, patients having tummy-tuck can be implanted in the same way (T.A.B.A. method) and can be inflated through the umbilicus (T.U.B.A. method).
All these preferences will be discussed by the surgeon in consultation with the patient. The advantages and disadvantages of all options are distinct.
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, under hospital conditions and lasts approx. 1-2 hours. Bandage and bra are applied. Postoperative pain is minimal. If absorbable sutures are used, there is no need for removal. ıf you live swelling and bruising, they will disappear spontaneously in 10 days. The use of drains is the choice of the surgeon and mostly will be discharged in 1-2 days. The patient may return to work in 3-5 days. It is recommended to stay away from heavy exercises for 1-2 months. You may live minor shape changes in the post-operative period and these can easily be corrected with a massage.
There are some complications after breast augmentation surgery. Hemorrhage, seroma and infection in the early postoperative period, capsule formation-contracture, asymmetry and nipple sensation in the late period may be seen. These complications can be minimized. Prosthesis puncture does not occur by itself. Excessive pressure can damage the prosthesis in punctures such as puncture-cutting object injuries. In this case the prosthesis should be replaced.
Women with breast prosthesis can do activities such as airplane travel, martial arts, deep diving.
Patients undergoing breast prosthesis should undergo breast ultrasound at 40 years of age and routine mammography at 40 years of age, annualy.
After breast augmentation, breast tissue can be assessed by examination, ultrasonography, tomography, mammography or magnetic resonance imaging. On common belief, patients with implants cannot breast-feed; this not true. Silicone prosthesis does not lead to breast cancer. In fact, some publications have stressed breast cancer because it presses on breast tissue. Prosthetics do not have to be replaced after a certain year. You may change your implants when you want, if everything is OK.
