Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast Augmentation Surgery
You may want to undergo breast augmentation surgery for various reasons, and you may hesitate about choosing the best technique to achieve a larger, more proportionate breast size that matches the rest of your body. In this article, you will learn about the types of breast augmentation procedures and their benefits.
Reasons for small breast size:
• Genetic factors play a major role in small breast size.
• Significant and sudden weight loss may result in smaller breasts and the appearance of sagging.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding can stress the breasts and make them appear saggy.
What is Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Breast augmentation is the procedure of increasing the size of your breasts through breast implants or fat transfer. This procedure can also restore lost breast volume after weight loss or pregnancy, create a rounder breast shape, or improve the asymmetry of the natural breast size.
Goals of Breast Augmentation Surgery:
Breast Augmentation Surgery can achieve the following:
• Increase fullness and enhance breast size.
• Reshape the breasts to achieve symmetry and improved balance.
• Improve your external appearance and boost your self-confidence.
• Help you achieve the desired figure and find clothes that fit you easily.
This type of surgeries can also be used for breast repair and reconstruction after injury.
What Breast Augmentation Surgery can not achieve?
Breast augmentation surgery does not address severe breast sagging, but you may need a breast lift in addition to augmentation to treat sagging and remove excess skin. A breast lift can be performed at the same time as the augmentation or in a separate session. Dr. Ahmed Mekkawy, a plastic surgery and body contouring consultant, will assist you in making this decision based on your condition.
Candidates for Breast Augmentation:
Feeling satisfied with the results of this procedure is crucial, so make sure to make a decisive decision before proceeding with anything.
You may be a good candidate for this procedure if:
• You are in good health and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You have realistic expectations regarding the results of the surgery.
• You have fully developed breasts.
• You feel bothered by your small breast size.
• You feel frustrated about your breasts losing volume or sagging after pregnancy, childbirth, weight loss, or aging.
• You are generally unhappy with the appearance of your breasts.
• You have an asymmetrical breast size.
• Or if your breasts have failed to develop naturally or have an oval or sagging shape.
If you are considering getting breast augmentation surgery, take some time to review photos that show the results of previous cases before and after the procedure, and read a lot about this procedure to ensure you have a complete idea about it.
Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery:
When preparing for breast augmentation, you may have to:
• Make a complete blood test.
• Take certain medications and stop or adjust others.
• Completely quit smoking.
• Avoid taking aspirin and some anti-inflammatory medications, as they increase blood thinning.
• Stop taking herbal and dietary supplements.
Breast Augmentation Surgeries:
Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants:
Silicone is a thick gelatinous material that is packaged in silicone implants as well, and these implants give a natural feel. Therefore, some women prefer it and it is implanted through a surgical incision.
Steps of Silicone Implant Breast Augmentation:
1- The doctor will give you anesthesia, usually general anesthesia.
2- The surgical incision is made in hidden areas as much as possible and within the folds of the skin to minimize the appearance of any scars afterward.
3- The doctor inserts the silicone implants and positions them below or above the chest muscle to achieve the desired breast shape. The placement of the implants depends on the type of implants and the desired degree of breast enlargement, as determined by the doctor.
4- The surgical incision is closed with some cosmetic sutures and then covered with medical dressings and compression bandages.
Over time, the scars and wounds resulting from the surgery will fade away. The extent of scar disappearance depends on the nature of your body, your care during the recovery period, your exposure to infection, and your nicotine consumption rate.
5- Breast augmentation results are immediate; you can notice the initial results immediately after the surgery.
Breast Augmentation with Autologous Fat Injection:
This technique relies on suctioning fat from areas where you suffer from local obesity, processing it, and injecting it into the breasts to increase their size.
Steps of Breast Augmentation with Autologous Fat Injection:
1- Liposuction Stage:
• The areas where fat will be suctioned are determined, and very small incisions or openings are made. A laser or VASER tube is inserted through them to melt the fat and convert it into a liquid that is easy to suction.
• After dissolving the fat, the doctor tightens the skin, and eliminates any existing sagging. Then, he removes the laser or VASER tube and inserts a suction tube to suction the fat.
• Finally, the surgical incisions are closed with some cosmetic sutures and covered with medical dressings.
2- Fat Injection Stage:
• After liposuction, the fat is processed and filtered to be injected into the breast area.
• The fat is injected into the breast area after filling it into syringes with specialized needles.
Recovery Period After Breast Augmentation:
• After the procedure is completed, the incisions and sutures will be covered with medical dressings. You will also need to wear compression bandages or a medical bra around your breasts to reduce and minimize swelling and to support the breasts during this period.
• Immediately after the surgery, you will be transferred to a room for monitoring until you wake up from anesthesia. You can return home once the effects of general anesthesia wear off.
• Before leaving, Dr. Ahmed Mekkawy will provide you with some instructions and recovery tips and schedule a follow-up appointment.
• The medications prescribed by the doctor may include antibiotics to prevent infection.
• Wear your supportive garments (bras or compression bandages) around the clock according to the doctor's instructions.
• Due to the presence of sutures in the breast area, avoid engaging in strenuous physical activities for some time until the sutures are removed.
• Surgical stitches are usually removed after one to two weeks.
• Typically, the pain subsides within a day to five days, but you may experience bruising and swelling for a few weeks.
• Resuming exercise and normal activities is usually based on the guidance of Dr. Ahmed Mekkawy, the distinguished plastic surgeon.
When Do Breast Augmentation Results Appear?
Breast augmentation results in immediate breast enlargement, but the final results may take a few weeks until the swelling subsides and the skin adapts to the changes. Some cases may require wearing medical bras or compression bandages to help shape the breasts, especially if they are asymmetric. The scars may take several months to fade.
To achieve optimal breast augmentation results, strictly follow Dr. Ahmed Mekkawy's instructions after the surgery and during the recovery period.
What Is the Cost of Breast Augmentation?
The costs of breast augmentation surgeries can vary significantly from one case to another, depending on several factors that may affect the final cost or be calculated as additional expenses.
The costs of Breast Augmentation surgery may include:
• Anesthesia costs and the type of anesthesia used.
• Hospital and operating room expenses.
• Laboratory tests and medical examinations.
• The desired post-operative supportive garment.
• Medications and treatments necessary for recovery.
• Surgeon's fee.
Breast augmentation may help increase self-confidence for many women. You only have to consult Dr. Ahmed Mekkawy, a plastic surgery and body sculpting consultant, to find the optimal technique for your condition which gives you the best results. For more information about breast augmentation and for booking and inquiry, contact us.
This content has been reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Mekkawy, a consultant in cosmetic surgery, body contouring, and natural hair transplantation.
