Surgical breast enlargement or augmentation is a method of choice for women with small or sagging breasts or with their lateral asymmetry. It is one of very common plastic surgeries during which a breast implant is inserted behind each breast. There are various types of implants and surgical methods.
Types of implants are selected depending on patient’s requests, her height, body proportions and anatomic proportions in the area of mammary gland. The shape of implants can be round, teardrop or asymmetric and there is also different size of implants. The rule is that the implant can be only so big that the mammary gland covers it. Only this way the implant is invisible and the continuing breast contour can be ensured. The size of implant is always indicated in milliliters. They are made from 100ml up to 1000ml, most often are used implants of around 300ml. The implants are inserted either under the breast muscle or under the mammary gland (that is more often at present). The fillings of breast implants can be silicone (now silicone gel are preferred to silicone liquid), saline or combined (so-called Baker’s expanders). Implants can be also divided according to their surface, there are smooth, textured (those are the most used) and titanium implants. The cover of the implant is then made out of elastic silicone. The total breast augmentation cost depends on the type of implant.
Today breast enhancement is also performed with own fat tissue or muscles. These procedures haven’t yet been used in the Czech Republic. Implants formed with human stem cells are in the phase of research.
Before the surgery it is important to have consultation with a plastic surgeon. There you will set the size and type of implant, the surgical procedure and the cost. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia so the patient must undergo internal pre-surgical examination. An ultrasound or mammography breast examination is also necessary to eliminate possible pathologies in the mammary gland. It is good not to take birth control pills and not to eat, drink and smoke at least 6 hours before the surgery. The patient takes sometimes antibiotics as a prevention.
The surgery is relatively not difficult and requires maximum two days stay at the hospital. The treatment is performed under general anesthesia, i.e. anesthetics that work on the central nervous system disable all feelings and consciousness. The actual surgery takes 1-2 hours. After putting the patient under anesthesia a short about 4 cm long incision is made, either in the infra-mammary fold, on the areola’s edge, in the armpit or in the area around navel (this method is not used in the Czech Republic though). Then a tissue pocket is made under the mammary gland or under the muscle. The implant is inserted inside it. The wound is sewed so the final cosmetic effect is the best and the scar is the least visible, i.e. especially with intradermal sutures.
The breasts after the surgery are fixed with special elastic bra for 4-8 weeks. The sutures are removed in 7-10 days. In the period after the breast augmentation the patient should not wear anything over the head and should not suntan. The patient has to take some days off work because it is not a treatment covered by insurance company and so no sick note can be given. Return to job is possible after approximately 14 days. However the patient should not do any physically demanding job for another 2 months. Following medical check ups of the plastic surgeon are important, an ultrasound breast check up is also made always after 10 years.
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