What is Breast Enlargement?

Mammaplasty is one of the most common breast surgery procedures performed in the western world. Often women may feel more self-conscious of their breasts after weight loss or having children.  Many women consider this surgical procedure to enhance their body contour, to achieve better balance or symmetry, to restore lost volume or to improve sagging breasts. There are no muscles in our breasts; which means that this is one body part that we can not train or tone. In effectively this can reflect a womens age. Numerous women that opt for surgery tend to do it to restore the breasts that they used to have. Breast Enlargements may also be performed in conjunction with a breast lift (Mastopexy). Depending on your vision and what you and your surgeon agree on, mammaplasty can increase a womans breast by one or more cup sizes. In addition to aesthetic reasons, Breast Augmentation can also be used for reconstructive purposes. This will restore the confidence and the natural fuller look that every woman desires.

The Implant

The implants that are inserted into the breasts come in two forms. A silicone rubber shell which is filled with saline (sterile salt water) or elastic silicone gel. While saline is a natural body fluid, silicone is the least reactive man-made substance known. However, implants differ in size, shape and filler, giving you the ability to achieve the look you want. They are safe and have been used for a long time in Breast Augmentation procedures.  Implants do not affect a womans fertility or her ability to become pregnant and to breast-feed.

The Procedure

The Breast Augmentation procedure usually takes one to two hours and starts with an incision either under the armpit, on the dark skin which surrounds the nipple or in the crease where the breast meets the chest. The surgeon then creates a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle. This is where the implant is then inserted. Then the incisions are closed and taped, a gauze bandage may provide additional support. The technique of the procedure depends on the patients anatomy, the implant as well as the surgeons suggestions and preferences.

The Recovery Period

After surgery patients are generally up and about between 24 and 48 hours. The aesthetic will tend to make feel tired and your breast will be tender for a few days, but you will be supplied with anti-biotic and painkillers for any discomfort.

If gauze dressings have been applied, they are removed after a few days and you may have to wear a surgical bra. You may expect the stitches to be removed after seven to ten days and may additionally experience a burning sensation around the nipples for about 14 days. However, it may take three to five weeks until the swelling fades away. Since the breast might be sensitive to direct stimulation, not much physical contact should be exercised for about two to three weeks. After that, the breast should no longer feel sore.Scars will be firm and pink for about six weeks and may even appear to widen and will then remain the same size. After several months they will fade, though never completely.

The surgeon may schedule follow-up visits to check on your progress and also give you advice on when to begin exercises and normal activities. In addition to regular breast screenings monthly self examination is recommended.

What to bear in mind

While it takes three to five weeks until swelling fades away, most patients can restore their normal life within a few days after the surgery. Depending on how you feel and what progress you make, you may only have to stay away from work for a couple of days. However, your body is still healing, you may therefore allow yourself enough time to rest and recover and may in addition avoid strenuous activities such as lifting and exercising for as long as your surgeon advises you to.

You may also want to see Breast Implant Removal, and Breast Reduction.