Augmentation mammoplasty, also known as breast augmentation surgery, is surgery performed to improve the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. This surgery, which is performed with implants or with the patient’s own fat grafts, can be a solution for women who have asymmetrical breasts or who have small breasts. It can also be useful for women who have experienced a change in their breasts after pregnancy or for breast reconstruction.
The latest developments in this surgery have turned breast augmentation into a technique that has increasingly natural results, improving the self-esteem and body image of the women who undergo it. And although breast surgery is currently one of the most demanded interventions in cosmetic surgery, it is important to know the whole process involved in an augmentation mammoplasty.
How is breast augmentation surgery performed?
Each breast augmentation surgery varies depending on the characteristics of the patient, but it is generally performed under general anesthesia. During the operation, the surgeon makes small incisions and creates a pocket to create the implants. Once in place, the surgeon closes the incisions and covers them with a dressing to protect them.
The operation usually lasts no more than two hours and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital or complicated bandages.
See the results before undergoing surgery.
When undergoing an augmentation mammoplasty it is important to go to a good specialist in plastic surgery, who has extensive experience in this type of surgery. In addition, it is advisable to look for a center that has 3D augmented reality simulators, to be able to virtually preview the aesthetic change before undergoing the operation.
Types of breast implants: round or anatomic
There are two types of breast implants: round implants and anatomical implants. Round implants are used to increase the volume of the upper part of the cleavage and are recommended for patients who have an empty upper breast, as is the case of women who have suffered a breast reduction after childbearing. Anatomical implants are used to achieve greater fullness in those patients who have an underdeveloped lower breast.
In all cases, the surgeon must assess the shape of the breast and the aesthetic preferences of each patient to choose the most appropriate breast implant.
The placement of the breast prosthesis
The placement of the implant depends on the anatomical characteristics of the patient’s breast. Thus, three types of mammoplasties can be performed:
- Submuscular mammoplasty or behind the pectoral muscle.
- Subglandular mammoplasty or in front of the muscle.
- Subfascial mammoplasty or under the fascia of the muscle.
Submuscular mammoplasty is recommended for women who have thin skin and little body fat, since the implant can be hidden under the muscle and this allows the contours of the prosthesis under the skin not to be visible.
Implants in front of the muscle are performed in women with a higher percentage of body fat and thicker skin, because the results are more natural.
Subfascial mammoplasty is the best option for women who use the pectoralis muscle frequently, because placing the implant under the fascia of the muscle prevents it from affecting the natural function of muscle movement.
Mammoplasty Scars
The scars of a breast augmentation surgery can vary depending on the route chosen to insert the implants. There are 3 types of routes to insert the implants.
- The axillary route is used in small breasts.
- The areolar approach allows to hide the scar at the edge of the areola.
- The inframammary approach allows to hide the scar under the groove of the breast.
Depending on the anatomical conditions of the patients, one or another approach is recommended, but it is ultimately the patient’s choice.
What is the postoperative period after a mammoplasty?
The recovery of the patient after undergoing an augmentation mammoplasty requires a series of basic care, such as postoperative follow-ups and annual check-ups with the gynecologist and the surgeon.
Generally, the patient can lead a normal life and can return to work after 5 days, as long as the work does not require great physical effort.
The duration of the prosthesis
Nowadays, implants have a duration of more than ten years. In fact, the prostheses currently used, which are made of highly cohesive silicone gel, are prepared for a long duration. However, despite the advances, patients must still undergo annual follow-ups and check-ups.