It’s a common desire to want larger or more shapely breasts. That’s why breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the world.
Breast augmentation surgery can increase the size of your breasts while enhancing their shape. Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX, offers breast surgery, including augmentation, for patients who want to enhance their figures.
Read on to learn more about breast augmentation.
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is an aesthetic surgical procedure that enlarges the breasts while giving them a more contoured or symmetrical shape. During breast augmentation surgery, implants are inserted to add volume and roundness to the breasts.
Breast Implants
While there are various ways to perform a breast augmentation, the most popular method involves breast implants. The two most common types of implants are saline and silicone.
Saline vs. Silicone
Saline implants consist of a silicone outer shell that’s filled with saline solution. The outer shell is placed under the skin, behind the mammary tissue. The shell is then filled with its saline solution to achieve a larger yet natural-looking shape.
Saline implants are a great option for clients who want something that most resembles real breast tissue in feel and appearance.
Silicone implants have an outer silicone shell filled with a thick silicone gel. These are placed, fully intact, under the skin and behind the mammary tissue. The gel is already inside the implant during placement, so the size and shape cannot be adjusted during the surgical process.
Silicone implants are a great option for clients whose main concern is shape. They look less natural than saline implants, but they have a rounder appearance.
Who Is a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Ideal candidates for breast augmentation surgery are patients who want to improve the size and shape of their breasts.
Patients often include women who have naturally small breasts due to genetics or body composition. Other candidates are mature women who have seen a change in their breast shape and volume due to the aging process.
Women who have lost a significant amount of weight or experienced weight fluctuation during pregnancy also make good candidates for breast augmentation.
The best way to determine whether you’re a good candidate for breast augmentation is by scheduling a consultation with us. We’ll assess your current breast structure and discuss your desired outcome to decide whether augmentation is the best route to take.
Some patients may be better suited for a breast lift, which is a different type of breast surgery. Rather than enhancing size and shape, breast lifts remove excess skin and lift the breasts higher on the chest. We will discuss all of these options during your consultation.
The Complete Breast Augmentation Process
If you’re considering breast augmentation, it’s helpful to know what to expect. The following is a breakdown of the complete breast augmentation process from start to finish.
Preparing for Breast Surgery
Before you can schedule your breast augmentation, you will need to have a consultation with us. We’ll examine your figure, go over your cosmetic goals, and determine whether breast augmentation is right for you. We also use this appointment to choose saline or silicone implants and determine what size they will be.
Once you are confirmed as a good candidate for augmentation, you can schedule your procedure.
Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia, which means you will need to receive medical clearance from your regular physician. This may include a series of blood tests and other diagnostics to confirm that you are healthy enough for this surgery.
In the hours leading up to your procedure, you will need to refrain from eating or drinking — usually for 12 hours. If you regularly take prescription medications, you should discuss that with our surgical team in advance. You may be asked to abstain from taking your medicine the day of your surgery.
The Breast Augmentation Procedure
Once you’re under anesthesia, the breast augmentation procedure begins with the appropriate incisions. We use various types of incisions, each depending on the type of implant and desired surgical outcome. Your incisions may be placed in the crease just under the breast or in the transaxillary (armpit) area.
If you are receiving saline implants, we’ll insert the outer shell of the implant through your incisions and carefully place it behind the mammary tissue. Then, we’ll slowly fill it with a saline solution until we achieve the desired size and shape.
For those receiving silicone implants, we’ll insert the entire implant through your incisions and place it behind the mammary tissue in one step. It will be carefully re-positioned until we have optimal placement.
Once your implants are in place, we’ll close the incisions using small sutures or staples, depending on your needs. This entire breast augmentation surgery can take anywhere from one to three hours to complete.
Your Results
For about two weeks after your breast augmentation, you will need to wear a compression bandage around your chest. After this, we recommend wearing a sports bra or other supportive undergarment for about four to six weeks. This promotes optimal healing.
Most patients see their final results about eight weeks after their surgery. This time frame allows the tissue to settle and any post-op swelling to subside.
Breast Augmentation in Edinburg, TX
Are you interested in breast augmentation surgery? Rios Center for Plastic Surgery provides breast surgery for patients in Edinburg, TX, and the surrounding areas. Contact us via our website or over the phone to schedule a consultation and find out more.
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