Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breast for a number of reasons:

• To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.
• To restore breast volume lost due to weight loss or following pregnancy
• To achieve better symmetry when breasts are moderately disproportionate in size and shape
• To improve the shape of breasts that are sagging or have lost firmness, often used with a breast lift procedure
• To provide the foundation of a breast contour when a breast has been removed or disfigured by surgery to treat breast cancer
• To improve breast appearance or create the appearance of a breast that is missing or disfigured due to trauma, heredity, or congenital abnormalities

Types of Breast Implants

Breast implants are medical devices with a saline solution or high cohesive silicone gel. I prefer high cohesive silicone gel because it looks and feels more natural, as well as has long lasting results.

Breast implants vary both by filler and in size, but there are additional features to consider:

Texture: The implant shell may be smooth or textured

Shape: The implant may have a round profile or one that is anatomic (teardrop or tapered shape)

Profile: The implant may have a low, medium or high projection (the depth of the implant from the base to the highest point of the implant curve)

Diameter: The width of the implant measured across it’s base (the side of the implant that will be positioned over the chest wall)

You should be aware that breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery may be required to replace one or both implants. Breast augmentation is relatively straight forward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.

The most common problem, capsular contracture, occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard. Capsular contracture can be treated in several ways, and sometimes requires either removal or “scoring” of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal or replacement of the implant.

As with any surgical procedure, excessive bleeding following the operation may cause some swelling and pain. If excessive bleeding continues, another operation may be needed to control the bleeding and remove the accumulated blood.

A small percentage of women develop an infection around an implant. This may occur at any time, but is most often seen within a week after surgery. In some cases, the implant may need to be removed for several months until the infection clears. A new implant can then be inserted.

Some women report that their nipples become oversensitive, under sensitive, or even numb for several weeks.

Breast implants do not generally interfere with a woman’s ability to breast feed, or present a health hazard during pregnancy to a woman or her baby.

In your initial consultation, Dr. Rodriguez Sierra will evaluate your health and explain which surgical techniques are most appropriate for you, based on the condition of your breasts and skin tone. If your breasts are sagging, Dr. Rodriguez may also recommend a breast lift.

Dr. Rodriguez perform breast augmentations in a hospital outpatient facility, as an outpatient procedure.

The procedure is done with local anesthesia and sedation so you will sleep through the entire operation without feeling anything.

The Surgery

The method of inserting and positioning your implant will depend on your anatomy of the patient. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest (inframamary fold), around the areola or in the armpit. My best option is the inframamary fold.

Working through the incision, the breast tissue will be lift to create a pocket, beneath the pectoral muscle and on top of the chest wall (submuscular placement). Once the implant is positioned within this pocket, the incisions are closed with sutures, skin. The surgery usually takes less than 1 hour.

Most of your discomfort can be controlled by medication (pain killers).

There its no need to remove stitches since they are absorbable, but the swelling in your breasts may take three to five weeks to disappear.

You should be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the level of activity required for your job.

After a month you should begin exercises and normal activities. Your breasts will probably be sensitive to direct stimulation for two to three weeks, so you should avoid much physical contact. After that, breast contact is fine once your breasts are no longer sore, usually three to four weeks after surgery.

• Anesthesia: Local anesthesia with sedation.
• Outpatient (no hospitalization).
• Surgery: 1 hour.
• Recovery time: 1 week.
• Return to normal activities: 1 month.
• Final result: 3 to 4 weeks.

You can visit us at our clinic in Reynosa, Tamaulipas just across the border from McAllen, Texas