Breast Augmentation in Phoenix, AZ
(Augmentation Mammaplasty)

Breast Augmentation With Implants

Augmentation mammoplasty, more commonly referred to as breast augmentation, is performed to increase breast size and/or fix breast asymmetry. Breast Augmentation is the most common plastic surgery procedure performed today allowing patients to increase their self-esteem, body image, and even sexual satisfaction. It is also beneficial to those looking to restore lost volume following pregnancy or weight loss.

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What is breast augmentation?

Every year, breast augmentation is one of the top three cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. Breast augmentation increases the fullness, size, and/or projection of a woman’s breasts. To achieve this, implants filled with either silicone gel or saline are implanted either under the breast tissue or under the pectoral muscle. There are many choices involved with breast augmentation, everything from the incision location to the implant type. Dr. Ong will provide you with the information you need and help you with these decisions before proceeding with the procedure

Who is an ideal candidate for breast augmentation?

For most women, the breasts are a key component of body image. If you’re unsatisfied with the size, proportionality, symmetry, or other factors of how your breasts look, it can impact the way you view your entire figure.

Different women have different reasons for wanting to augment their breasts. The one common theme should be this — the decision is being made for you, not for a partner, spouse, or anyone else. Whether you’ve felt your breasts were never proportional with the rest of your body; whether you feel as if your breasts have lost volume and fullness after pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding; whether your breasts are asymmetrical; or whether you’d simply like to have larger, rounder breasts — there are plenty of great reasons to have this popular procedure with Dr. Ong.

What are the two types of breast implants?

Silicone and saline are the two implant types most commonly used in augmentation mammaplasty. Silicone implants feel more like natural breasts than saline ones. They include the shaped “gummy bear” or round implants. Implants are placed behind each breast, underneath either breast tissue or the chest-wall muscle. The procedure lasts 1 to 2 hours and is typically performed with general anesthesia. Incisions are made in inconspicuous places to minimize scar visibility. The breast is then lifted, creating a pocket into which the implant is inserted.

Incision types of pros and cons

Behind chest wall

Advantages of implant placement behind the chest-wall muscle include a possible reduced risk of capsular contracture (hardening of scar tissue around the implant) and less interference during mammograms. Disadvantages include a longer recovery period.

beneath breast tissue

The advantages of implant placement beneath breast tissue include that the breasts move more naturally as the patient uses her chest muscles and that slight breast sagging is corrected. A disadvantage is that this incision point can only be used once in the event that you may want to change the size of your implant.

What are the risks of breast implants?

Breast augmentation is a very popular procedure that has incredibly high satisfaction rates in post-surgery surveys, but it does have certain risks. Dr. Ong will discuss these with you during your consultation.

Capsular contracture

The main risk with breast implants is when the scar tissue that forms around the implants

 continues to grow and contract around the implant. This is called capsular contracture, and will usually make the breasts feel hard and sometimes painful. In these cases, the implant needs to be removed and the scar tissue removed. New implants can then be placed. 

Loss of nipple sensation

This problem occurs when the implants are placed through an incision around the areola, which can damage the nerves in the area. Often, this is a temporary effect and sensation returns.

Breast milk production

Again, if the implants were placed through an areola incision, there is a chance that the patient’s breast milk glands may be damaged. This can impact future milk production.

Scarring

There will be scarring with breast augmentation unless the implants were placed through incisions in the armpits. The largest amount of scarring involves implants placed along the breast crease. Areola insertion has limited scarring. Armpit insertion has no scarring on the breasts, only a vertical line in each armpit.

Implant rupture

Implants have a lifespan and they will eventually fail. This leads to a rupture in the shell of the implant. In the case of saline implants, the body simply absorbs the saline solution. Still, the empty shell will need to be removed and replaced. With silicone implants, the silicone can enter the pocket created to hold the implant. If this happens, the silicone needs to be removed, along with the implant shell. Today’s silicone gels are much more cohesive and tend to stay within the shell, even after rupture.

Implant rippling

If there is not enough tissue between the implant edge and the skin surface, the implant can show rippling on the skin surface. This is usually more prevalent with saline implants than with silicone implants.

Asymmetry

In some cases, the implants may settle unevenly. This can leave the patient with asymmetrical breasts. This can be corrected through revision surgery utilizing the original incisions.

Breast pain

This is rare, but sometimes implants can cause pain in the patient. This usually passes as the implants settle and the breasts adjust, but it can linger.

Textured implants

The FDA recently announced that textured implants would no longer be used for augmentation. This is because of the risk of a rare type of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The FDA does not recommend removing textured implants, but simply being on the lookout for symptoms.

Before & After

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What is recovery like after breast augmentation?

It surprises many patients, but breast augmentation with Dr. Ong does not involve a difficult recovery. You’ll return home just a couple of hours after your surgery. Your breasts will be bandaged and you will be wearing a surgical bra for support. You’ll need pain medication for 2-4 days, but the pain isn’t hard to manage. Many patients simply opt for over-the-counter pain relief. After one day, you’ll return to our offices and we’ll remove the bandages and check to be sure your healing looks to be going smoothly. Dr. Ong will demonstrate how to massage your breasts to relax the muscles and help the implants settle into their breast pockets. This type of postoperative massage has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of capsular contracture (where scar tissue contracts and hardens around the implant) and decrease discomfort.

Most patients can return to work approximately 3-5 days after surgery. Your sutures will be removed after one week. The most important aspect of your recovery is the diligent wearing of a support bra 24 hours a day for one month after your surgery so as not to place any stress on your incisions. Normal activities can resume in 1-2 weeks, but any impact exercise will need to wait for one month. Upper body exercises, such as lifting weights, will need to wait for six weeks.

Why did Allergan recall some of their implants? Is that something I need to be concerned about with breast augmentation?

Allergan, a dominant company in breast implants and other aesthetic treatments (Botox, Juvederm, CoolSculpting, and lots more), issued a global recall on textured breast implants after the FDA asked it to do so. The implants are linked to breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare type of lymphoma that can develop around textured breast implants. The FDA wants patients to know that BIA-ALCL is not to be confused with breast cancer. BIA-ALCL is very rare with a total of only 573 cases and 33 deaths around the world associated with these textured implants. The risk is rare enough that the FDA does not recommend women who have received textured implants to have them removed; it only recommends being aware of possible symptoms.

Schedule a Consultation for Breast Augmentation in Phoenix, AZ Today

Call today for questions or to schedule an appointment at (480) 771-7771 or complete a Contact Form here! Ong Institute for Plastic Surgery and Health proudly provides Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa AZ, and the surrounding areas with advanced breast augmentation procedures.

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