All Procedures
Procedure: Breast Augmentation
Useful information for patients on Breast Augmentation procedures
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to improve the size and shape of the breasts.
During the interview, the surgeon will evaluate the most appropriate method for the placement of the breast implant.
Breast augmentation can be carried on with breast implants or with the patient’s own fat (lipofilling).
Breast augmentation with implants
Breast implants can be filled with saline solution or high cohesive medical silicone gel.
Breast implants will be placed behind the breast tissue (sub glandular), behind the pectoral muscle (submuscular), or at the subfascial level, depending on each patient.
The small incision can be positioned around the areola (circumareolar), in the inframammary fold, or at the axillary level depending on the characteristics of the breast or preferences of both surgeon and patient.
Breast augmentation with lipofilling
Who is the ideal candidate for breast lipofilling?
The ideal candidate for breast augmentation with her own fat (also called breast lipofilling) is a girl with a stable weight and with fat accumulation in certain areas such as the abdomen, hips, flanks, etc. The fat donor areas are usually the abdomen, the hips, the inner thighs and the flank area. We extract the fat through liposuction with thin cannulas of about 3mm in diameter.
Once we have removed the fat, what do we do with it?
We proceed to a centrifugation or decantation or filtration process to extract viable fat cells and discard non-viable cells, debris, and infiltration fluid.
How many sizes can I increase in one session?
During a breast augmentation session using your own fat, a cup is usually increased as a rule. Trying to increase more can mean that the fat does not take and the result is not as expected. Patients always have to keep in mind that with this method of breast augmentation using their own fat, at least two sessions will be necessary depending on the amount of volume they want to increase.
If I gain or lose weight, what happens to the infiltrated fat in the breast?
After a breast lipofilling, the fat infiltrated in the breast will follow the same course as the rest of the body fat, so if the patient gains weight, the adipocytes or fat cells of the breast will also gain volume and her breast will increase in size. The same process will happen if she loses weight, if she loses weight, she will lose volume in the breast.
Does postoperative breast augmentation with your own fat hurt a lot?
The postoperative period after breast lipofilling is quite bearable and perfectly controllable with ibuprofen or paracetamol.
Do I have to wear compression garments after breast augmentation surgery with my own fat?
After a breast augmentation with your own fat, you will leave the operating room with a sports bra that supports the chest well and with a tight-fitting girdle-type garment so that the area from which we have extracted the fat is supported and prevents the skin from becoming flaccid.
After the intervention, will I be able to have mammograms or breast ultrasounds?
After a breast augmentation with your own fat, you can have control mammograms without any problem. In fact, we will ask you for a preoperative mammogram or breast ultrasound to assess the state of your breast prior to surgery.
Useful Information
Ensure you consider all aspects of a procedure. You can speak to your surgeon about these areas of the surgery in more detail during a consultation.
Length
The procedure when using implants typically takes between 50-90 minutes depending on whether it is performed with combined procedures or not, while when using own fat tissue can take 90-120 minutes.
Anesthesia
For better results and more comfort, general anesthesia is the rule for the breast augmentation. However, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation or pectoralis major blockage may be chosen.
Inpatient/Outpatient
The patient can leave the surgical facility the same day or stay one night after recovery from anesthesia wearing a tight sports bra.
Additional Information
- The most frequent complication when using breast implants is capsular contracture, which is usually 8-10%. The causes are unknown, which is why postoperative visits are important for its detection and treatment if it occurs.
- Other types of infrequent complications that may appear are infection, intolerance of stitches, local bruising, etc., which would be detected and adequately treated during postoperative visits.
- There is no evidence that breast implants affect women during pregnancy, lactation or that they cause cancer.
- When using lipofilling, oleomas, seromas and fat cysts can occur.
Patient should rest and avoid all kinds of exertion for at least 48-72 hours. Usually, patients return to their normal lives after 5-7 days, not having to do physical exercise during the first month after surgery.
With good surgical technique, the results are very satisfying with an improved self-esteem.