Breast Surgery - Why, Types, What to Expect

Women opt for breast surgery for various reasons such as:

1. They might have small breasts and might want to enhance their appearance. Some women also have asymmetric breasts, so they opt for this procedure to have the same size for their breasts.
2. Women might feel more confident with their bodies after having this procedure done.
3. Not just for enlargement, one might also choose to have this surgery to reduce the size of breasts.
4. Due to certain other surgical procedures, the size of the breasts in women might become uneven, and for that, this procedure might help.

Types of Breast Surgeries

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is opted by women to enhance their breasts' contour, size, and appearance. Women might find their breasts to be too small, which might make them feel less confident about their bodies. That is one of the reasons why women choose breast augmentation. However, some women also choose to get the procedure done after pregnancy to get back in shape. Breast augmentation also helps in correcting asymmetric breasts, which is another reason that women opt for surgery.

It can be done with implants or fat grafting which involves change in the placement of fat and skin issues of the breast in a way that puts them in better shape. 

Breast Reduction

Having large breasts can cause discomfort in women leading to other health conditions such as pain in the back or neck. This can be dealt with breast surgery to reduce the size of the breasts, also known as breast reduction. In this process, tissues of skin and fat are removed from the breasts so that the size of the breasts can be reduced. Women can get relief from the symptoms of heavy breasts post this procedure.

Breast Lifts

 In a breast lift, either extra tissues are removed to restore the size of the breasts, or with an external incision, implants are incorporated to lift the breasts permanently. Women undertake this procedure to get rid of saggy breasts. The breast tissue becomes loose and does not remain resilient enough to support the weight of the breasts. This might cause sagging of breasts which can be corrected with the help of this surgery.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is usually opted by women who have undergone a surgical procedure related to their breasts, such as mastectomy for breast cancer. In this procedure, women can choose the kind of breasts they would want regarding appearance, size, volume, etc. Implants are used to recreate the breasts. However, sometimes, even the woman's tissue can be used to recreate the breasts.

How to Prepare for Surgery?

Your plastic surgeon will guide you about the rue procedure and how it might occur. You can also share your preferences regarding the size and appearance of your breasts, such as the type of implants, shape of the breasts, etc. however; there are some things that you need to consider before you go for the procedure. Check them out here:

Things to Consider Before the Breast Surgery

1. Breast implants do not mean that there won't be any sagging. For that, you may need a breast lift procedure.
2. The implants are not going to last forever. You might need a follow-up surgery or maintenance to keep the implants in shape.
3. Breastfeeding might be hampered with the surgery.
4. It is not necessary that your insurance will or will not cover the surgery. So, you need to check with your insurance provider if the surgery will be covered under the insurance or not.
5. If you choose to have your implants removed at some point, you might have to go for another surgical procedure to correct the size and shape of your breasts.
6. Implants are quite high maintenance as you might need to get regular check-ups to ensure that there are no ruptures in the implants. Mammograms might also get complicated.

Besides these considerations, your surgeon may also ask you to avoid certain medications before the procedure, and you might require some company for a few days to take care of you after the surgery as well. You might also have to avoid smoking and drinking for a couple of months to ensure a speedy recovery.

What to Expect?

Before the Procedure

You may need to get yourself admitted to the hospital the morning of the surgery to get a regular check-up of your vitals so that the doctor can confirm that everything is okay. The surgeon might suggest local anaesthesia where you stay awake, and only your breasts are numbed.  You can discuss your anaesthesia options with your doctor based on your preferences.

During the Procedure

To remove or insert the breast implant or tissues, your surgeon will make a slight incision in of these places:

1. Around your nipples
2. The crease under your breast
3. Or, under your arm

After the incision has been made, the doctor will separate the breast tissue from the muscles to create a pocket either in front of or behind the outermost muscle in the chest. This is the place where either the implants are placed, removed from, or tissues are placed or removed from. After the implants or tissues are placed or removed, the doctor will close the incision with stitches and bandage the area to ensure there is no bleeding.

If saline implants are placed in the area, they are filled with sterile saltwater. In the case of silicone implants, they are already filled with silicone gel beforehand.

After the Procedure

1. There will be soreness and swelling around the breast area for a couple of weeks.
2. You might also notice bruising or scarring, which might fade away after some time with proper care as advised by your doctor.
3. Your doctor may also ask you to wear an impression bandage so that you don't feel pressure on your breasts after the surgery and also to confirm the pain.
4. There will be a medication course that you might have to follow to heal.
5. Your breasts may feel sensitive while you are healing.
6. If your job does not involve physical movement, you can return to work in a few weeks.
7. In case of redness, pain, and warmth, you must contact your doctor because there might be an infection.

Risks Involved in the Surgery

Like every surgical procedure, breast surgery also has some risks involved, and they are:

1. Breast pain 
2. High fever
3. Change in implant positions
4. Infection in the wounds of the surgery
5. Scarring (permanent/ temporary)
6. Implant rupture or leakage, which might require another surgery for correction
7. Distortion in the shape of the breast implant due to scar tissues

Results to Expect After the Surgery

If you want a better shape and size of your breasts, then this surgery will do that for you! You can expect to feel happier and more confident with your body. However, do keep your expectations realistic. Perfection is not guaranteed. Your breasts will not remain the same after the surgery. They are prone to change as you age, gain or lose weight, etc.

Recovery After the Procedure

Here are some tips to ensure that you have a smooth recovery period and heal on time:

1. Follow proper medications so that you don't feel pain during the healing period. In case of an infection, follow the medications to ensure that it does not spread.
2. Don't do any heavy lifting for a period of 6 weeks to make sure that your implants don't move or rupture.
3. You can opt for over-the-counter painkillers to relieve pain and discomfort but only after the consultation of your doctor.
4. Wear a surgical bra to keep your breasts in position and avoid feeling the pressure.
5. Your surgeon will cover your breasts with gauze to make the wounds heal better and faster. You may also have drainage tubes which will be removed later in a few days.

Maintenance

Breast implants are not designed to last forever. You might need to have them replaced in case you want alterations or if there are any complications involved. It is also important to get scans every few years to ensure that there are no ruptures in your implants. If it is so, then you might need a replacement.

Takeaway

Breast surgery is one of the ways in which you can achieve your desired breast shape and size if that makes you feel happier and more confident. This is a simple and effective procedure but comes with its share of risks and complications. So, make sure you consider it all before you put yourself through this surgical procedure.