General Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions

[sreekar]

What are the General Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions? if anyone find these questions please post here with answers. Thanks in advance

[communityhead]

Can a woman breastfeed after breast augmentation?

A lot of women ask if they can breast feed after Breast Augmentation Surgery. The answer is a resounding yes. For the vast majority of women who have a BA breastfeeding is no more difficult with implants than without. In fact, some women who have breast fed with and without implants say that breastfeeding with implants is easier!

Breastfeeding is a growing concern with patients who have had Breast Augmentation surgery. In previous years, women who received implants were married and had already finished with childbearing. However, more and more single women, and women who have not finished or even begun childbearing are having the surgery.

In 1992, the first report of a Silicone Illness hit the media. At that time there was fear that breastfeeding with silicone implants would endanger the child. There has been studies performed to show this not to be the case. The main reason being that the silicone molecule is too large to pass into the milk ducts.

Particularly with the belly button approach, the breast tissue and ducts are not disturbed, cut or affected. The procedure literally takes place under all of the breast tissue, not going through it. There is no evidence that silicone from the implant shell enters the milk.

However, with other incision locations and techniques other than the TUBA and trans-axillary, it is quite possible to disrupt the mild ducts and lines resulting in blocked ducts during a pregnancy. This has been known to happen with a peri-areolar technique resulting in additional surgery to unblock the milk ducts. Although, this happens in reductions as well.

[communityhead]

Can implants achieve some lifting of sagging breasts?

Although implants do not lift up a sagging breast, they do help mildly sagging breasts appear less saggy. They do this in two ways:

1.) Implants take up some of the slack in loosened skin thereby increasing the volume and decreasing the saggy look.
2.) Implants, to a mild extent, rotate the lower portion of the breast upward, making the breasts appear less saggy.
For moderate or severe sag, a lifting procedure or a lifting procedure with implants is usually performed.

[communityhead]

Do breasts with implants experience sagging over time?

All breasts relax as time passes, because the weight stretches the skin, elasticity is lost with age and the amount of breast tissue often decreases as the person gets older. These three factors mean that breasts can be expected to relax and sag whether or not there are implants present. The implants add some weight to the breast, which may increase the rate of relaxation, and yet implants and surrounding scar tissue can provide some internal support for the breasts. The overall result is that usually the breasts sag less, but more so if you wear a properly fitting bra regularly. A patient cannot expect to go without a bra for the rest of their life once they get implants. Especially with larger cup sizes as you will be returning to your plastic surgeon's office consulting for a breast "lift" (mastopexy).

[communityhead]

Will my implants feel like natural breasts?

This issue depends much upon a few factors:

* Pre-existing tissue: The more natural tissue you have pre-operatively, the more of a chance you have of feeling "natural" post-operatively. However! If you have Cohesives or overfilled saline implants, regardless, your breasts will feel firmer than natural breasts.
* Overfill amount: Too little volume will give you ripples, too MUCH volume will cause firmness and rippling. Discuss overfill amounts (percentages) with your surgeon pre-operatively.
* Implant filler: Saline reportedly feels less natural than silicone gel or Hydrogel-filled implants.
* Implant surface: Smooth-surfaced implants are thinner than textured-surfaced implants. Although very slight, patients having had both often report that they can feel a difference.
* Implant placement: You may hear that unders look more natural than overs, when in fact, all cases are different. Overs actually move more naturally than unders but may have a pronounced upper pole fullness (especially in overfilled implants). Unders tend to "jump" and twitch when you use the pectorals during every day movements and working out. This may be a matter of opinion and preference rather than an effect which produces a blanket statement.
* Thickness/thinness of skin: The thicker and springier your skin the less the implant edges will be felt. Thinner skin allows more a more palpable result. hence thin-skinned individuals often opt for under placement. And also may meet the criteria to receive Silicone-filled implants.

[communityhead]

Someone told me that if I should have dental work after I have had a breast augmentation, I should pre-medicate - even for a cleaning. Why is this?

Some may consider this a controversial subject and scoff at the idea of a bacteria-induced infection or case of Capsular Contracture (CC). When an individual has dental work, even a routine cleaning, plaque and bacteria are released from their holds and introduced into the blood stream via your gum tissue. The gums are often lacerated, even slightly, during dental work creating a 'doorway' in which bacteria may enter. When a significant amount of bacteria is present in the body, they will seek out weakness in the body to stronghold themselves and replicate. Any foreign presence within our bodies (i.e. breast implants, lip implants, hernia repair mesh, etc.) is a prime target for these infectious intruders. Although it is not technically *proven* that dental work and Capsular Contracture (CC) are related there are increased instances of CC thereafter. but It is even cautioned to those with pacemakers and aorta catheters to take antibiotics when going to the dentist so mammary implant recipients should be no different. And it is often said and is good practice, 'it is better to be safe than sorry'.

[communityhead]

Will I have stretch marks after my breast augmentation? How can I keep this from happening? An individual's elasticity varies. Some patients develop stretch marks from growth spurts during puberty, muscle tissue gain from weight lifting and pregnancy. Some individuals never develop stretch marks and still others are very prone to them. There is still no successful treatment for the removal of stretch marks. Some swear by Shea nut butter, others, olive oil. Some swear by Retin A as a solution to the red lines that may develop in the early stages of stretch mark formation. It must be said that applying topical Vitamin E may have been the advice of yesteryear but according to new dermatological studies, topical Vitamin E can cause contact dermatitis and exacerbate scar appearance in some patients. Incidentally, Vitamin E oil is sometimes instructed not to be taken orally 3 weeks prior to any surgery nor 3 weeks afterwards. Then again some surgeons advise it a week to 2 weeks post op with the addition of manual compression exercises beginning immediately to prohibit capsular contracture (CC). And still others advise against over 140 i.u of vitamin E a day. As I have said before different surgeons will have different ideas.

The stretch marks are caused my an abrupt expansion of the tissues. When the expansion is very gradual stretch marks are practically non existent. I can only suggest massaging Shea Nut butter (if you are not allergic to nut oils) and lotions into the tissue beforehand and after until your skin is no longer tight feeling. But still ask your surgeon before doing anything other than what he or she instructs. There is no guarantee that stretch marks will not develop but medical science has faith that a proven method of removal will be discovered, eventually.

Mature stretch marks are very difficult to remove. You can tell a stretch mark is mature by the age of course and by the color - which is usually white. Deep fissures which are purple in color can scarcely be removed with treatments short of excision. This means that those microdermabrasion treatments that you have been getting are probably going to do nothing but empty your pocket book. The white marks CAN be darkened using a flesh-colored pigment implanted using micropigmentation.

[communityhead]

Is there much pain associated with breast augmentation? How bad will it hurt?

Although pain thresholds vary, breast augmentation pain is dependent upon the implant placement, incision placement and if you choose to take your meds on time, every time. You can also cause yourself more pain by not abiding by your surgeon's instructions and over-exerting yourself.

Many patients report that their discomfort is described as pressure or muscle soreness. I have heard so many times "It feels like an elephant is on my chest!". It is also described as having done too many butterfly curls (with under placement). If you should experience any discomfort that seems out of the ordinary, contact your surgeon.

[communityhead]

What about all those scary websites and articles! Is there anything to the implant scare?

Those scary websites are to make you react exactly that way, scared. I am not saying that nothing negative ever happens. It does, there are instances of capsular contracture (CC), extrusion, infection, inflammation, granulomas, asymmetry, etc. But not in the percentages claimed on these sites. Much "evidence" is unsubstantiated and significantly exaggerated.

The simple fact is unfortunately you never know WHO is going to have a negative reaction and it is a chance you are going to have to take. Way the pros and cons of which have evidentiary support and you can make an informed choice. Visit our support forums and support forums all over the web and you will surely see that the happy patients aren't few and far between, there are MANY more than can be counted.

[communityhead]

Should I wait to get my implants until after the weight loss to get the BA?

Although you may wish to get your implants at any time, if you are considering losing any significant amount of weight (15 lbs. and up) be prepared to notice sag if you lose breast tissue. If you have very small breasts and get implants then lose weight, there shouldn't be a significant problem with sage since your breast envelopes were not large to begin with. You could safely lose the weight and suffer no ill effects to your breasts if this is the case.