Your Health - Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation

(Augmentation Mammoplasty)

Definition

Breast augmentation is a surgery done to modify the size or shape of your breasts.

Reasons for Procedure

For cosmetic reasons—to increase breast size, make breasts symmetric, or improve breast shape and/or contour
To reconstruct a breast that has been been injured or undergone surgery

Possible Complications

Complications are rare but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a breast augmentation, your doctor will review a list of possible complications which may include:

Bleeding
Infection
Abnormal scarring
Painful and/or restricted arm and shoulder motion
Uneven appearance to breasts, either due to position or size
The implant may harden, rupture, or leak
Presence of an implant may make cancer detection (through mammogram and/or self-exam) more difficult
Newly reconstructed breast will not have nerve sensation

This is an elective surgery. If you have any illnesses or you are in poor health for any reason, you should not undergo this procedure.

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

You may be asked to provide the surgeon with a picture of a woman whose breasts you want yours to resemble. Or, you may be asked to look through an album of breast sizes and shapes to help the surgeon understand the outcome you desire.

Your doctor may do the following:

Physical exam including a careful breast exam
Blood tests
Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)—a test that records the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
Mammogram
Take before pictures

Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure like:

Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs
Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)

Leading up to your procedure:

The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
You may be asked to shower the morning of your procedure. You may be given special antibacterial soap to use.
Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure.
Arrange for help at home after returning from the hospital.

Anesthesia

General or local anesthesia may be used. With general anesthesia you will be asleep. With local anesthesia the selected area will be numb.

Description of the Procedure

An cut in the skin will be made either underneath your breast, alongside the areola (pigmented area around the nipple), or in your underarm. A pouch containing a gel or saline solution, called an implant or prosthesis, will be slipped through this opening and into your breast. It will be placed either between the skin and the muscle, or underneath the muscle. The incision will be closed with stitches and bandaged. The same procedure may be repeated for the other breast.

Side View of Breast Implantation

How Long Will It Take?

About 1-2 hours.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. You'll have some bruising and tenderness of the breasts for several weeks after surgery. Talk to your doctor about medicine to help manage the pain.

Average Hospital Stay

It may be possible to leave the hospital on the same day of the procedure or you may be asked to stay overnight. Speak to your doctor about your options.

Post-procedure Care

You will wear a particular bra or bandage to put pressure on the breasts. This will help to support your breasts and decrease the chance of bleeding.
You may wish to apply ice packs to your breasts to decrease swelling and pain.
You may be given a prescription for pain medication, or advised to take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Your doctor will advise you regarding return to exercise.
Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection including fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge at the incision site
Nausea and/or vomiting that you can't control with the medications you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
Pain that you can't control with the medications you've been given
Your implants grow hard, or you believe that they are leaking
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs
Joint pain, fatigue, stiffness, rash, or other new symptoms

In case of an emergency call 911.

RESOURCES:

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/

Breastimplantinfo.org
http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Society of Plastic Surgery
http://www.plasticsurgery.ca/

Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/index.cfm/

References:

Breast augmentation. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery website. Available at: http://surgery.org/public/procedures-breastaug.php . Accessed October 14, 2005.

Sabiston DC Jr. Textbook of Surgery . 17th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co.; 2004.

Sabiston DC Jr. Textbook of Surgery . 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co.; 1997.

Last reviewed October 2009 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD and Brian P. Randall, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.