How is Breast Augmentation Done?

How is Breast Augmentation Done?

In breast augmentation, the surgeon places an implant under your breast tissue to make it larger. The surgical incision may be made in the crease underneath the breast, around the areola, or in the armpit, depending on the surgeon, to make the scar as invisible as possible. The implant may go either under the breast tissue itself, or under the chest muscle behind the breast. The implant consists of a silicone "balloon" filled with silicone gel or saline.

This surgery takes about an hour, usually with general anesthesia. It is usually done eitherduring a day-only visit to a clinic outside of the hospital or in the hospital with a stay of up to 24 hours. Most women can return to work after one to two weeks.

As the years go by, the implant may leak or rupture. This happens in approximately 10% of cases over the first 10 years. When this occurs, the implant must be removed or replaced. A capsule of scar tissue may also form around the implant. Scar tissue forms on the outside of all artificial implants when placed in the body. However, in approximately 5-10% of cases, too much scar tissue forms. The scar tissue may cause pain and discomfort and make the implant feel hard to the touch. Surgery may be necessary to break up or remove the scar tissue. It may also be necessary to remove or replace the implant. Capsules can form at any time9from a few weeks to many years after the implant has been inserted.

If you undergo breast augmentation, you should realize that the placement of a breast implant in your augmented breast will affect, to some degree, your annual mammograms. If the implant is placed beneath the muscle layer, breast augmentation will not likely have much effect on the quality of later mammograms. However, if you have an implant in your reconstructed breast and you would like to get a mammogram, you should look for centers that are experienced in screening women with implants.