Women seek breast surgery for a variety of reasons. You may not be satisfied with the size or shape of your breasts and would like to reduce or enhance them. Perhaps you have developed asymmetry between the two breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding or after significant weight fluctuations. Or you might just want an overall makeover.
Regardless of your reasons for wanting breast surgery, Matthew H. Steele, MD, can work with you to help you achieve a more desirable and youthful look. We encourage you to call the office and schedule a consultation to discuss your goals for breast augmentation in Midlothian.
Several procedures are available to Midlothian women who want to change their breasts, and the one that you and your plastic surgeon choose depends on your goals and anatomical structure. During your consultation, Dr. Steele will conduct a thorough physical examination and review the pros and cons of each type of breast augmentation.
Most patients will choose a silicone gel-filled implant to augment the breast. Silicone implants are safe and provide a significant increase in volume and improve shape and symmetry. Some women who may be averse to an implant will consider fat transfer to the breast. While it may seem desirable to use your own tissue, this procedure is more invasive as it requires liposuction from other parts of your body to collect the fat. Additionally, fat cannot be injected into the breast tissue, only around the breast tissue which limits the volume of transfer. Women who desire a complete augmentation with fat will often require multiple surgeries.
There are two types of breast implants, saline-filled and silicone-filled. Saline implants are composed of a silicone shell that is filled with saline at the time of surgery. Benefits of a saline implant include a shorter incision length and the ability to notice when they rupture, as the breast will deflate. The downsides of saline implants are numerous and include a much firmer feel compared to silicone, a higher rupture rate compared to silicone, and a much higher rate of visible and palpable wrinkles or folds. For these reasons, Dr. Steele seldom recommends a saline device.
Silicone gel-filled implants consist of a silicone shell filled with a highly cohesive (sticky) silicone gel, often called a gummy bear implant. These implants closely mimic the look and feel of natural breast tissue. Benefits include a more natural look and shape, a wider variety of dimensions and volumes to customize the implant to the patient’s anatomy, and a lower rupture rate compared to saline-filled implants.
Women in Midlothian who are good candidates for breast augmentation must be in good general health and have reasonable expectations of what surgery can accomplish.
We recommend that you have reached your desired weight goal and have maintained it for several months. Weight fluctuations can impact the results of breast augmentation, so it no longer offers the aesthetic you were seeking.
Additionally, the ideal candidate must be a non-smoker. Nicotine increases the risk of complications during surgery, impairs healing, and increases the risk of infection during recovery. If you do smoke, you must stop smoking six weeks before and after the surgery. This includes all nicotine delivery devices, such as chewing tobacco, smoking, vaping, nicotine gum, and nicotine patches.
There are several stages of recovery after breast augmentation. Immediately after the surgery, you will receive detailed instructions on how to care for yourself at home. You will go home on the same day. You might feel groggy and nauseous from the anesthesia as it wears off, so you will be unable to drive yourself home.
You must have a trusted friend or relative who can drive you home and someone who can stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours. Your chest will be wrapped in dressings, and you will wear a surgical bra that supports your breasts while they heal. This helps to reduce swelling and provide support.
Some swelling and discomfort are expected in the first several days, which you can easily manage with prescribed pain medication. Rest is crucial, so you must avoid any strenuous activities. We encourage you to walk around the house to promote circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Drains may have been placed to prevent fluid from accumulating under the incisions. You will be taught how to care for them, and they are usually removed within the first few days during your first follow-up visit with Dr. Steele. After the first two weeks, you can gradually resume light activity, but any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting must be avoided for the first six weeks.
Breast augmentation offers you the opportunity to change your breast size and shape, correct asymmetry, or enhance your overall body image. These changes can boost your self-confidence and make you feel better about how you look and feel. We encourage you to call our office and schedule a consultation to learn more about breast augmentation in Midlothian.
