P.C.I.

Breast Augmentation

 

Intro

 For many women, feeling confident, alive and vibrant goes hand in hand with looking their best.  For thousands of women, achieving such confidence and personal satisfaction has come from choosing breast augmentation.  Following their procedure, many women have gone on to experience a transformation in how they feel about themselves and their bodies.

 
There are many reasons why women choose breast augmentation.  Some of them include:

 

Enlarging their breasts to make their bodies more proportional

Reshaping and enlarging breasts that have lost their shape due to breast-feeding

Balancing breasts that differ in size and shape

 

Your reasons are unique and very personal, and your decisions about breast augmentation should be made by you and your physician based on your personal needs, desires, and expectations. Today there are many options available for women who decide breast augmentation is right for them.

 

Questions to Ask About a Physicians Experience

 

When selecting the best physician, you should feel free to have initial consultations with several surgeons before making a decision.  During your initial consultation, asking the following questions will help you learn important information about their surgical training and experience.

 

 How many breast augmentation or reconstruction implantation procedures does the surgeon perform each year?

 For how many years has the surgeon performed breast implant procedures?

 Is the surgeon board certified? If so, by what board?

 In what states is the surgeon licensed to practice surgery?  Keep in mind that some states provide information to prospective patients about a surgeon’s history that includes disciplinary action and malpractice claims and settlements.  This information can be obtained by request or found on the internet.

 What is the most common complication the surgeon encounters with breast implantation?

 What is the surgeon’s reoperation performed by the surgeon is the most common?

 

Questions to Ask About the Breast Augmentation Procedure

 

In addition to learning about a physicians training and experience, you’ll also want to gain a better understanding of breast augmentation.  The following are questions you should have physicians answer during your initial consultation.

 

What are the risks and complications associated with having breast implants?

How many operations on my implanted breasts can I expect over my lifetime?

How will my breasts look if I choose to have the implants removed without replacement?

What shape, size, surface texturing, incision site and placement site are recommended for me?

How will my ability to breast-feed be affected?

How can I expect my implanted breasts to look over time?

How can I expect my implanted breasts to look after pregnancy or after breast-feeding?

What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breasts?

What alternate procedures or products are available if I choose not to have breast implants?

Do you have before and after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?

 

The breast tissue is made up of fatty, glandular and fibrous tissues.  Inside it are blood vessels, milk ducts, fat, glands, and sensory nerves.  Beneath the breast there is the pectoralis major, which is a large muscle that assists in arm movement.

 

Breast augmentation is normally performed using one of the three common incision sites: around the nipple (periareolar), within the breast fold (inframammary), or under the arm (axillary).

Periareolar- This incision offers the benefit of being the most concealed.  However, it is associated with a higher likelihood of inability to breast-feed.

Inframammary- This incision is very popular because it is concealed in the skin fold below the breast, and it is less likely to interfere with breast-feeding.

Axillary- This incision is concealed under the arm and can be a good option for women who do not want any scars on their breasts.  It’s also less likely to interfere with breast-feeding.

Umbilical/endoscopic- This incision has not been studied and is not recommended.

 

Your doctor will explain each incision choice to you in greater detail and help you make a decision that is right for you.

 

PLACEMENT

 

During a breast augmentation procedure, the implants will either be placed under the chest muscle (submuscular) or on top of the muscle and under the breast glands (subglandular).

Submuscular placement may reduce the chances of your implants being felt through skin, and it may help reduce the chance of scar tissue hardening around your implants, called capsular contracture.  Submuscular placement also will make it easier to image your breast during a mammogram.  Possible disadvantages of this placement choice may be a longer surgery and recovery period and difficulty performing some re-operation procedures.

 

-     Subglandular placement can make your augmentation surgery shorter and can reduce your recovery time.  It may also be easier to perform a reoperation.  A possible disadvantage could be having your implant edges more visibly noticeable under your skin.  This placement choice may also increase the chances of capsular contracture and make it more difficult to image your breast during a mammogram.

Your doctor can talk with you about how both options relate to your individual needs, so that you can make a decision about which placement is right for you.

 

TYPES OF BREAST IMPLANTS

 

 

Saline-Filled Breast Implants

 

To meet your specific needs and desires, saline-filled breast implants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, profiles and surface textures.  They are all filled with a saltwater solution that is similar to the fluid that makes up most of the human body.  Saline implants are inserted into the body without fluid, and then filled during surgery through a fill tube.  When the fill tube is removed, the implant automatically seals itself.

 

Implant Surfaces

 

Saline-filled implants are available with either a smooth or textured surface.  Currently, smooth-surfaced saline-filled breast implants are the most popular choice among women and physicians.  Smooth implants are less likely than textured implants to be felt, or palpable, through skin.

Additional factors, such as implant placement, size and the amount of skin and tissue coverage over an implant could influence how palpable it is.  For example, implants placed subglandularly(above the chest muscle) tend to be more palpable than implants placed submuscularly(below the chest muscle).

 
Your physician can help you decide which implant surface is most appropriate for you.

Silicone-Filled implants. What Is a Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implant?
A breast implant is a sac (implant shell) of silicone elastomer (rubber) filled with silicone gel, which is surgically implanted either under your breast tissue or under your chest muscle.

Mentor MemoryGel Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants are indicated
for females for the following uses (procedures):
• Breast augmentation for women at least 22 years old. Breast augmentation includes primary breast augmentation to increase the breast size, as well as revision surgery to correct or improve the result of a primary breast augmentation surgery.
• Breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction includes primary reconstruction to replace breast tissue that has been removed due to cancer or trauma or that has failed to develop properly due to a severe breast abnormality. Breast reconstruction also includes revision surgery to correct or improve the result of a primary breast reconstruction surgery. (A separate patient brochure is available for and should be read for breast reconstruction.)

 

Implant Shapes and Profiles

 

Depending on the new breast shape you would like to achieve, you and your physician may choose a round or contoured implant.  Round implants are the most popular choice, and are available in both moderate and high profile styles.  Moderate profile implants offer a full, rounded shape.  High profile implants provide greater forward projection for a more prominent silhouette in a narrower chest area.  Contoured implants provide a more mature, sloped breast shape, and they come in moderate and high profile styles.  However, it is important to know that when contoured implants are placed beneath the chest muscle, they may assume a round shape.  Together with your physician, you can decide which implant shape and profile is right for you.

 

Implant Size

 

When considering breast augmentation, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is implant size.  Your physician can provide you with guidance about having realistic expectations and how you might look with the implant size you choose.  To help you visualize your new breast size, your physician may show you before and after photos or ask you to try on a bra with implants.  It’s important to remember that your final results will be influenced by two main factors:

 

1. The size, shape and profile of the implant you choose
2. The amount of existing breast tissue you have prior to augmentation.

 

In general, the larger you want your cup size to be, the larger the breast implant you and your surgeon will want to consider.  To help you better understand size, it helps to know that breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters or cc’s.  For example a 300 cc implant is larger than a 250 cc implant.

 

Your physician will evaluate your existing breast tissue to make sure you have a sufficient amount to cover the breast implant.  If you want a breast implant size that is too large for your existing tissue, your physician may warn you that the breast implant edges may be noticeable at the surface of your skin after surgery.

Using an implant that is too large for your existing tissue also can lead to other surgical complications.  In addition, using large breast implants can speed up the natural effects of gravity on your body and cause your breasts to prematurely droop or sag.

 

Mentor Spectrum Adjustable Implant

 

For many women, selecting the breast size they want is understandably the most difficult part of choosing implants.  To help make this process easier, Mentor offers its innovative line of Spectrum breast implants.

Spectrum implants are the only postoperatively adjustable saline-filled breast implants that enable your physician to adjust the size of your implants for up to six months after your procedure.

 

Your Surgery

 

Breast augmentation procedures are usually performed in a hospital room or surgery center.  You normally can go home the same day as your surgery.  General anesthesia may be an option.  The surgery usually lasts one to two hours.  Your doctor will make an incision and form a pocket in which the breast implant is placed.  When the implant is in its proper position, the incision will be closed with stitches and possibly taped.  To achieve the best results and to make your recovery as quick as possible, your surgeon will discuss with you specific surgical techniques that are best suited for your needs.

 

Your Recovery

 

Every woman’s recovery is different.  In general, you will probably feel a little sore and tired for several days following your surgery.  The first 24 to 72 hours after your procedure is when you will experience the most discomfort.  However, your breasts may remain swollen and tender for a month or longer.  You should avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks, but it is likely that your surgeon will allow you to resume to light activities after about one week and return to work within a few days.

Part of your recovery may involve wearing a postoperative bra or compression garment.  These are designed to provide you with extra support and positioning while you heal.  Your doctor also may have specific suggestions for you to follow based on your individual needs.  If you have any problems occur after your breast implant surgery, contact your physician immediately.

 

Product Replacement and Warranty

 

To give you peace of mind, Mentor makes a lifetime commitment to support you and stand behind our products by offering our Mentor Advantage Limited Warranty.  This warranty includes 1) a lifetime guarantee product replacement policy and 2) our standard and Enhanced financial assistance programs. 

 

Considerations

 

You must be 18 years old to undergo breast augmentation surgery.  It is important for you to understand that breast implants are not considered lifetime devices.  It’s likely you will have to undergo implant removal (with or without replacement) at some point in your life.