subject: Breast Implants and Augmentation [print this page] Breast augmentation is usually performed in a hospital or an outpatient surgical setting under general anesthesia with the patient asleep. A local anesthesia in which the patient remains awake and the area is numbed may also be used. The cosmetic surgeon may choose from a variety of surgical procedures, depending upon what changes are desired. Prior to surgery, premedication to relax the patient is administered and breasts are carefully marked to indicate where incisions are to be made.
One of the techniques most frequently used is an incision made in the lower portion of the breast near the chest wall or around the lower portion of the areola (the dark pink area circling the nipple). A location less frequently used is in the armpit. When the incision is made in the lower portion of the breast, breast tissue is raised to create a pocket either under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle. A breast implant containing a silicone gel, a saline solution, or a combination of the two is inserted into the pocket. In some cases, particularly those in which there is breast asymmetry, inflatable breast implants may be used. With this procedure, the cosmetic surgeon can adjust the amount of inflation.
After the breast implants are securely in place, small sutures are used to close the incisions. A breast augmentation can take two hours or more, depending upon the procedure and extent of the surgery.
Complications of infection and slow healing are rare; however there are certain inherent risks connected with every surgical procedure which should be thoroughly discussed with the physician. Patients can minimize complications by carefully following directions given by the cosmetic surgeon. In some cases in which the breast becomes too firm due to the formation of scar tissue, a second breast augmentation procedure may be necessary.
