Breast augmentation plastic surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in Korea. Women may choose to under go breast enlargement surgery for various reasons. These personal reasons may center around breasts that are perceived to be under developed, or because of differences in the sizes of the breasts or from changes after pregnancy or breast feeding. Some women may be happy with their breasts but just want them made fuller. Often after weight loss, aging or childbirth a woman's breast volume and shape may change. This too can lead to a woman to seek a breast augmentation. Breast implant surgery is the most popular way to improve breast shape and size. Breast enhancement using breast implants can give a woman more proportional shape and may improve self esteem.
 Incision sites
Breast implants for augmentation may be placed via various types of incisions
 • Transaxillary - an incision is placed in the armpit and the dissection tunnels medially. This approach allows implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast and is more likely to consistently achieve symmetry of the inferior implant position.
• Periareolar - an incision is placed along the areola border. The incision is placed around the inferior half, or the medial half of the areola's circumference. Silicone gel implants can be difficult to place via this incision due to the length of incision required (~ 5cm) for access. As the scars from this method occur on the edge of the areola, they are comparatively less visible than the other methods.
• Inframammary - an incision is placed below the breast within the breast fold (infra-mammary fold). This incision is the most common approach and affords maximum access for precise dissection and placement of an implant. This method can leave slightly more visible scars in smaller breasts which don't drape over the IMF.
• Transumbilical - a technique where an incision is placed in the navel and dissection tunnels superiorly. This approach enables implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but makes appropriate dissection and implant placement more difficult. Transumbilical procedures are performed with an endoscope (tiny lighted camera) to assist dissection. This technique is not appropriate for placing silicone gel implants due to potential damage of the implant shell during blunt insertion. |
-Incisions vary based on the type of implant, degree of enlargement desired, your particular anatomy, and patient-surgeon preference.
-Breast augmentation does not correct severely drooping breasts. If you want your breasts to look fuller and to be lifted due to sagging, a breast lift may be required in conjunction with breast augmentation.
Breast reduction
Large breasts can cause a many problems, including neck, back, and shoulder pain, headaches, shoulder-grooving (where the bra-straps dig in), interference with activities and exercise, rashes under the breasts, inability to find clothing that fits properly, and problems with self-image. As a result, women with large breasts are often in chronic pain, have little energy, may be overweight because they are unable to exercise, and have self-image problems, all of which interfere with quality of life.
Invariably, surgery is the most effective, most efficient, and most successful way to treat the problem of large and heavy Breast.
Surgical method of breast reduction
The technique used to reduce the size of your breasts will be determined by your individual condition, breast composition, amount of reduction desired, your personal preferences and the surgeon’s advice.
Traditional surgical method is making an inverted T shaped incision, and removes breast tissue, skin and fat, and nipple is then repositioned. After this, get skin together and suture it. This method has some problems such as need of blood transfusion, long-term hospitalization, and obvious scar.
Presently, a circular pattern incision around the areola is used for breast reduction. This method is quite simple, no needs of blood transfusion, less scar, and besides, can preserves the original function and shape of breast.
<Things that you have to be aware of>
-Your ability to breastfeed following breast reduction may be limited; talk to your doctor if you are planning to nurse a baby.
-Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases will fade and significantly improve over time.
|
Breast lift
Loss of skin elasticity, gravity and other factors such as weight loss, pregnancy and breast-feeding ultimately affect the shape and firmness of your breasts. Patients who are generally satisfied with the size of their breasts can have a breast lift to raise and firm them, resulting in a more youthful breast contour. Some patients may be unhappy that they have lost a significant amount of breast volume over time. In such cases, implants inserted in conjunction with a breast lift can increase breast size at the same time as the shape and position of the breasts are enhanced.
Surgical method of breast lift
A common method of lifting the breasts involves two incisions. One incision is made around the areola, and another runs vertically from the bottom edge of the areola to the crease underneath the breast.
After the incisions are made, the underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness, and the nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height. If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter.
After your breasts are reshaped and excess skin is removed, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed. |
Breast reconstruction
 Breast reconstruction is a physically and emotionally rewarding procedure for a woman who has lost a breast due to cancer or other condition.
The creation of a new breast can dramatically improve your self-image, self-confidence and quality of life. Although surgery can give you a relatively natural-looking breast, a reconstructed breast will never look or feel exactly the same as the breast that was removed.
Reconstruction with an implant alone usually requires tissue expansion.
Decision of surgical methods vary and depend on patient’s statues; your surgeon will help you decide what is best for you.
Inverted nipple
Approximately 3% of the female population suffers from inverted nipples and the deformity can aversely affect self-esteem, sexuality, and in severe cases, the ability to breastfeed.
The cause of inverted nipple
Most cases of inverted nipples are congenital - some people are just born that way. However, some nipples become inverted after breastfeeding when scar tissue builds in the milk ducts. Nipples that become inverted after birth are usually caused by one of three things: not enough skin at the base of the nipple, constricted milk ducts, or scarring of the milk ducts due to breastfeeding.
<Surgical method of inverted nipple>
Surgery to correct the nipple involves a surgeon making a small incision in the areola around the base of the nipple. The nipple and underlying tissue is then raised and stitched into a pinched or protruded position, while preserving or partially preserving the milk ducts. If breast-feeding is of no concern, a surgeon may simply detach the milk ducts from the inverted nipple during surgery, making normal nipple protrusion much easier to achieve. Dressing is applied to the area once the operation has taken place. |
| Types of implant |
Implant type will be determined not just on your desired increase in size but more importantly on your breast anatomy, skin elasticity and body type. There are many kinds of breast implant, but comparatively, cohesive gel filled implants and saline filled implants are the most popular types of breast augmentation implant. |
1. Cohesive gel filled implant
Cohesive gel implants are filled with an elastic silicone gel. The gel feels and moves much like natural breast tissue.
What distinguishes cohesive implants is that the silicone gel is firmer, essentially a soft solid. If a cohesive implant is cut in half, there is no gross movement of gel, and the implant maintains its shape. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell.
<FAQ about cohesive gel implant>
Q. Are cohesive gel implants safe?
A. The cohesive gel filled breast implant is one of the most extensively studied medical devices. Cohesive gel implant has clinically tested during ten years in USA, before approval of FDA. In Korea, KFDA (Korea Food & Drug Administration) has approved cohesive gel for breast implant in 2007. The results of studies are
-they don’t increase possibility of breast cancer
-they don’t affect on breast feeding
-they are not associated with any other diseases.
Numerous scientific studies over the years have shown that cohesive gel filled implants are both safe and effective for breast augmentation and reconstruction.
Q. What is the surgical method of breast augmentation using cohesive gel implants?
A. Since cohesive gel is form stable filler, it is difficult to insert through navel or areola. So axillary incision or infra-mammary fold incision will be made for placement of implants. |
|
2. Saline filled implant
Saline implants are the most frequently used implants. The shell of the implant is strong silicone, and it is filled with sterile saline solution at the time of surgery. Should these implants ruptured, the body will absorb the saline naturally expelled by the body. |
Complications of breast augmentation
Very few post-surgery complications are encountered with breast augmentation. Few patients may have following complications.
 Capsular contracture
Capsular contracture is the term used to describe scar tissue that can form around breast implants which may cause the breasts to harden.
Capsular contracture occurs when the capsule tightens and squeezes the implant. This contracture is a complication which is unpredictable, and it may cause the breasts to look or feel different, and may cause some discomfort from the tightening of the capsule.
Possibility of occur capsular contracture is about 3~10%, and severe contracture may require surgical removal of implant. After removal, breast will return to its original size and shape.
Decrease in size of implant
As time goes by, the possibility of implant leakage becomes higher. It is noticed by loss of size or shape of your breast, and approximately 5~7% of patients experiences implant decrease. In this case, additional surgery is necessary to remove and to possibly replace the implant.
The result of breast augmentation depends on
- choosing implant of suitable size & shape for each patient
- secure pockets for implant
- preventing capsular contracture. |
| • Frequent Questions |
Q. What is silicone?
A. Silicone is largely inert compounds with a wide variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant, nonstick, and rubberlike, it is frequently used in cookware, medical applications, sealants, lubricants, and insulation. Silicones are polymers that include silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes other chemical elements.
Q. Is there any possibility of breast cancer after breast augmentation?
A. Published studies have concluded there is no convincing evidence that breast implants are associated with breast cancer or any diseases.
Q. Do breast implants interferes breast X-ray?
A. The implant may interfere with finding breast cancer during mammography and also may make it difficult to perform mammography. Therefore, it is essential that you tell your mammography technologist that you have an implant before the procedure. The technologist can use special techniques to minimize the possibility of rupture and to get the best possible view of the breast tissue.
Q. How long is the average life span of breast implant?
A. Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices. You may need implant replacement over the course of your life. But the life span of implants depends.
Q. When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
A. You can resume normal activity and exercise1 week after the surgery, but full recovery is achieved within approximately 4~6 weeks. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing, and you should avoid getting them wet during the 1st week. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
Some discoloration and swelling will occur initially, but this will disappear quickly. Most residual swelling will resolve within a month.
Taking walks is recommended to improve the blood circulation, but a support bra should be worn to support the breast.
Q. Can I sunbathe after the surgery?
A. lying in the sun causes no problems for breast implants, because silicone has thermal stability. But scaring is a different matter- sunlight can color scaring. So don´t expose scars directly to the sun for at least one year.
Q. Will my breasts look and feel natural?
A. Yes. During the first few weeks your breasts will feel firm and swollen. Once the breasts have settled, they’ll soften to a more natural appearance and feel.
Q. How heavy is the breast implant?
A. Weight of implants vary depending on its size and amount of implant filler. 250cc of siltex implant weighs 250g.
|
|
