Recently, breast augmentation has become more popular than ever, due to the latest implant options and advanced surgical techniques. There is an upsurge in the number of women choosing this procedure for its ability to create a natural look while developing a woman’s self-confidence and body image.
Breast augmentation (implants), or augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure that is performed to add volume to the breasts. The procedure involves placing implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles to achieve the patient’s desired breast size.
If you’re thinking about breast augmentation, the first step towards boosting your self-esteem and enhancing your breast appearance is to understand the process. Before you decide to have the procedure, you should also discuss your goals with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Paul Vitenas to get comprehensive details on what breast augmentation can do for you.
Why Do Women Choose Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is among the top cosmetic surgeries in the United States, year after year. Some of the reasons women choose breast augmentation include:
1. Naturally Small Breasts
Women with tiny breasts may lack confidence about their appearance, and they may feel less attractive or feminine than they’d like. Breast augmentation helps to increase their breast volume, thus boosting their self-confidence and creating a curvier silhouette.
2. Correct Uneven Breast Size
Due to hormonal imbalances or genetic factors, some women develop asymmetrical breasts that never even out. Having one breast larger than the other may compromise women’s self-confidence. Breast implants can create a uniform appearance.
3. Adjust Breast Size After Pregnancy
An overwhelming majority of women experience breast sagging after pregnancy and nursing. Many women choose to correct this with a breast lift and combine the procedure with breast augmentation for a larger cup size.
4. Reconstruct the Breasts After Mastectomy
Breast cancer treatments generally require the removal of cancerous tissue in the breasts, often leading to a single or double mastectomy. Women who have had a mastectomy often choose breast implants for reconstruction purposes.
5. Due to Weight Loss
Most women like their breasts full and shapely. However, massive weight loss can reduce breasts’ fullness and firmness. Breast augmentation (sometimes combined with a breast lift) can help restore volume loss in the breasts.
What to Expect on your Breast Augmentation Journey
1. Breast Surgery Consultation
The consultation’s main purposes are to educate you about the procedure, assess your candidacy, and give you an opportunity to discuss your goals. You should leave the appointment with a good understanding of your options.
You need to know your breast measurements, your desired size, and the features of your breasts before the appointment. You will discuss these goals and your health history with the surgeon during the consultation.
At Houston Surgical Center, Dr. Vitenas will take several measurements so he can recommend implants for you. He will also fit you with a unique bra that permits you to try various-sized implants. However, with technological advancements, your implant size can also be determined via Vectra 3D technology, which allows you to easily visualize different implant sizes and shapes.
2. Pre-Op Visit
After the initial consultation with your plastic surgeon and deciding on the surgery date, you will need to schedule your pre-op appointment, which should happen within two weeks before the operation. This appointment’s main objective is to go through the details of what will happen on the day of surgery.
Dr. Vitenas will administer prescriptions so that you can get them filled before the surgery day and you will have your pre-op photos taken. You will be given thorough preparation instructions at this time as well. This is a great opportunity to get answers to any questions you might have.
3. Augmentation procedure
After making all the necessary decisions about the procedure and being cleared for surgery, you’re ready to go. You are expected to arrive at the hospital or surgical center 2 hours before your initial time for surgery. Dr. Vitenas and his team will make sure everything is clear to you concerning the entire surgery and recovery and answer any final questions.
Breast augmentation is a routine surgical procedure for plastic surgeons and can be performed in a surgical center or even a hospital outpatient facility. The process can take under two hours to complete.
Breast augmentation may be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the procedure. You will meet the anesthesiologist who will ask general questions about your medical records and your anesthesia experience to receive the appropriate prescription. You will be assigned a nurse who will advise you on caring for yourself after the surgery.
After this, you will be returned to the surgery room for the anesthesia and the surgery will begin!
4. Recovery After the Procedure
One day after the surgery, you will experience some pain and soreness, which can be managed with medication. After one week, you will visit Dr. Vitenas and have the wound assessed. There will be no removal of the sutures since they are all internal and dissolve on their own.
Within a week, the pain will have subsided, and you will start to see your surgical results. Your plastic surgeon will recommend the right bandage or a sports bra that will support your breasts during the recovery process. You will also be advised on how to take care of the small scars that will develop.
5. Post-Op Visits
One week after the surgery, you will be required to schedule another consultation with your plastic surgeon for a recovery assessment. The doctor will ask how you feel, check the bandages, and ensure you have no complications.
A nursing team member will also change your dressing, change the tape, and inspect the scar to prevent the treatment area from getting infected. If you experience abnormal pain, discuss it with Dr. Vitenas. You will be given a date for your next appointment, which is likely to be scheduled within six weeks after the surgery.
Three months after the surgery, you will have another appointment where the medical team will take a photo of your new breasts. This will mark the end of your breast augmentation journey. Although breast augmentation has long-lasting results, this procedure is not permanent, and you may require another surgery in the future to replace the implants.
Start Your Breast Augmentation Journey
If you’re ready to move forward with breast augmentation, then it’s time to choose your surgeon. Dr. Paul Vitenas is a breast surgery expert with a long track record of highly satisfied patients. To learn more about breast implants in Houston, TX at Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery, call 281-484-0088 today.