What is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation — also called augmentation mammoplasty — is an operation to improve breast size. It entails placing breast implants into the breasts beneath glandular breast tissue or the pectoralis muscles.
For others, it is a part of rebuilding their breasts for a variety of problems.
If you are thinking about breast augmentation, then consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Make sure you know what operation entails, including potential risks, complications and follow-up maintenance.
At Charlotte Plastic Surgery, we always suggest you sit down with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss the type of breast augmentation you need based on your desired outcome. During the consultation, the patient and doctor discuss in detail the options available.
What Results Should I Expect from a Breast Augmentation Operation?
Even though a breast augmentation surgery results in bigger breasts right away, the final outcome may take a couple of weeks, when the swelling subsides and the skin stretches. Incisions and scars might take several months, even up to a year or two, to fade away.
What is Recovery from Breast Augmentation Like?
In respect to recovery, following a long-acting anesthetic called Exparel® which causes the patient to be almost pain-free for 72 hours, patients typically spend approximately one hour in post-operative recovery and are then sent home. Pain-wise, however, most patients report a feeling of chest tightness and soreness, but not severe pain.
Most breast augmentation patients may go back to work in a few days time, and activity restrictions that restrict heavy lifting and upper-body exercise stay in place for a few weeks. Patients typically feel very comfortable after surgery.
Apart from bodily assistance, visiting your surgeon post-procedure is a significant part of the recovery process. Normally, follow-ups are regular, with appointments within the first few days, weeks, and months after the surgery, then annually. At Charlotte Plastic Surgery, we value follow-up appointments with our patients to make sure they are healing flawlessly.
Am I a candidate for breast augmentation?
The perfect candidate for breast augmentation is somebody who’s in great health and wants an increase in their breast size. People who have sagging, also called ptotic breasts, aren’t advised to have this surgery independently. A breast-lift, with or without breast augmentation, is needed to deal with ptosis.
Individuals that are planning a pregnancy also needs to avoid breast augmentation, as breastfeeding and pregnancy will alter the form and volume of the breasts.