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How does Breast Implant Surgery work
Breast implant surgery is mostly undertaken in two cases:
- reast augmentation
- Breast reconstruction
Breast Augmentation:-
Breast implant surgery for breast augmentation involves making a single incision in or near the breast and inserting the implant either between the breast and the chest muscle (sub-glandular placement) or behind the chest muscle (sub-muscular placement).
- One incision for insertion of the implant is through the arm pit(axilla), called the trans-axillary approach.
- A second incision can be made in the natural crease under the breast, called the infra-mammary crease approach.
- A third approach is to make the incision at the junction of the coloured part around the nipple(areola), and the natural skin, called the peri-areolar approach.
Each of these approaches has its advantages and disadvantages. Which one is utilized on a patient is totally dependent on her natural anatomy, her preferences and what the doctor advises.
Breast augmentations use saline-filled implants because of their safety and natural look.
The process:-
The surgeon creates a pocket (a space between the tissues) to accommodate the implant. The implant is inserted into the pocket and then inflated with an appropriate amount of saline. The incision is then closed. Then either a surgical bra or bandage is put over the incision.
Post surgical swelling, pain and discomfort is normal. Most women return to work in about ten - twelve days after surgery.
Breast Reconstruction:-
The procedure for breast implant reconstructive surgery (done after mastectomy) slightly differs from that of augmentation surgery.
You have the choice of immediate or delayed reconstruction.
- Immediate reconstruction or the one stage process involves placing a breast implant directly after mastectomy. Few women are able to go through a one-stage process - having the implant placed at the time of the mastectomy. In autologous tissue reconstruction, the doctor transfers a section of skin, muscle, fat and blood vessels from one part of the body to the chest to create a new breast mound. The skin and tissue need to be augmented with a breast implant to achieve the desired breast size.
- Delayed reconstruction: It involves placement of a tissue expander that is eventually replaced by an implant.
The process:
Tissue expansion is a process that stretches the remaining chest skin and soft tissues to make room for the breast implant. This is a gradual process, over several months.
The surgeon places a tissue expander, similar to a balloon, under the patient’s pectoral muscle at the time of mastectomy. The tissue expander has a small valve through which the doctor injects saline, filling the balloon in stages. This gradual process allows the skin to stretch over time. There is moderate discomfort or a sensation of pressure as the implant expands.
After tissue expansion is complete, the surgeon performs a second surgery to remove the tissue expander and replace it with a permanent implant.
Breast implants are not a permanent feature. Due to various risks involved, in most of the cases they have to be removed after few years and replaced by a new one.