BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY

Breast enlargement, or augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure that aims to increase the size, shape, or fullness of the breast. The surgeon places silicone, saline, or alternative composite breast implants under the chest muscles or breast tissue. Implants can last from 7 to 12 years on average.

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Indications for breast enlargement surgery

Breast augmentation and augmentation mammoplasty (colloquially known as a “boob job” or “breast operation”) are plastic surgery terms for the breast implant and the fat-graft mammoplasty techniques used to increase the size, change the shape, and alter the texture of the breasts of a woman. For some women, this kind of breast operation is a way to enhance self-esteem and self-confidence, while others find breast augmentation part of breast reconstruction after surgery for breast cancer or other conditions affecting the breast tissue.

Many women opt to have breast plastic surgery in order to improve their body image by changing the shape of their breasts or increasing their fullness. Plastic surgery includes reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery (reconstructive breast surgery may be done as a part of the treatment for breast cancer and cosmetic breast surgery is done for esthetic purposes).

Breast augmentation might help you:

Enhance your breast appearance if you feel your breasts are too small or find one breast smaller than the other (when the breasts are asymmetrical)
Restore breast volume after pregnancy, weight loss or breastfeeding.
Improve the shape of breasts that are sagging or have lost firmness (often used with a breast lift procedure)
Reconstruct your breast after having breast surgery for cancer or other conditions (trauma, heredity, or congenital abnormalities)
Improve your self-image or self-confidence

Ideal candidates for a breast operation

Breast plastic surgery is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the world. The best candidates for breast enlargement are women who are looking for improvement – not perfection – in the way they look. If you’re physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.

Please note that breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

Also, it is usually recommended that a woman’s breasts are fully developed prior to placement of breast implants.

What you should know

Having breast augmentation is a major decision that requires careful consultation with your plastic surgeon. Before you decide to go ahead with the procedure consider some important factors about breast implant surgery:

Breast implants won’t prevent your breasts from sagging (you might need a breast lift instead or combined with breast augmentation)
Breast implants aren’t guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Mammograms might be more complicated (if you have breast implants you’ll require additional specialized views)
Breast implants might affect breastfeeding
You might need additional surgery after breast implant removal

Breast implants

The breast implant surgery procedure, which is much less invasive than it used to be, offers you several options for changing the size and shape of your breasts. You can also consult with your plastic surgeon on what type of implant is the best and safest for you.

Breast implants are medical devices with a solid silicone, rubber shell that can be filled with either saline solution (sterile salt water) or elastic silicone gel. Both saline and silicone gel boob implants are completely safe. Saline implants are inserted empty and then filled with sterile salt water once they’re in place. Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel.

The procedure

Breast augmentation can be done in a surgical center or hospital outpatient facility. The patient will probably go home the same day. Rarely, the procedure requires a hospital stay.

A general anesthetic is normally used so that the patient is asleep during surgery. Sometimes a local anesthetic is used, and the patient is awake. Depending on exactly what type of procedure you are having done, it will take from one to three hours (the choice of technique depends on several factors, including how much enlargement is involved, the patient’s anatomy, the type of implant, and surgeon-patient preference).

To insert the breast implant, your surgeon will make a single cut (incision) in one of three places: in the crease under your breast, under your arm or around your nipple. The breast implant is then inserted into a pocket under the pectoral muscle or behind the breast tissue, over the pectoral muscle. (Implant placement beneath the muscle of the chest offers a few advantages over placement beneath only the breast tissue, but you should discuss which option may be best for you).

The surgeon then closes the incisions with layered sutures, or stitches, in the breast tissue.

After the procedure

Surgery will leave some swelling, but this should resolve within two weeks. The incision lines will also fade. You will have some discomfort, similar to what you would feel with a pulled muscle. This pain is generally easily controlled by pain medications.

If you don’t have a physically demanding job, you might be able to return to work within a few days to a week. You should avoid strenuous activities — anything that could raise your pulse or blood pressure — for at least two weeks (your surgeon will give you specific instructions about when you can resume normal activity and exercises).

The patient should seek medical help immediately if they experience any sign of infection, such as fever, or warmth and redness in the breast area, chest pains, unusual heartbeat, or shortness of breath.

Breast augmentation surgery cost (price)

The price for breast implant surgery can vary, sometimes significantly. Remember that nothing is more expensive than results that don’t meet your hopes and expectations, and re-operation fees. Take your time selecting your plastic surgeon and make sure you choose a surgeon who is licensed and recognized by professionals in the field.

Plastic surgeon prof. Dr Milan Jovanovic

Prof. Dr Milan Jovanovic is a specialist in plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. As a surgeon with 27 years of surgical experience, Dr Jovanovic is one of the best experts in anti-ageing, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery in the region.

He is a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, where he teaches general education to students of the fifth year, as well as at the postgraduate education for doctors who specialize in the field of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. He is the Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade.

About the Surgeon

Hospital for plastic and aesthetic surgery

Health institution General Hospital – Medical System Belgrade – MSB is a system which combines all medical and dental specialties.

Exceptional and complete services in the fields of anti-ageing, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery are provided by the Center for Aesthetic Surgery MSB (Medical System Belgrade). Along with the necessary safety, quality, comfort and discretion, our main goal is – a satisfied patient.