Breast Augmentation Surgery is the most popular way to improve breast shape and size. Also known as Augmentation Mammaplasty, Breast Augmentation is one of the most common procedures performed annually by Plastic Surgeons worldwide and by Dr. Hakan Gundogan as well.
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 enhancement using breast implants can give a woman more proportional shape and may improve self-esteem.
Breast augmentation is the surgical placement of breast implants to increase fullness and projection of the breasts or to improve symmetry of the breasts. Clinically referred to as augmentation mammaplasty, the procedure is used cosmetically to:
* Enlarge a naturally small breast, most commonly the result of heredity
* Restore breast volume lost following pregnancy, as a result of breast-feeding or due to weight loss
* Achieve better symmetry when breasts are moderately disproportionate in size and shape
If you are dissatisfied with your breast size, breast augmentation surgery is a choice to consider. Breast augmentation can:
* Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
* Improve the balance of your figure
* Enhance your self-image and self-confidence
One or more of the following feelings or conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate for breast augmentation:
* You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small
* Clothes that fit well around your hips are often too large at the bust line
* You feel self-conscious wearing a swimsuit or form-fitting top
* Your breasts have become smaller and lost their firmness after having children
* Weight loss has changed the size and shape of your breasts
* One of your breasts is noticeably smaller than the other
During the consultation with Dr. Hakan Gundogan, you will be asked about your desired breast size and anything else related to the appearance of your breasts that you feel is important. This will help Dr. Hakan Gundogan to understand your expectations and determine whether they realistically can be achieved.
Dr. Hakan Gundogan will examine your breasts and perhaps take photographs for your medical record. He or she will consider such factors as the size and shape of your breasts, the quality of your skin and the placement of your nipples and areolas (the pigmented skin surrounding the nipples). If your breasts are sagging, a breast lift may be recommended in conjunction with augmentation.
You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments you have received, previous surgeries including breast biopsies, and medications that you currently take. You will be asked whether you have a family history of breast cancer and about results of any mammograms. It is important for you to provide complete information.
There is no scientific evidence that breast augmentation increases the risk of breast cancer. The presence of breast implants, however, makes it more technically difficult to take and read mammograms. This may be a special consideration for women who perhaps are at higher risk for breast cancer because of their family history or other reasons. Placement of the implant underneath the pectoral muscle may interfere less with mammographic examination, but other factors may also need to be considered with regard to implant placement. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will discuss this with you.
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, be sure to tell Dr. Hakan Gundogan. He or she may recommend that you stabilize your weight prior to undergoing surgery.
If you think that you may want to become pregnant in the future, you should mention this to Dr. Hakan Gundogan. Pregnancy can alter breast size in an unpredictable way and could affect the long-term results of your breast augmentation. There is no evidence that breast implants will affect pregnancy or your ability to breast-feed, but if you have questions about these matters, you should ask Dr. Hakan Gundogan.
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 lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will assist you in making this decision.
In some instances, Dr. Hakan Gundogan may recommend a baseline mammogram before surgery and another mammographic examination some months after surgery. This will help to detect any future changes in your breast tissue. Following breast augmentation, you will still be able to perform breast self-examination.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for a period of time before surgery. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will provide you with additional preoperative instructions.
Breast augmentation is usually performed on an outpatient basis. If this is the case, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night following surgery.
Your Surgical Experience
What will the day of breast implant surgery be like?
Your breast augmentation surgery may be performed in a hospital.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used for patients undergoing breast augmentation, although general anesthesia may be desirable in some instances.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. Your breasts will be wrapped in gauze dressings or a surgical bra.
You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, unless you and Dr. Hakan Gundogan have determined that you will stay in the hospital or surgical facility overnight.
What happens during breast augmentation surgery?
Medications are administered for your comfort during breast augmentation surgery. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Incisions vary based on the type of implant, degree of enlargement desired, your particular anatomy, and patient-surgeon preference.
Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to minimize visible scarring. You and Dr. Hakan Gundogan will discuss which incision options are appropriate for your desired outcome. Incision options include:
* Inframammary incision
* Transaxillary incision
* Periareolar incision
An incision can be made either underneath the breast, just above the crease, around the lower edge of the areola or within the armpit.
Often, an incision of less than one inch is made underneath the breast, just above the crease, where it is usually quite inconspicuous.
Another possible location for the incision is around the lower edge of the areola. A third alternative is to make a small incision within the armpit.
Once the incision is made, the surgeon creates a pocket into which the implant will be inserted. This pocket is made either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath the pectoral muscle, which is located between the breast tissue and chest wall.
Breast size and shape are important, so be honest and open about your expectations when talking with Dr. Hakan Gundogan.
Implant type and size will be determined not just on your desired increase in size but more importantly on your breast anatomy, skin elasticity and body type.
Breast implant options include:
Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. They can be filled with varying amounts of saline that can affect the shape, firmness and feel of the breast. Should the implant shell leak, a saline breast implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body.
Silicone breast implants are filled with an elastic gel. The gel feels and moves much like natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket.
A leaking implant filled with silicone gel may not collapse. If you choose these implants, you may need to visit Dr. Hakan Gundogan regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. An ultrasound or MRI screening can assess the condition of breast implants.
Implant manufacturers occasionally introduce new styles and types of implants, so there may be additional options available.
New scientific data on the safety of breast implants is rapidly being collected. In the future, it is possible that additional types of filler materials may become available as advancements take place. Surgical techniques for breast augmentation and breast implants themselves are continuously being refined, increasing the safety and reliability of the procedure. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will be able to provide you with the latest information.
Breast Implant Options for the 21st Century
Breast augmentation is designed to increase the size of small or underdeveloped breasts. Breast surgery can also restore and enhance your breast volume if it has decreased as a result of pregnancy and breast-feeding. In addition, breast implants can serve one or more of a number of purposes; breast cancer victims can use breast implants for reconstructive purposes after mastectomy, or women with asymmetrical breasts may use a single breast implant to balance the difference in size.
The availability of FDA-approved silicone gel implants will create new options for women considering breast surgery for the first time and for those who have had previous surgeries but are seeking new replacements or revision. Now, all women over 22 year’s old seeking cosmetic breast augmentation and women seeking breast reconstruction surgery will be able to select silicone breast implants.
After the incision is made, a breast implant is inserted into a pocket either:
* Under the pectoral muscle (a submuscular placement), or
* Directly behind the breast tissue, over the pectoral muscle (a submammary/ subglandular placement)
* Dual Plane (implant is covered by muscle on its superior part and subglandular on loer part)
The method for inserting and positioning implants depends on the type of implant, degree of enlargement desired, your body type, and Dr. Hakan Gundogan’s recommendations.
The implant is placed in a pocket either directly behind the breast tissue (right) or underneath the pectoral muscle, which is located between the breast tissue and chest wall, and dual plane (combination of both techniques)
The size and type of breast implant recommended for you will be determined by your goals for breast enhancement, your existing body frame, and mass, your existing breast tissue, and the preferences you and Dr. Hakan Gundogan discuss. All breast implants include a solid silicone rubber outer shell, called a lumen.
Incisions are closed with layered sutures in the breast tissue and with sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape to close the skin. Over time the incision lines will fade.
The results of breast augmentation surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize the fulfillment of your goal for fuller breasts.
Although many factors are involved with determining your actual recovery time for breast augmentation, you will likely experience a post-surgical recovery period of 24 to 48 hours and an additional reduced-activity period of a few days, you will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few weeks.
At the conclusion of your breast augmentation procedure, you may be placed in a surgical dressing that may include a support bra. You should follow Dr. Hakan Gundogan’s directions as prescribed.
Prior to your discharge, you and your caregiver will be given detailed instructions about your post-surgical care including drains if they have been placed, the normal symptoms you will experience, and any potential signs of complication.
Options for your recovery after undergoing breast augmentation include:
* Home: When discharged, you will be released to the care of a responsible adult to home. The adult may be a family member, friend or hired caregiver and must be competent to understand your recovery instructions and to monitor your health. Your caregiver must commit to stay with you at all times for a minimum of 24 hours after surgery.
* Overnight Hospital Stay: An overnight hospital stay may be offered to you or may be recommended. In this case your surgery will be performed at the hospital where you will stay overnight. You will be released from the hospital to a capable caregiver to continue your recovery at home.
You should be walking under your own strength immediately after your breast augmentation surgery. It is very important that you walk a few minutes every few hours to reduce the risk of blood clot formation in your legs.
A day or two after surgery, you should be up and about. Any dressings will be removed within several days, and you may be instructed to wear a support bra. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will permit you to shower next day following surgery. No Stitches will need to be removed since they were placed subcutaneously.
Some discoloration and swelling will occur initially, but this will disappear quickly. Most residual swelling will resolve within a month.
The first 2-5 days following your breast augmentation surgery you may feel stiff and sore in the chest region. Any dressings will be removed within several days, and you may be instructed to wear a support bra. Your breasts may feel tight and sensitive to the touch, and your skin may feel warm or itchy. You may experience difficulty raising your arms. You should not lift, push or pull anything, or engage in any strenuous activity or twisting of the upper body. Some discoloration and swelling will occur initially, but this will disappear quickly. Most residual swelling will resolve within a month.
When can I expect to resume my normal activities after my breast augmentation?
While it will take several days to return to more normal activities after your breast augmentation, it is important to your recovery that you get up and move around. After breast augmentation, it is often possible to return to work within just a few days or a week, depending on the type of activities that are required at your job.
Physical activity should be avoided for at least the first couple of weeks following surgery. After that, care must be taken to be extremely gentle with your breasts for at least the next month.
Breast augmentation will make your breasts fuller and enhance their shape. You will find it easier to wear certain styles of clothing. Like many women who have had breast augmentation, you may have a boost in self-confidence.
How long will the results last after a breast augmentation?
Except in the event of implant deflation requiring surgical replacement with a new implant, the results of your breast augmentation surgery will be long lasting. However, gravity and the effects of aging will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually every woman's breasts. If, after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a breast "lifting" to restore their more youthful contour.
Understanding Risks
Every year, many thousands of women undergo successful breast augmentation surgery; however, anyone considering surgery should be aware of both the benefits and risks.
Implants may need to be replaced or revised
It's important to know that after receiving breast implants, results are not permanent and they may require replacement during your lifetime. You should expect to have future visits with Dr. Hakan Gundogan to discuss changes in your breasts.
Over time, your breasts can change due to aging, weight fluctuations, hormonal factors and gravity. If, after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a breast lift or implant exchange to restore a more youthful contour.
Continue to follow Dr. Hakan Gundogan's instructions to ensure the best results for breast enlargement or breast enhancement, and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.
You will return to Dr. Hakan Gundogan's office for follow-up care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress would be evaluated. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will encourage you to schedule routine mammographic evaluations at the frequency recommended for your age group.
Please remember that the relationship with Dr. Hakan Gundogan does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional information at a later time, you should contact Dr. Hakan Gundogan.
