Breast Enlargement Surgery

What is Breast Enlargement Surgery?

The medical term for breast enlargement surgery is "augmentation mammoplasty."  Breast enlargement surgery may be performed for a variety of reasons.  Breast enlargement surgery may be completed for personal reasons in women who feel that their breasts are small or have lost their shape over time.  Other women may be recovering from surgery for breast cancer after having one or both breasts removed (a procedure known as a “mastectomy”), or have trauma to the breast that requires reconstruction.  Whatever the reason, breast enlargement surgery can be completed with a minimal risk of side effects when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.

How is Breast Enlargement Surgery Performed?
In breast enlargement surgery, all patients recieve anesthesia.  The anesthesia used may be "general," where the patient is "put to sleep" for the duration of the operation.  Your surgeon may also decide to use "local" anesthesia.  Wtih local anesthesia, only the area around the operation is anesthetized, and a sedative is used.  There are advantages to using local anesthesia including a smaller risk of serious side effects.  You should speak with your surgeon to find out more about the risks and benefits of each type of anesthetic.

In breast enlargement surgery, implants are used to increase the size of the breasts.  The two main types of implants are saline and silicone.  Silicone implants were recently re-approved by the FDA after being taken off the market.  (For more information, please see the next section).  There are different approaches that your surgeon may use to place the implants.  These include going through the nipple, under the breast, through the armpit, and through the navel.  Each technique has advantages and disadvantages, and the specific technique depends on your body type.  You should speak with your surgeon regarding the different techniques to determine which is the best option for you.  The surgeon will place the implant into a "pocket" between layers of tissue.  Once the implant has been placed, your surgeon will close the incision with sutures and place guaze to help with the healing.  The total time of surgery depends on the technique used, and generally lasts less than two hours.

What types of Implants are available for Breast Enlargement Surgery?
In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved silicone implants for breast enlargement surgery.  The FDA has an excellent page on questions and answers for patients on breast enlargement implants, which should provide a background for information on breast implants before speaking with your surgeon.

What about breast feeding and mammograms after breast enlargement surgery?
Breast enlargement surgery generally does not affect breast feeding, but there may be problems.  You should speak with your surgeon if you are interested in breast enlargement surgery and plan on breast feeding in the future. 

Mammography is also affected by breast implants.  The presence of implants makes it more difficult to evaluate breast tissue, and you should notify the physician on hand when you undergo mammography after breast enlargement surgery.

What questions should I ask my plastic surgeon?
When interviewing a plastic surgeon, it is important to find out where the surgeon trained, whether they have any incidents reported, and the level of experience they have with the procedure.  In terms of training, a general rule of thumb is to make sure the surgeon trained at a residency program in the United States. 

To find out more about your surgeon, and to see if there are any infractions reported against your surgeon, you may visit Healthgrades.com.

Useful Links:

• Breast Enlargement surgery from the National Institutes of Health
• Breast Enlargement surgery Information from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Breast Implant Information from the FDA