How is Breast Augmentation Surgery Performed?

Breast augmentation surgeries are among the most preferred aesthetic operations both in the world and in Turkey. When breast aesthetics is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is breast augmentation surgery. In today’s aesthetic understanding, the ideal female body is likened to an hourglass. Chest bumps in the upper half of the body are considered one of the most important elements of an aesthetic appearance. For women with insufficient breast tissue due to genetic or developmental characteristics, small breast size and insufficient volume can become serious problems that can even cause loss of self-confidence.

The inadequacy in the size of the breasts is not only due to genetic characteristics. Different factors such as aging, weight changes, pregnancy and breastfeeding processes can cause loss of breast volume. In this case, many women resort to breast augmentation surgery, also known as Augmentation Mammoplasty, which allows for increasing breast volume by using silicone breast implants. With the silicone breast prostheses used in breast augmentation surgery, which is a surgical procedure, it is possible to achieve the desired shape and size of the breasts permanently. In addition, silicone breast prostheses are a method that can be applied to eliminate asymmetries between the breasts. 

How is Breast Augmentation Surgery Performed?

Breast augmentation surgery is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. In breast augmentation surgery, prostheses surrounded by a silicone sheath and containing silicone gel or saline are used, and they can be in drop or round shapes. Silicone prostheses can be placed under the breast tissue or under the pectoral muscle on the anterior breast wall, depending on the shape of the breast, as well as the quality and adequacy of the breast tissue. In cases where the breast tissue is too small to cover the prosthesis, submuscular placement is preferred. Otherwise, it is possible to feel the prosthesis when the breast is touched. In cases where the silicone is placed under the muscle, the post-operative pain may be slightly more than in the operations where the placement is done under the breast tissue. 

In breast augmentation surgery, incisions in the inframammary fold, around the nipple or in the armpit fold are used, but the incision in the inframammary fold is the most commonly used entry method. In this method, an incision of 3.5-4 cm is made and the incision is aligned with the natural inframammary fold line. The prosthesis is placed through the opened incision. If a healthy healing process is experienced after the surgery, a scar that is almost imperfectly unnoticeable remains.

In the entrance made around the nipple, an incision is made from the edge of the brown area around the natural nipple, and the scar to be formed is hidden at the edge of the natural ring. In this method, there is a slight risk of injury to the mammary gland and milk ducts. For this reason, it is not preferred to be applied to women who are planning pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

Making an incision from the armpit fold is not a very common technique. The advantage of this method is that it does not leave scars on the breasts.

The most important part of breast augmentation surgery is the determination of how much breast enlargement will be achieved by the patient and the doctor. Although the patient’s request is essential, the doctor should evaluate the realism of this request and its suitability for the body structure, and guide the patient correctly when necessary. 

Silicone Prosthesis Types

There are different types of silicone breast prostheses according to their content, shape and surface properties. 

Saline implants contain a sterile saline solution. The shape and how much it will be filled are decided by the patient and the physician before the operation. Cohesive silicone gel is filled into silicone implants during production. They are often preferred because they give a more natural breast tissue feel compared to saline implants. 

The apex of the hemispherical round prosthesis is equidistant from all the edges. It is considered ideal for patients who want a volumetric increase in every part of the chest. Drop breast prostheses have an increasing thickness from top to bottom to imitate the natural breast image. Drop breast prostheses, which are preferred by patients who want a natural appearance, have a smooth transition from top to bottom, increasing in height. 

Depending on the development and widespread use of silicone prosthesis technology, prosthesis shape and size can be provided in many different options, ranging from small to large. When deciding on the size of the prosthesis, the patient’s current breast and rib cage measurements and expectations after the operation play a decisive role. Pre- and postoperative chest views can be simulated using different computer programs. In this context, pre-operative chest photographs of the patient can be taken and the possible results of applications in different sizes can be shown to the patient with 2D/3D imaging.

Breast augmentation surgery is a simple surgical operation that is usually completed in 1.5-2 hours and under general anesthesia. When combined with mastopexy, breast lift or different aesthetic surgeries, the duration of the operation may be prolonged.

After breast augmentation surgery, the patient usually stays under supervision in the hospital for one day. Pain for a few days is considered normal. In general, at the end of the first 10 days, patients can return to their daily lives completely. It is important to keep the operation area away from impacts in the early period for a healthy recovery process. Movements that may cause strain on the chest muscles should be avoided for a certain period of time, heavy lifting should not be done, and a sports bra should be used for 4-6 weeks.