What is Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Breasts are structures that complete the physique of the woman in body appearance. Breast volume has an important place in the measurements of shoulder width, chest circumference, waist, and hip circumference. The body contour view remains incomplete when the breast volume is small within these measurements. Breasts may be small due to different structural reasons. One may be smaller than the other, asymmetrical. One may be absent congenitally. Silicone prostheses (implants) are the most valid method to make both breasts equal or increase their volume. Breast augmentation surgeries were tried with the person’s tissues, but they gave limited results. For example, adipose tissue can be removed from the person and breasts can be partially enlarged. However, the fat filling is not a completely permanent method. The main substance in breast prostheses is silicone located on the outer surface of the prosthesis. The filler in it may be different. Each prosthesis has its advantages and disadvantages. These should be discussed in detail before surgery and it should be decided together which one to use.
What is a silicone breast prosthesis (implant)?
Silicon-containing products are also used for other purposes in the cosmetic industry and medicine. Breast prostheses are structures similar to balloons prepared in the form of breasts. There are round and drop-shaped ones called anatomically. One of them is chosen according to the situation in the woman’s breast. The balloon part is made of silicone; the surface of the prosthesis is produced purely to adapt to the tissues in the body. There may be a difference in the substances that fill the balloon. Breast prostheses used today can be named as follows: a. Inside the balloon, the outer surface of which is silicone, there is also a gel of silicone origin. These are produced ready-to-use in various sizes. It was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the U.S. again in November 2006. b. The silicone balloon is hollow. Gel-filled: Serum filled with physiology (Saline-filled): During surgery, the serum, popularly known as saltwater, is filled physiologically until the desired volume is obtained. It has recently been reported that ready-to-use ones are manufactured. c. PVP: Likewise, the inside of the silicone balloon is filled with a chemical called PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone povidon). It is in gel form and ready to use. It has been reported that it has been withdrawn from the market by the manufacturer.d. Soybean Oil: Silicone balloons are ready-to-use prostheses filled with soybean oil. The usage area is new. There is not much information about the distant consequences.
What you need to know before surgery
If the patient to be put on the project is over 40 years old, mammography before surgery and, if necessary, radiological examinations called ultrasonography are performed. Each surgery has general or specific risks. Edema and pain in the breast area are postoperative complaints. Surgery-related bleeding and infection are rare. Some patients complain of increased or decreased sensitivity to the nipples after surgery or numbness around the incision. This is usually temporary. It has been suggested that some connective tissue diseases develop in the body (connective tissue disease) against the prosthesis, which is a foreign body, it becomes difficult to give milk to the baby, and the prosthesis causes cancer. However, none of this has been scientifically proven. In breast augmentation surgery, since breast augmentation can be provided with a foreign substance for the body, there may be problems with the prosthesis. There may be hardening and contractions due to the development of a membrane called capsules around the prosthesis. The thin membrane does not cause any problems, if a medium-thickness membrane is formed, a slight stiffness in the breasts and prominences in the breast base can be noticed. In rare cases, the body may not accept this foreign substance, it tries to create a thick membrane around the prosthesis (capsule), compress it and imprison it, sometimes throw it out of the body. In the case of thick capsule formation, stiffness and sometimes asymmetry may appear in the breasts. In the case of light and medium capsule contracture, external massage and additional surgeries can be performed to remove the capsule around the prosthesis There is no choice but to remove the prosthesis when heavy capsule contracture occurs. The outer surface of silicone prostheses is very thin but highly resistant to external impacts. Normal and moderate massages do not harm. The person can lie face down 2 months after surgery. Sometimes, prosthesis contents can be seen leaking out of the balloon. If a gel-filled prosthesis is used, these substances that leak into tissue ranges may cause mass formation. It is not yet known how soybean oil acts. If the prosthesis filled with serum is used, the serum filled into the prosthesis can leak out of the physiological prosthesis, tissue ranges, in which case the leaking serum is rapidly absorbed by the tissues without causing any damage to the body. It can be given intravenously and used for other treatment purposes.
Surgery
Under hospital conditions, the operation is performed under general anesthesia in the operating room. It takes 1-2 hours. A 4-5 cm scar is opened for the prosthesis to be placed. This permission overlay can be one of the following:
Meme altı kıvrımı (Submammarian)
Breast head lower part (Circumareolar)
Armpit (alcilar)
Recently, prostheses can be placed endoscopically by entering around the navel. However, this method has not yet been widely accepted. Wherever the entry is, a trace will remain. These are traces that are obvious at first, but become indistinct over time. Depending on the breast structure of the patient, the prosthesis can be placed behind the breast tissue or behind the pectoral muscle. Each application has its advantages and disadvantages, and this detail should be evaluated before surgery.
Postoperative
Post-surgery is usually comfortable. Pain is minimal. If the prosthesis is placed behind the chest muscle, there may be limitations in arm movements for a few days. A bra or wrap is applied to the breast after the surgery. 10-12 if there are non-dissolving stitches. There is no need for suture removal in dissolving stitches. There may be swelling in the early period, numbness in the nipple, and purplish discoloration on the skin. These disappear on their own in a short time. The patient can return to work in 3-4 days. After 3 weeks, the prosthesis settles into place and the breast regains its normal function. The patient is advised to stay away from heavy sports (which require jumping-running) for 2 months. Breast augmentation with prosthesis surgery is an operation that gives good and permanent results in general, improves the mental health and psychosocial structure of the person, and makes them more connected to life.
Today, the most commonly used are round prostheses filled with silicone gel and textured. Prosthesis selection and placement may vary depending on the patient, the condition of the breast and the surgeon’s preference.