Steps in Breast Augmentation Surgery

Although being a complex procedure, breast augmentation can be performed fairly easily in about one to two hours’ time. Also, the fact the procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis in many hospitals means that the operation is a fairly simple procedure. It is important that you familiarise yourself with what actually happens during such an operation. Here is a simple step by step guide on what actually happens during breast augmentation surgery.

1. When undergoing this procedure, the first step that shall be performed on you is that the surgeon will apply on you anaesthesia. There are several options of anaesthesia that can be used. The surgeon may decide to use either local or general anaesthesia.  The bottom line of using intravenous or general anaesthesia is that, regardless of the specific type of anaesthesia chosen, its use ensures your comfort throughout the process of breast augmentation surgery.

2. After making sure that the anaesthesia applied on you in the first step has fully had its effect on you, the plastic surgeon is ready to proceed with the next step. This will involve making incisions so as to make spaces within your tissue to accommodate the implants. The surgeon will ensure that the incisions are made in hidden areas where it would be difficult for one to notice them. Areas behind the breasts are greatly favoured because incisions made in such areas remain largely unnoticed. Also, when performing a breast augmentation procedure, the surgeon may choose any type of incision that is suitable in your case. This may either be the inflammatory or transaxillary type of incision.

3. The third step in performing a breast augmentation surgery entails insertion of the breast implant. By far, this is the most critical step during the entire procedure.  Several factors come into play at this stage. For instance, the surgeon will have to take into consideration the size of your breast, its anatomy, elasticity and the general type of your whole body, when carrying out the procedure. Such factors are important because they determine the type and size of breast implants that your surgeon will choose to use on you. The implant is then placed under special muscles found in the breast areas or just behind special breast tissues. The surgeon performing the procedure will do the placement with utmost care, since many complications in breast augmentation surgery occur as a result of mistakes in this stage. Also, the surgeon will choose a type of implant that is suitable for you. This may either be the saline – filled breast implants or, in some cases, the silicone breast implants which are filled with a silicone gel.

4. After the implants have been successfully inserted and properly placed, the plastic surgeon will now close up the incisions that were made in the tissue of your breasts.  This will be done using special skin glue and surgical tapes which are used to close up the incisions. Although marks of the incisions will remain for some time, this is no reason to worry since with time the marks, together with the swelling, tend to disappear.