Breast enlargement: most demanded surgery
Breast enlargement surgery is the procedure most demanded in Plastic Surgery during the last 30 years and the procedure under most evolution over these years. The breast implants supplying companies have been getting better materials, which adapt better to the body and have higher safety rates. At the same time, surgical techniques have been improving and refining the results obtained. Nowadays, we can understand what are the effects of these implants in the long term and we can make a better follow-up.
The plastic surgeons have had to keep updating ourselves in the improvement of techniques, understanding the evolution of implants, finding the problems in association with and learning about the interrelation between implants and breast pathology. We have had to resolve doubts regarding the durability of the implants, diseases that may have been associated with implants, industry errors in making prosthesis with inappropriate materials that could be harmful to the human body, etc.
But despite everything, it continues to be the most demanded surgery and maintains a still rising demanding curve.
Pre-Op
Our pre-op consultation has changed over the years. Now we focus more attention on aspects of the breast such as projection, width, base, height.
We can choose a personalized prosthesis for each patient, thanks to the fact that there are various types of silicone gels with different cohesiveness, projection and height, even for each breast.
It is also true that the number of patients requesting for a secondary breast enlargement has increased; that is to say, the patients who underwent this surgery 10 or 20 years ago, now are going to the consultations searching for an implant replacement and aesthetics refinements on their breast, since on many occasions they have been mothers and have had lactation or weight changes. This kind of patients has helped us to learn a lot about what happens with prostheses implanted years ago and has allowed us to develop surgical techniques to improve the breast results. We are talking about breast lift techniques with or without implants, breast implant replacements, breast fat grafts, etc.
Competition between implant supply companies has also been stronger in recent years and the modern technology has made possible to have prostheses that are increasingly safer and easier to handle in the clinic and during the follow-up.
Surgical procedure
This procedure has not changed substantially in its format. It continues to be a surgery under general anaesthesia.
We are very careful about haemostasis to avoid bleeding and bruising and we have also developed mechanisms to avoid contamination of the breast implant at the time of its surgical placement. The sterile implant must remain sterile inside the breast because we have shown that this contamination can be the reason of the development of capsular contracture. Capsular contracture in most of the cases, is a result of the creation of a biofilm around the contaminated implant, which, although it does not generate active infection, in the long term, it originates a capsular retraction.
To introduce the sterile implant into the breast, we used different devices or we have resorted to the breast approach through the sub-mammary fold, avoiding the manipulation of the nipple-areola complex, which is never completely sterile.
The gels for manufacturing implants, are increasingly kinder. Being almost entirely cohesive, they have managed to avoid fragmentation or deformities of the gel showing in the same time, a soft and natural touch.
Post-Op
Post-operative follow-up has also been updated. The durability of a mammary implant and the prevention of its rupture, has encouraged us to incorporate ultrasound into our follow-up consultations. Through this non-invasive technique we can see the breast implants and its periprosthetic capsule, making the diagnose of seroma or implant rupture.
Mammography technique is widely used and recommended for the gynaecologist. Although our patients are very young and are not in the age range for early diagnosis of breast cancer, this technique is also very useful for us in the control of the breast implant. Nevertheless, the most definitive and conclusive test for implant rupture is the scan test RMI.
If you want to learn more details about these surgeries, you can check our website and our blog. For a personalized assessment of your case, we recommend a consultation without any obligation. Phone: 628 893 3420 / 631 685 440
Dr. José Salvador
Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery
Quirónsalud Alicante-Torrevieja
>> REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT here <<
