Breast augmentation aims to increase the volume and size of the breasts with the implantation of breast implants
It is one of the most requested cosmetic surgery interventions ever and the credit goes above all to the remarkable results – very pleasant and natural – that can be obtained with the latest techniques and the very high quality achieved by current prostheses.
Breast augmentation is in great demand by women who have small breasts but also by those who, despite having had a beautiful breast, after a pregnancy or after a weight loss have undergone an excessive reduction in the volume of the breasts which, by now, appear emptied and flattened.
With breast augmentation it is also possible to improve the asymmetry of the volume of the breasts, again thanks to the use of prostheses.
The result of breast augmentation is very natural because the breast prosthesis is inserted not in the context of the mammary gland but deep, in the plane below all the breast tissue. In practical terms, all natural breast tissue remains to cover the prosthesis. This fundamental detail of the positioning allows to obtain a very natural result to the touch; the prosthesis is placed in a deep position, hidden by the full thickness of glandular tissue.
The professor. Bracaglia, thanks to his great experience and attention to detail, has perfected surgical techniques for breast augmentation, which have also been published in international scientific journals and made available to colleagues from the international scientific community of the “National Institute of Health” and of the ” National Center for Biotechnology Information ”- USA.
How to choose the breast implant
The type of breast prosthesis and the level in which to position it is chosen by accurately evaluating the volume and shape of the breast and on the basis of the shape and volume result to be obtained..
The types of prostheses
Breast implants have a round or anatomical shape (“drop”) or an ergonomic shape, which changes shape dynamically according to the patient’s posture.
They can have a more or less accentuated projection (low or high profile prostheses, i.e. more or less protruding from the chest). They can be with a wide, medium or narrow chest support base. Their volume is correlated according to the increase you want to obtain. The texture to the touch is, nowadays, very similar to the texture of the breast and it hides very well, in a natural way.
The best prostheses in terms of biocompatibility and reliability
The structure of the prosthesis is made of pure “Medical Grade” silicone gel completely sealed in a silicone casing, solid but flexible and soft. The important feature of current prostheses is to have a consistency very similar to that of a natural breast.
Over the past 40 years the FDA and numerous scientific institutes worldwide have carried out in-depth studies on huge case series of women operated on with implants at an international level to verify the biocompatibility of Medical Grade silicone breast implants. The results obtained gave a clearly favorable outcome.
Silicone breast implants are those that have the largest and most widespread clinical control in the world, so much so that they have been implanted on tens of millions of women in all the most advanced countries.
Furthermore, the external surface of the latest generation silicone implants has a characteristic “nano-textured” shape, that is with small, minute reliefs like velvet that increase their biocompatibility. The “micro-textured” surface makes them highly biocompatible and improves the body’s degree of acceptance of the prostheses. Thanks to these technologies, cases of increase in breast consistency due to capsule retraction (scarring that the body creates around any foreign body) are rarely observed. The new prostheses have a series of very strict quality controls in order to offer a product that is as reliable as possible.
One of the most important innovations of recent times is the new generation of breast implants that adapt their shape dynamically in relation to the posture assumed by the patient: they give the breast a very pleasant natural appearance.
How to choose the volume of the prosthesis
The prosthesis is chosen according to many parameters. It is very important to consider the size of the chest and the volume of the natural breast: the volume of the prosthesis is in fact added to that of the breast and the final result of breast augmentation will be the sum of the two volumes.
How to get a preview of the results of breast augmentation surgery
Bra with prosthesis
To get an idea of the result that can be obtained with breast augmentation, the test that involves wearing a bra in which a larger or smaller prosthesis is introduced is very valid until the desired result is reached.
The test also serves to give a real idea of the weight of the prostheses before they are implanted. In fact, the 200 cc prosthesis weighs about 200 g: In this way you can perceive the sensation of the weight that will be added to the breast. This parameter is also important in choosing the final result.
CRISALIX virtual reality simulation
A very important novelty is the simulation achievable with the CRISALIX system which offers the possibility to better understand what results to expect with the intervention with virtual reality.
The images are very effective for approaching the intervention in a calm and informed way. Thanks to this technology, in fact, the patient will be able to have a preview of the final result of the intervention based on the type of prosthesis chosen and observe the overall result both on the monitor and with virtual reality viewers. augmented like the Oculus.
How to choose the breast augmentation technique
and the plane where the prosthesis will be placed
The choice of the plane in which to place the breast prosthesis varies according to the patient and in particular depends on:
Size of the mammary gland | Thinness | Chest shape | Volume of selected prostheses
An in-depth interview between the plastic surgeon and the patient is also important to examine all aspects of the procedure and decide together the most suitable solution to achieve the desired result.
Placement of the prosthesis in the retro glandular plane
In patients of normal physical shape or even in excess weight the prosthesis is usually placed in the retro glandular plane , that is, in the plane above the pectoral muscle . In these cases, in fact, the subcutaneous tissues have a thickness that is able to adequately cover the prosthesis to conceal it from sight and palpation.
“Dual Plane” partial submuscular technique
In the case of very thin women, in which the subcutis has a modest thickness and the prosthesis may not have adequate coverage to hide from the eye. In these cases it is indicated to add an additional layer of tissues to cover it adequately by placing it in a deeper plane, that is, in the plane under the pectoralis major muscle.
The prosthesis is placed so that only the highest pole (to be understood, the one most in the direction of the neckline) goes below the muscle: this is the part that needs to be covered most. The remaining portion of the prosthesis (most of it) will remain deep, covered by the mammary gland, as in the case of the prosthesis placed directly in the retro glandular plane.
The partial submuscular technique “Dual Plane” for the implantation of breast implants in thin women has the advantages of the submuscular technique and those of the subglandular technique (submuscular / subglandular): it is the most used by specialists and is recommended in women more thin to cover and the perimeter of the prosthesis.
With this technique, a very natural result is obtained because the upper pole of the prosthesis will be less visible and palpable; the prosthesis will also be hidden not only by the thickness of the skin and mammary gland but also by the thickness of the pectoralis major muscle.
“Triple Plane” partial submuscular technique
In the case of thin women or women of normal weight but with a very small mammary gland, the Dual Plane technique may not completely solve the problem. In this case, in fact, the small breast and the thinness of the subcutaneous tissues could leave the lower edge of the prosthesis quite palpable in correspondence with the inframammary sulcus, where the gland does not end and the subcutaneous tissue is of very modest thickness.
To solve these particular cases in the best possible way, the partial submuscular technique “Triple Plane” helps us, which also provides a precious coverage to the lower pole of the prosthesis at the level of the inframammary sulcus.
The additional coverage in the lower pole of the prosthesis is made with the connective / muscular fascial plane of the serratus, present in the subcutis of the lower portion of the thorax. This is raised in its central portion to cover the lower edge of the prosthesis and better conceal it from sight and palpation.
How breast augmentation surgery works
Duration, type of anesthesia and hospitalization
Breast augmentation takes place under general anesthesia. The operation lasts about 1 hour and usually requires only one day of hospitalization.
Scars
The scar is often small and not very visible . It can be found in the lower edge of the areola, in the inframammary sulcus or in the axillary cavity, depending on preferences.
From an aesthetic point of view, the least evidence of the scar occurs with the access route located in the lower half of the edge of the mammary areola, exactly on the transition line between dark and light skin. The incision around the areola provides excellent results and is usually not very evident. Even in the rare cases where it should be a little visible, it can be easily masked with a tattoo of the same color as the areola.
Post operative
In the 1st week, you must refrain from driving and making too large movements with the arms, the physical activity necessary for daily routine life is allowed.
After the 1st week, driving and normal physical activity can be resumed. After a month, sports activities such as tennis, gym and swimming can be resumed.
In the first 4 weeks after surgery it will be necessary to wear a support bra. After 1 month, you can go back to wearing a normal bra.
Over the years, periodic self-examinations of the breast and check-ups by the doctor will be carried out to check the conditions of both the gland and the prostheses.
What are the complications of breast augmentation?
Complications of breast augmentation are rare and can all be resolved. They can occur immediately after surgery or later and include:
- Hematomas
- Infections (very rare)
- Displacement of the prosthesis
- Hardening of the prosthesis (rare)
- Rupture of the prosthesis following trauma (very rare)
FAQ
Do you want to know more about breast augmentation?
Read here first.
It is possible to increase the volume of the breast with the autotransplantation of adipose tissue taken from the same woman. This technique was developed by the famous American surgeon S. Coleman and has been used for many years to increase the volume of the breast in an overall or selective way (for example to increase the more medial part or to increase the upper quadrants etc.).
With the autotransplant it is also possible to improve the appearance of breasts of different volume or of asymmetrical shape.
The technique involves the removal of adipose tissue from the same patient from an area where it is abundant using a minimally invasive technique with the use of tiny suction cannulas. The adipose tissue is purified and is then implanted in the quadrants of the breast with a specific technique. The operation takes place under sedation and in a Day Hospital regime.
The technique of breast augmentation with autologous adipose tissue is increasingly used to increase the volume of the breast even in patients who have already undergone breast surgery.
For breast augmentation in women who are thin, with underdeveloped breasts or who have gone into regression after pregnancy or weight loss diets.
With the “Triple Plane” technique it is possible to obtain a reduction of the dynamic deformities of the breast during the contraction of the pectoral and a decrease in the palpability of the prosthesis.
Current breast implants are very resistant and do not have an expiration date, but must be checked over the years with a breast ultrasound or other tests: in fact, over the years they can wear out slowly due to the movements of the arms.
The surgery to replace a breast implant is much less complex because the surgical plans have all already been made with the first operation. The replacement can usually be carried out on a day hospital basis.
Yes, the round breast prosthesis gives a greater volume in the upper quadrants of the breast, while those with an anatomical teardrop shape give a very natural appearance. Ergonomic prostheses are the most natural and current prostheses because they modify their shape according to the posture in which the woman is placed.
In the immediate post-operative period, a sensation of breast turgor is perceived which will disappear within a few days. The pain is absent or very modest and fleeting.
In the 1st month after the operation, a support bra must be worn day and night. After this initial period it will be possible to return to normal life and with a commercial bra.
Yes, of course, any assessment can be made. However, it is advisable to report the presence of the prostheses to allow the radiologist to perform the examination in the best possible way.
No, current breast implants are completely sealed and do not have any valves that can become damaged or cause internal fluid to leak.
No, the silicone present in “Medical Grade” breast implants has a high degree of purity and a greater density than the implants of the past.
Breastfeeding is always possible because the ability of the mammary gland to produce milk is not damaged in any way. In fact, the prosthesis is placed deep behind the gland.
Before surgery, it is possible to choose the right prosthesis to achieve the desired result thanks to the CRISALIX virtual reality system and direct test wearing a special bra in which various types of prostheses and different volumes are inserted. These tests are carried out with the surgeon to get a reliable idea of what the final result will be and how your silhouette will change.
It is necessary to wait until the breast has developed and stabilized, so you must be at least 18 years old before undergoing the surgery.
No, the breast implant does not cause negative or positive changes in one’s genetic and family predisposition from an oncological point of view.
Yes, they have had a great, continuous evolution that has led them to have a very natural shape and consistency, moreover they have reached a high degree of biocompatibility that excludes the risk of rejection.
Give yourself a new breast with breast augmentation surgery
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