Breast augmentation

Candidates for breast augmentation :

• Women with breast hypotrophy, i.e. small breasts even after their development period.
• Patients with breast malformation or asymmetry (e.g. tuberous breasts).
• Women with “empty” breasts, due to weight loss or childbirth.
• Women who want a more proportioned and attractive figure, and who will feel more comfortable and better about themselves after such an operation.

Today we have three effective and recognized methods for breast augmentation:

1. Breast implants
2. Lipofilling
3. Composite augmentation

In some cases, certain procedures are offered at the same time as breast augmentation, such as a breast lift (for sagging breasts), liposuction of the axillary region (bulges or ectopic axillary glands) or modification of the size of the nipple or areola.

Breast implants differ in:

Their shape: round or anatomical, pear-shaped or teardrop.
Their casing: smooth, textured, or made of polyurethane foam.
Their content: filled with silicone gel, saline solution, or lightweight silicone (B-lite).
Their volume: varies based on the desired result and the patient’s build.

They can be placed either in front of or behind the pectoral muscle, as well as a combination of these two planes (Dual Plane). The procedure can be done through an incision below the breast (submammary), around the lower border of the areola, or in the armpit area.

Each choice of implant, location, and scar has its pros and cons. All these different options will be explained by your surgeon, who will guide you to the best choice based on your wishes, your health condition, and your anatomy. Implants are subject to wear and may need to be replaced at some point. This duration can vary greatly but averages between 10 and 15 years (30% at 15 years), although prophylactic change is no longer advised with the latest generation of implants.

Using this technique, your breast size can be moderately increased by a maximum of one cup size per session. Your own fat is used, eliminating the need for a foreign body. Ideally, this harmonizes a disproportionate body by reducing excess fat and increasing breast volume. It involves liposuction from surplus areas like the abdomen, thighs, and flanks and the re-injection of the harvested fat. After an initial resorption phase of 3 months, the surviving re-injected fat is permanently integrated into the tissue. Depending on the desired volume, multiple sessions may be required.

Compared to augmentation with implants, it has several advantages:

• No implant, so no need for replacement due to wear
• Very natural result visually and to the touch
• Minimal scarring, just a few millimeters
• Great versatility in treating asymmetry
• Body contouring benefits (similar to liposuction)

Its disadvantages are :

• Maximum half to one cup size increase per session
• Variable results depending on the absorption rate (around 40%)
• Requires a good donor area
• Post-operative radiological monitoring needed

This final technique combines the previous two, yielding very natural and impressive results in a single operation. A moderate-sized implant is used to provide most of the volume and project the breasts upwards and forwards. Fat is used to camouflage these implants, giving the breasts a very natural appearance. It is a safe and very reliable technique, less dependent on fat absorption than isolated lipofilling.

We usually use general anesthesia, but local anesthesia with intravenous sedation is possible in certain cases.

1 to 2 hours

Our breast augmentations are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning the patient can go home the same day after recovering from anesthesia. However, in some cases, especially if the procedure is more complex or if other procedures are performed at the same time, an overnight stay may be recommended for post-operative monitoring.

3 days to 2 weeks to return to work. 4 to 6 weeks to return to sports and for the residual swelling to disappear. 3 months to 1 year for scar improvement and final appearance.