Frequently Asked Questions: Breast Surgery

1. Breast Lift vs Breast Augmentation: How to tell which is needed?

a. Breast lifts are necessary when the nipples are located below the level of the crease at

the bottom of the breast, or if the nipples are at an acceptable level, but the lower half

of the breast is below the crease. In many cases it is necessary to also place an implant

to make sure that the upper portion of the breast is full enough.

2. How to choose the right breast implant size?

a. Many factors go into choosing the appropriate size and type of implant. We use the

Vectra 3 dimensional imaging system to simulate the results from various implants,

allowing the patient to have a great deal of input into the decision.

3. Do breast implants lift slightly sagging breasts?

a. Breast implants can restore fullness to deflated breasts, but they are not a substitute for

a lift when the nipples are too low or the lower breast tissues are too lax.

4. Can I have breast implants under local anesthesia?

a. In some cases, breast implants can be placed under deep sedation, but not local

anesthesia.

5. Can I have breast implants if I’m planning to have kids in the future?

a. Many patients decide to have implants before children; however, if a patient is planning

to have children in the very near future it would be best to wait.

6. Can I breast feed if I have breast implants?

a. If a patient has never breastfed, there is no guarantee that they will be successful with

our without implants. There is the slight possibility of nipple numbness which could

affect breastfeeding, but the implants do not pose a risk to the baby.

7. What is the best shape of implants to achieve more natural looking results?

a. In the vast majority of breast augmentation cases, the smooth round implants give a

very natural shape.The implants flatten to some degree when the patient is recumbent

and they assume a tear drop shape when the patient is upright, just like normal breasts.

The ‘gummy bear’ for stable, shaped implants are most commonly used in breast

reconstruction, but in certain cases of augmentation they may have an advantage. They

require a longer incision, are more expensive and have a slight risk of rotating out of the

normal position.

8. Do silicone implants harden over time?

a. Implants do not harden over time, but the scar tissue which is called the capsule, can

thicken and / or tighten to make the implant feel firmer. This is known as capsular

contracture, and recent research indicates that bacteria from the breast ducts may play

a very significant role in its formation. Avoiding contact with breast tissue by placing the

incision in the crease below the breast and washing the surgical pocket and the implant

with a special cocktail of antibiotics has lowered the incident significantly.

9. Do breast implants need to be replaced overtime?

a. The implants only need to be replaced if, in the case of saline implants, they deflate, or

if there are other issues such as severe contracture, or evidence of silicone rupture. The

implants that are used today have undergone 4+ generations of improvements with a

better shell and cohesive gel filler. These implants can be divided in half with a knife or

scissors, and the gel with not ‘run’ like the earlier implants which had a more liquid

center. The three manufacturers in the county have a lifetime replacement policy as

well.

10. How long is the downtime for breast augmentation surgery?

a. Breast augmentation surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under general

anesthesia, and takes less than an hour in most cases. If the surgery is performed on

Thursday, most patients can return to a desk job on Monday. They should avoid

vigorous physical activity for 2 weeks to avoid bleeding around the implant which might

require a return to the operating room.

11. Silicone vs. Saline: Which breast implant is safer?

a. In our practice, the vast majority of patients opt for the silicone gel implants because of

their more natural feel and appearance. They also have less tendency towards visible

rippling. Exhaustive studies have shown that the silicone gel implants are very safe.

Silicone is one of the most inert substances available, and is actually the gold standard

of materials implants in the body. It is found in shunts for dialysis and hydrocephalus,

pacemakers, and chemotherapy ports. The shell of saline implants is actually silicone.

Saline is certainly an option for certain patients. Particularly those that do not have thin

tissues.

Renaissance Plastic Surgery http://www.renaissanceplasticsurgery.net/

Renaissance Plastic Surgery, P.C.

4030 Riverside Park Blvd.

Macon, GA 31210

478-474-2200