Breast augmentation can help women who are not satisfied with their breast size achieve a more harmonious body contour. It is also a procedure that can restore breast volume lost due to pregnancy or correct a possible imbalance in breast size. In some cases, however, where breasts exhibit ptosis or have sagged, a simultaneous breast lift is also necessary.
During the surgery, a silicone implant is inserted into the breast through an incision placed in the inframammary fold (the crease at the bottom of the breast, where the underwire of a bra rests), or in the areola (the brown skin area around the nipple), or in the armpit area. The silicone implant can be placed under the mammary gland (the breast gland), or under the pectoralis major muscle, or under the fascia of the pectoralis major muscle (which is considered the newest technique). There are two types of implants: those with a silicone outer shell and saline internally, and those with a silicone outer shell and medical-grade silicone internally. In recent years, saline implants have been abandoned, and only silicone implants are used.
Breast augmentation is a procedure that lasts 1-1.5 hours, requires sedation or general anesthesia, and after its completion, the patient can return home. All sutures used are absorbable. Incisions usually need to remain covered with surgical tape for 1-2 weeks. The majority of patients return to their daily activities within a week, although any athletic exercise or strenuous physical activity involving the upper body should be avoided for 3-4 weeks.