Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #66

feature
Breast surgery is about creating a beautiful shape and balancing the figure.
No matter the patient’s age, body type, existing breast tissue and desired
result, breast surgery – be it augmentation, a breast lift or reduction – is
aimed at bringing the body more effectively into proportion and harmonising the
interplay between breast volume, shape and contour.
In every case, breast surgery is tailored to the individual patient, depending
on their body type, expectations, concerns and existing breast anatomy. Here,
we outline the three most popular surgical procedures to create beautiful-looking
breasts in any type of patient.
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures across
the globe. It uses implants to add volume to the breast and enhance the body’s
contours. There is no ‘best’ breast implant type, size, shape, texture, location
placement and incision site, and a thorough consultation is essential in tailoring
the procedure to suit each patient’s natural body shape and expectations going
into surgery.
Breast implants are either filled with silicone gel (most common in Australia)
or saline solution, and are typically produced in round and teardrop (anatomical)
shapes. The texture of breast implants can be smooth, textured or covered in a
polyurethane foam surface.
Saline implants have a silicone outer shell that is filled with a medical-grade
saltwater solution, which is completely biocompatible. Saline implants generally
feel quite firm and can experience deflation or leakage problems. In comparison,
silicone gel filled implants generally feel softer and more like natural breasts
tissue. The silicone gel is cohesive, meaning it is pre-shaped and holds a lesser
risk of leakage.
The shape of implant can noticeably affect the final result in breast
augmentation surgery. Round implants, depending on their fill, can give a defined
round shape or assume more of a teardrop form when the patient is upright.
They tend to provide more upper pole fullness than anatomical implants, which
are fuller in the lower pole.
Anatomical implants demand a greater degree of accuracy in positioning and
if they shift after surgery, the shape of the breast may be distorted. They normally
have a textured surface to avoid rotation. Teardrop implants can provide greater
projection in proportion to the size of the base, making them particularly suitable
for women with little natural breast tissue.
The patient’s body shape and individual preferences are the main
determinants of implant size. A thorough consultation process, where the patient
is given implants to “try on” and shown several before and after photographs, is
necessary in determining the most suitable implant volume.
During the surgery, an incision is made either in the inframammary crease
(below the breast), around the areolar or in the transaxillary position (under the
arm pit). The incision location is usually dependant on the surgeon’s preference
and the patient’s expectations regarding scarring. The implant is then placed
either above (subglandular) or below (submuscular) the pectoralis muscle.
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