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Breast Augmentations, Breast Enlargements & Breast Implants Plastic Surgery in Jacksonville, Florida

A Breast Enlargement or Breast Augmentation, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breast for a number of reasons:

• To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons,
  feels her breast size is too small.
• To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy.
• To balance a difference in breast size.
• As a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.

By inserting an breast implant behind each breast, Dr. Obi is able to increase a woman’s bust line by one or more bra cup sizes. If you’re considering breast augmentation or breast enlargement, this will give you a basic understanding of the breast augmentation plastic surgery procedure—when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect after your breast augmentation surgery. It can’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances but it may help clarify how a breast augmentation or breast enlargement is performed. Upon your consultation, please ask Dr. Obi if there is anything you don’t understand about the breast augmentation or breast enlargement procedure itself.

The Best Candidates for Breast Augmentation Plastic Surgery

A breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have a augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Obi.

The best candidates for breast augmentations are women who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you’re physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate for breast implants.

Incisions are made to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, in the breast crease, around the nipple, or in the armpit. Breast tissue and skin is lifted to create a pocket for each implant.

Types of Breast Implants used for Breast Augmentation

A breast implant is a silicone shell, filled with either silicone gel or a saltwater solution known as saline breast implant.

Because of concerns that there is insufficient information demonstrating the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that new gel-filled breast implants, at the present time, should be available only to women participating in approved studies. Some women requiring replacement of the breast implants may also be eligible to participate in the breast implant study.

Saline-filled breast implants continue to be available to breast augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery patients on an unrestricted basis. You should ask Dr. Obi more about the specifics of the FDA decisions regarding breast implants for breast augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery.

All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk

Breast augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery is relatively straight-forward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with breast augmentation plastic surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.

The most common problem from breast enlargement plastic surgeries, capsular contracture, occurs if the scar or capsule around the breast implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard. Capsular contracture can be treated in several ways, and sometimes requires either removal or “scoring" of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal or replacement of the breast implant.

As with any surgical procedure, excessive bleeding may follow the breast augmentation plastic surgery operation may cause some swelling and pain. If excessive bleeding continues, another cosmetic surgery operation may be needed to control the bleeding and/or remove the accumulated blood.

A small percentage of women develop an infection around a breast implant following the breast augmentation plastic surgery procedure. This may occur at any time, but is most often seen within a week after your breast enlargement plastic surgery. In some cases, the breast implant may need to be removed for several months until the infection clears. A new breast implant can then be inserted after the infection clears.

Some women report that their nipples become oversensitive, undersensitive, or even numb. You may also notice small patches of numbness near your breast augmentation incisions. These symptoms usually disappear within time, but may be permanent in some breast enlargement plastic surgery patients.

There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse. If, however, you have nursed a baby within the year before breast enlargement plastic surgery, you may produce milk for a few days after the breast augmentation plastic surgery. This may cause some discomfort, but can be treated with medication prescribed by your plastic surgeon, Dr. Obi.

Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. Rupture can occur as a result of injury or even from the normal compression and movement of your breast and implant, causing the man-made shell to leak. If a saline-filled breast implant breaks, the implant will deflate in a few hours and the salt water will be harmlessly absorbed by the body.

If a break occurs in a gel-filled breast implant, however, one of two things may occur. If the breast implant shell breaks but the scar capsule around the breast implant does not, you may not detect any change. If the scar also breaks or tears, especially following extreme pressure, silicone gel may move into surrounding tissue. The gel may collect in the breast and cause a new scar to form around it, or it may migrate to another area of the body. There may be a change in the shape or firmness of the breast. Both types of breaks may require a second operation and replacement of the leaking breast implant. In some cases, it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel in the breast tissue if a rupture should occur.

A few women with breast implants have reported symptoms similar to diseases of the immune system, such as scleroderma and other arthritis-like conditions. These symptoms may include joint pain or swelling, fever, fatigue, or breast pain. Research has found no clear link between silicone breast implants and the symptoms of what doctors refer to as "connective-tissue disorders", but the FDA has requested further study.

While there is no evidence that breast implants from a breast augmentation plastic surgery procedure can cause breast cancer, they may change the way mammography is done to detect cancer. When you request a routine mammogram, be sure to go to a radiology center where technicians are experienced in the special techniques required to get a reliable x-ray of a breast with a breast implant from a breast augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery procedure. Additional views will be required. Ultrasound examinations may be of benefit in some women with breast implants to detect breast lumps or to evaluate the breast implant.

While the majority of women do not experience these complications from breast augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery, you should discuss each of them with Dr. Obi to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of breast augmentation or breast enlargement plastic surgery.

Planning Your Breast Augmentation Plastic Surgery

In your initial breast augmentation plastic surgery consultation, Dr. Obi will evaluate your health and explain which breast augmentation or breast enlargement surgical techniques are most appropriate for you, based on the condition of your breasts and skin tone. If your breasts are sagging, he may also recommend a breast lift.

Be sure to discuss your breast augmentation plastic surgery expectations frankly with him. He should be equally frank with you, describing your alternatives and the risks and limitations of each. You may want to ask him for a copy of the manufacturer’s insert that comes with the breast implant he will use — just so you are fully informed about it. And, be sure to tell Dr. Obi if you smoke, and if you’re taking any medications, vitamins, or other drugs.

Dr. Obi will also explain the type of anesthesia to be used for your breast augmentation/ breast enlargement plastic surgery, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the costs involved. Because most insurance companies do not consider breast augmentation/ breast enlargement plastic surgery to be medically necessary, carriers generally do not cover the cost of this procedure.

Preparing for Your Breast Enlargement Plastic Surgery

Incisions are made to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, in the breast crease, around the nipple, or in the armpit. Breast tissue and skin is lifted to create a pocket for each implant.

Dr. Obi will give you instructions to prepare for your breast augmentation/ breast enlargement plastic surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.

While making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your breast augmentation/ breast enlargement plastic surgery and to help you out for a few days, if needed.

Where Your Breast Enlargement Plastic Surgery Will be Performed

Dr. Obi will perform the breast enlargement plastic surgery operation in the Samuel Wells Surgicenter, our own state licensed Ambulatory Surgery Center as an outpatient procedure.

Types of Anesthesia for Breast Enlargement Plastic Surgery

Breast augmentation/ breast enlargement plastic surgery can be performed with a general anesthesia, so you’ll sleep through the entire operation or Dr. Obi may use a local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy, so you’ll be relaxed but awake, and may feel some discomfort.

The Breast Enlargement Plastic Surgery

The method of inserting and positioning your breast implant will depend on your anatomy and Dr. Obi’s recommendation. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple), or in the armpit. Every effort will be made to assure that the incision is placed so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible.

Working through the incision, Dr. Obi will lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath your chest wall muscle (the pectoral muscle). The implants are then centered beneath your nipples.

The breast implant may be inserted directly under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle.

Some surgeons believe that putting the implants behind your chest muscle may reduce the potential for capsular contracture. This placement may also interfere less with breast examination by mammogram than if the implant is placed directly behind the breast tissue. Placement behind the muscle however, may be more painful for a few days after surgery than placement directly under the breast tissue.

You’ll want to discuss the pros and cons of these alternatives with Dr. Obi before surgery to make sure you fully understand the implications of the procedure he recommends for you.

The surgery usually takes one to two hours to complete. Stitches are used to close the incisions, which may also be taped for greater support. A compressive bandage may be applied over your breasts to help with healing.

After surgery, breasts appear fuller and more natural in tone and contour. Scars will fade with time.

After Your Breast Enlargement Plastic Surgery

You’re likely to feel tired and sore for a few days following your surgery, but you’ll be up and around in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your discomfort can be controlled by medication prescribed by Dr. Obi.

Within several days, the compressive bandage will be removed, and you will be given a surgical bra. You should wear it as directed by Dr. Obi. You may also experience a burning sensation in your nipples for about two weeks, but this will subside as bruising fades.

Your stitches will come out in a week to 10 days, but the swelling in your breasts may take three to five weeks to disappear.

Getting Back to Normal After Your Breast Augmentation

You should be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the level of activity required for your job.

Follow Dr. Obi’s advice on when to begin exercises and normal activities. Your breasts will probably be sensitive to direct stimulation for two to three weeks, so you should avoid much physical contact. After that, breast contact is fine once your breasts are no longer sore, usually three to four weeks after surgery.

Your scars will be firm and pink for at least six weeks. Then they may remain the same size for several months, or even appear to widen. After several months, your scars will begin to fade, although they will never disappear completely.

Routine mammograms should be continued after breast augmentation for women who are in the appropriate age group, although the mammographic technician should use a special technique to assure that you get a reliable reading, as discussed earlier.

Your New Breast and How They Will Look

For many women, the result of breast augmentation can be satisfying, even exhilarating, as they learn to appreciate their fuller appearance.

Regular examination by Dr. Obi and routine mammograms for those in the appropriate age groups at prescribed intervals will help assure that any complications, if they occur, can be detected early and treated.

Your decision to have breast augmentation is a highly personal one that not everyone will understand. The important thing is how you feel about it. If you’ve met your goals, then your surgery is a success.

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