Breast Augmentation Surgery from an Aesthetic and Health Perspective

Breast aesthetics requires striking a balance between appearance and health. Maintaining this balance means considering not only the aesthetic result but also your overall health. In breast augmentation procedures, this balance is achieved through the knowledge and experience of a specialist plastic surgeon. Whatever your reason for choosing surgery, our recommendation as the Can Hastanesi Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery Clinic is that you always choose an internationally accredited hospital that works with highly competent and experienced plastic surgeons, uses implants approved to international quality standards (FDA), and is equipped to manage the complications that, although rare, may arise. At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Can Hastanesi, which meets these standards, all the implants we use are FDA-approved. In our practice, your personal characteristics, preferences and general health are evaluated, and the surgical technique and implant to be used are decided together with you.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation Surgery?

Your breast tissue may be naturally small or asymmetric, or it may have become deformed, losing shape and volume, due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss or sagging with age. Along with aesthetic concerns, you may wish to have fuller, more attractive breasts. For any of these reasons, or for reasons of your own, you may choose cosmetic surgery to give your breasts a more aesthetic appearance.

What Should Be Considered Before Breast Augmentation Surgery?

Once you have decided on cosmetic breast surgery, the Plastic Surgery clinic carries out a number of health assessments for you. If you are over 35, a mammogram should be performed to obtain information about existing changes in your breast tissue and changes that may develop in the future. Your medical history also plays a very important role before cosmetic surgery.

If you smoke, you should quit before the operation. Avoid aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs, as they may increase the risk of bleeding. The breast implant used in augmentation surgery consists of a silicone shell filled either with saline (sterile salt water) or with silicone gel. The implant is placed either beneath the breast tissue and above the chest muscle, or beneath the chest muscle. Which method will be used is decided after an examination by the specialist who will perform the operation, taking into account your existing breast tissue and your expectations. The FDA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recommends silicone gel implants for women over 22 and saline-filled silicone implants for women aged 18 and older.

How Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Performed?

Depending on the characteristics of your breasts and the size of the implant to be placed, the incision for implant placement is made in one of three different areas.

• Beneath the breast fold (inframammary)
• Around the nipple (periareolar)
• Along the armpit line (axillary)

Breast augmentation is frequently combined with a breast lift to correct sagging. The incision sites used in breast augmentation surgery are as follows:

Breast augmentation is frequently combined with a breast lift to correct sagging.

• Under the breast, just above the breast crease
• Around the nipple, at the edge of the dark area called the areola
• In the armpit, where the arm meets the chest
• After entry through the incision, implants can be placed either beneath the muscle or between the breast base and the muscle

What Is Recovery Like After Breast Augmentation Surgery?

Even though the severity and duration of the complaints expected after surgery are often milder than anticipated, simple painkillers and a special bra can help you through a comfortable recovery, as pain, firmness and a feeling of pressure may be noticed during the first two to six days. It can take anywhere from four weeks to four months for postoperative swelling to return completely to normal.

Although at Can Hastanesi we use dissolvable, invisible stitches in breast aesthetic surgery, depending on a patient's particular situation we may sometimes use stitches that are removed within a week, or surgical tapes or adhesives that fall off on their own within 1–2 weeks.

How Soon Can I Shower After Breast Augmentation Surgery?

You can shower a few days after the surgery.

Does Breast Augmentation Surgery Leave Scars?

In the great majority of our patients, we use self-dissolving stitches that leave no scar. In some patients, we may use non-dissolvable stitches that need to be removed after a week. If surgical tape or tissue adhesive has been used, you should know that it may fall off on its own within one to two weeks.

How Soon Can I Return to Work After Breast Augmentation Surgery?

You will be able to return to work and resume your daily activities after a few days to a week. For the first few weeks after surgery, you should avoid strenuous physical activity and perform the massages we recommend. You should protect your breast tissue for at least one month.

How Is Breast Augmentation Revision Surgery Performed?

Although we have not encountered it in operations performed at Can Hastanesi, some patients who underwent surgery at other healthcare institutions and come to our clinic for correction (revision) may have shape deformities caused by scar tissue forming around the implant, a condition we call capsular contracture. We correct these problems with revision surgery.