Breast implants Facts
Medical Name: Augmentation Mammoplasty
Common Name: Breast Augmentation
Estimated Cost: €5,500 - €9,000
Type of Anesthesia: General
Length of Procedure: 2 - 3 hours
Down Time: 1 - 2 days
Recovery Time: 1 - 2 weeks
Discomfort Level: Moderate
Procedure Location: Outpatient
Breast augmentation is most often performed for
cosmetic breast enlargement. The procedure may be used to correct droopy breasts.
Breast implants are also used for breast asymmetry; breast reconstruction following birth defects or after cancer operations.
Anaesthetic - General anaesthetic
Technique
Implants consist of an outer silicone shell filled with salt-water or silicone gel. Silicone gel may be liquid or semi-solid (cohesive). Some implants are round; others are breast-shaped (anatomical).
The implant can be placed under the breast or behind the muscle on which the breast sits. The implant is inserted via one of three incisions: under the breast (common); in the armpit or around the nipple. The surgeon makes a space for the implant, which is put in and the wound stitched up with dissolving stitches.
Length of Operation - one to one and a half hours (cosmetic augmentation)
Time in Hospital - day-case or overnight stay
Post-Operative Discomfort/Limitations
Mild to moderate pain. A drainage tube may be used for 24 hours. Dressings are lef 1-2 weeks; a sports bra’ should be worn continuously for 4 weeks. Augmented breasts may not feel like a normal breast; some women are aware of the implant even if it is not visible. Implants filled with salt-water have a less natural feel than silicone ones.
Occasionally breast implants may exaggerate pre-existing breast asymmetry.
All breasts implants have a limited life-span; manufacturers suggest this is of the order of 10 years or more; however implants may stay in place much longer without any problems.
Breast feeding is not interfered with. Breast implants interfere with breast X-rays (mammograms) - special X-ray views can be taken to minimize this interference.
Time off Work - one to two weeks
Risks and Complications
General complications: bruising, swelling and bleeding which may be heavy and need a return to the operating theatre to stop; chest and wound infection, infection around a breast implant may need removal of the implant to control; unsatisfactory scarring; leg vein thrombosis (clot).
Silicone may leak from implants - this may be slow through an intact implant (“gel-bleed”) or follow a tear in the implant. Often the silicone is contained in the capsule which the body forms around any implant; rarely silicone gets into the breast tissue or armpit lymph glands and forms noticeable lumps. Leakage of salt-water implants leads to immediate loss of shape; with silicone filled implants leakage may not be apparent unless special scans are performed.
The capsule around the implant may thicken and shrink (capsular contracture). Modern implants have a roughened surface, which reduces the frequency of this. Capsular contracture occurs with varying severity in <10% of women.
The problem usually starts within the first year and, in severe cases, can distort the shape of the implanted breast; cause pain and make the breast feel abnormally firm.Surgical treatment may be needed for this problem and occasionally the implant may need removal.
Changed nipple sensitivity (increased, decreased or lost); breast numbness; delayed wound healing.
Safety of Silicone
There has been controversy about silicone safety; is slicione associated with diseases? eg. breast cancer, auto-immune diseases and other ill-defined problems such as muscular aches and pains; chronic fatigue and skin problems. In the USA there has been a ban on cosmetic use of silicone breast implants since 1992. This is not the situation in the UK. Silicone implants have continued to be used.
Last Editorial Review: 22/2/2010
Get a quote for cosmetic surgery
By filling in one enquiry form, you can submit your enquiry for
information about or costs of cosmetic surgery / plastic surgery Ireland
to our participating companies.
Complete the enquiry form....
