Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most performed cosmetic-constructive procedures worldwide. So much so that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every 400 women worldwide has a breast implant. worldwide.
There is usually a certain stigma attached to this type of intervention, since various sectors of the population are inclined to think that “the best thing to do is to accept oneself as one is”. A thousand and one ethical dilemmas come into play here, for why not change something that displeases the individual if the means exist to do so?
The human being is no longer circumscribed to the physiology with which he or she is born, and therefore, preference reigns in the world of aesthetics. Beyond ethical considerations and possible moral debates, each individual is the boss over his or her own body and destiny, and therefore, a breast augmentation surgery is as valid as any other medical procedure. Having made this meaning, we tell you everything you need to know about it.
- In case you are interested: “10 risks of having surgery to increase your breasts”.
The importance of this surgery in the world
Before diving fully into the procedure and considerations of breast augmentation, we see it necessary to throw a number of relevant data around this surgery. Of course, it is a much more common surgical procedure than most people think:
- According to the WHO, about 10 million women undergo this procedure annually.
- One in 400 women has breast implants.
- Mammoplasty has grown by 213% in the United States in recent times.
- Fifty-five percent of the women operated on are between 19 and 34 years of age.
As we can see, this is a safe and widespread safe and widespread surgical procedure all over the world.. The physiological limits at the moment of birth are no longer part of our being if we are not happy with them, and for this reason (as long as it is done wisely), this procedure is not dangerous. Now it’s time to get into the pre- and post-operative process. Let’s get started.
First steps
First of all, the initial consultation will consist of an anamnesis and a physical examination. During the anamnesis, the practitioner seeks to ask the patient open-ended questions: goals, expectations, causal reasons and possible expected outcomes. The aim is not to make a value judgment about the individual, but simply to ensure that the person’s future hopes are in line with the procedure, the person’s future expectations are in line with the procedure to be performed. to be performed.
Secondly, the person who is to undergo the operation will be evaluated by means of a physical examination. At this point, physical pathologies can be diagnosed, such as breast asymmetries, amastias (total lack of breasts) or hypomastia. Clearly, any atypical condition will vary the procedure to be followed.
Implant selection
The implant will be selected according to different methods, which will vary among patients. In general, we can list some types in a few lines:
- Smooth external coverage.
- Textured external coverage.
- Polyurethane.
As of today, the implants are made of silicone filled with a highly cohesive gel.. This is an organic polymer composed of dimethylsiloxane monomers, which according to their degree of polymerization and ramifications acquire different physical characteristics. These implants can be injectable or require a larger excision, both options with advantages and disadvantages that the professional will have to confirm to the patient.
Different techniques can be performed when placing the implant that we have described in previous lines, but, in general, we can divide them into two groups.
1. Submuscular placement
That is, under the pectoral muscle that supports the breast. This procedure can prevent the implants from being perceived through the skin and the scar tissue from hardening. In addition, it facilitates breast imaging for mammography and other exploratory procedures in routine clinical tests. On the downside, this variant is more invasive and the patient’s recovery time is longer. and the patient’s recovery time is longer..
2. Subglandular placement
As the implant is placed under the mammary gland and on the pectoral muscle, the operation and recovery times are shorter. It is a less invasive technique but, as a disadvantage, the edges of the implant are noticeable, the edges of the implant are more noticeable through the skin and this can make and this can hinder possible explorations of the breast at a later time.
In addition to deciding where to place the implant, it is equally important to define how it will be done. There are several ways in which this material can be introduced into the breast:
- Submammary routethrough the lower groove of the breast. It allows a wider view of the plane on which the procedure is performed, but leaves a scar.
- Periareolar approachin the perimeter of the areola. It leaves a minimal scar, but may cause problems in future lactation periods.
- Axillary routethrough the armpit. As an advantage, it leaves a scar away from the breast and concealed in the armpit, but it is a more complex and laborious procedure.
- Umbilical routeumbilical perimeter. For implants filled with saline solutions and very specific conditions.
Postoperative period and complications
Depending on the implant placement site, the postoperative period will be more or less painful for the patient. In general, the person who has undergone the operation usually spends the first night in the hospitaland will be prescribed multiple analgesics to cope with possible pain and discomfort. In most cases, women describe a feeling of “tightness” when moving the upper trunk and some pain when moving the arms after the first few days.
During the first stages after the operation, it is recommended that the patient should rest, be careful with exertion, wear a sports bra, sleep on the back and strictly follow the advice of the professionals at all times. It is of utmost importance to avoid subjecting the pectoral muscles to forces, as they are in a delicate moment.
As far as complications are concerned, several studies show that they are not very common. In general, local hematomas may appear in up to 0.5% of patients, infections in up to 2 % of patientsgalactorrhea (atypical milk leakage in the breasts) in less than 1 % and capsular contracture in up to 5 % of cases. Undoubtedly, infection is the biggest problem to avoid, since systemic complications may appear involving physiological disorders in other organs. In any case, statistics show that any complication is very rare.
Cost
The average price of a breast implant in the United States is about $4,000 if the procedure is performed in the United States. 4,000 dollars if the process is simpleThis can go up to $10,000 for more complex procedures or with specific needs of the patient. It must be taken into account that the price of the implants alone is around 1,000 dollars, so lowering this price is very complex.
The person who is going to undergo the operation must also bear in mind that it is a physiological modification for life, and therefore, skimping on expenses is never a good option. Health is priceless, which is why safe intervention without risk of infection is above all else.
Summary
As we have seen, a breast augmentation operation is a procedure that must be considered, as it requires a considerable monetary investment and the patient will go through a long and costly recovery period. Despite all these considerations, it is a safe process that does not put the patient at risk (almost no risk at all). does not put the patient’s life at risk (almost in any case)..
We live in a changing world, and as we said at the beginning, the physical constraints we are born with no longer define us as individuals. We are what we feel we are inside, which is why showing ourselves physically as we conceive ourselves should not be stigmatized under any circumstances. As long as it does not turn into a pathology or a psychological condition (a fact that is explored in the anamnesis described above), this type of procedure will always be lawful.