Do you feel like your breast size is small and doesn’t match your body frame? You may have researched boob job surgery and even had a consultation with a Plastic Surgeon or two.
But while you’ve asked questions and done a lot of reading, you may still be unsure about what breast augmentation surgery is really like.
You’re not alone feeling unhappy and dissatisfied with the size and shape of your breasts. Shani Grimmond also felt like this and consulted with Dr Kourosh Tavakoli Her boob job video blog gives patient insights into what happens when you have a boob job.
Women have breast augmentation (boob job) surgery to:
- Reconstruct a breast after an injury or mastectomy
- Increase the size of the breasts and achieve a more symmetrical look and proportionate shape
- Reduce breast size because the weight or size has caused posture and other health related issues
- Restore or replace volume and aesthetic appeal after weight loss, pregnancy, breast feeding, general ageing and health related issues such as breast cancer
- Lift sagging or drooping breasts caused by volume loss, genetics, loss of skin elasticity or general ageing
- Correct previous breast surgery and
- Remove and replace breast implants
It’s important to note that a boob job will not correct sagging breasts. You will need to have a breast lift (mastopexy) operation which corrects sagging breasts and involves removing excess skin and shifting the nipple position.
How to choose the size, type and shape of your breast implants
The day before her boob job Shani visited the Plastic Surgeon’s office to confirm the size, type and shape of breast she desired.
During this consultation, she wore a larger bra size and placed the breast implant samples over her breast tissue.
At this pre-surgery consultation they will also re-measure:
- Your chest wall diameter and shoulder to hip ratio,
- The breast width and nipple position on your chest wall, and
- Your height.
As part of this pre-surgery planning, your Plastic Surgeon will also discuss in detail where the incisions will be placed, your sutures and the placement of the breast implants.
Breast implant size
It’s important to note that knowing what bra size you desire is a useful, it is more helpful to think about the breast implant size you want. This is measured in cubic centimetres (cc’s). At Shani’s pre-surgery consultation, she tried out the 350cc and 375cc breast implants and decided 375cc would give her the desired results.
Breast implant shape
Breast implants are available in round and teardrop shapes. Teardrop implants (sometimes called ‘gummy bear’ or ‘form stable’ implants) are tapered at the top and thicker at the bottom. This implant is ideal for women who don’t want to risk looking “fake.
The advantages of teardrop breast implants include:
- A reduced risk of ‘wrinkling’ due to the type of gel used,
- Natural looking breasts with fullness at the bottom of the breast, and
- A reduced risk of developing capsular contracture.
Round breast implants are the same shape all over and make the breasts appear fuller.
The advantages of round breast implants include:
- A fuller upper breast,
- Less likelihood of implant rippling, and
- A smooth, soft implant shell can be used.
Type of breast implants
Breast implants are made from either saline or silicone gel. If you choose to have saline filled breast implants, you will have a smaller incision for their placement.
Once your Plastic Surgeon is happy with the placement, the implants are filled with saline.
Since silicone gel filled breast implants are pre-filled, they require a longer incision for implantation. Many patients prefer silicone implants because they look softer and more natural.
You can read more about the types of breast implants here.
Cleavage shape and size
When you’re considering your cleavage shape and size, it is vital to consider that as the breasts increase in size, the amount of cleavage gets larger.
If your breasts have a wide space between them, the breast implants will have less impact on your cleavage.
(Above is only an example before and after by Dr Tavakoli)
What happens during breast augmentation surgery?
Your breast implants will be inserted either behind the breast tissue, or partially or completely under the chest muscles. Incisions are made to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, usually under the breast, around the lower part of the areola, or in the armpit.
The breast implant can be placed either over the muscle or under the muscle. The advantage of “over the muscle” is that pectoral muscle activity or strength will not negatively influence the position or movement of the implant. While pain tolerance varies, “over the muscle” breast augmentation operation is generally less painful for the patient.
Generally, placing an implant above the muscle results in excellent breast implant results and a high level of patient satisfaction.
The advantage of the under the muscle approach is that it will disguise and cover up the upper part of the breast implant. In some chest and breast shapes, this option will deliver a better look than “over the muscle”. The disadvantage of “under the muscle” is that some patients may experience movement or flattening of their breasts when they use their pectoral muscle.
When the breast implants are inserted, tissue expanders are used to stretch your skin to provide coverage for a breast implant. The surgical approach for inserting and positioning breast implants will depend on your preferences, your anatomy and your Plastic Surgeon’s recommendation.
The shape and size of your breasts prior to the boob job surgery will influence both the recommended treatment and the final results. It is important to note that if your breasts are not the same size or shape before surgery, it is unlikely that they will be completely symmetrical afterwards.
While millions of breast augmentation surgeries are successfully carried out every year, it’s important to know there are potential risks and complications.
While detailed and careful surgical planning aims to minimise risks and complications, they can include:
- Breast implant rupture: This can occur as a result of everyday activities that repetitively flex, fold, and place pressure on the implant wall. While the average expected life of breast implant is around 20 years, ruptures can occur sooner or later. If a silicone breast implant ruptures, it’s usually not detected by the patient (a silent rupture).
- Scars: After your boob job there will be a small scar that is usually under your breast through which the breast implant has been inserted. These scars generally fade over time, but will never disappear completely.
- Future surgeries: Most women who have had their breasts enhanced will need to have a further operation at some point in their life. This surgery is necessary to revise, replace or remove the breast implants.
What happens straight after boob job surgery?
Immediately after Shani’s boob job surgery she was fitted with support bra and taken into a recovery area for close monitoring.
Before she left the hospital she received postoperative instructions and prescription pain. These instructions will vary from patient to patient but will usually include sleeping on a 60-degree angle, how often to take medication and the amount of rest you must have.
It’s very important for your recovery process that you wear your support garment (a bra or elastic band, called a bandeau).
What to expect as you recover from boob job surgery
After Shani was given the all clear, she was discharged from hospital. During the first night she was in some pain and suffered nausea as a result of the anaesthesia, but sleeping, resting and taking the pain medication relieved this.
She commented that, “While breathing can feel hard sitting up, when I lean back and relax on the pillows I don’t feel any pain and feel really good.”
It’s important to note that the timelines for recovery from boob job surgery vary from patient to patient and will depend on the type of surgical technique used.
Here’s an example of a typical timeline for boob job recovery:
- 8-10 hours after surgery: the numbing solution will start to wear off and you will need to start taking pain-relieving medication.
- 5 days after surgery: the amount of pain relief you need to take will be decreasing.
- 10 days after surgery: the stitches will be removed and you’ll be able to have full body showers and baths. Most patients return to work, but only if their work duties are light.
- 3 weeks after surgery: gentle walking and lower body exercises are usually permitted.
- 6-8 weeks after surgery: once you have been given the ‘all clear’ you can resume upper body gym work and resume running.
- 3 months after surgery: you can start wearing an underwire bra
- 4 months after surgery: you can lie on your stomach
- 6 months after surgery: your boob job recovery should be complete
To avoid complications during your recovery process, before you undertake any exercise or daily activity you must follow your Plastic Surgeon’s guidelines.
Find the best Australian Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons specialising in breast augmentation
Breast augmentation (boob job) surgery can give you fuller, more shapely and larger breasts.
To get the best result possible, it is important that you have this procedure performed in a reputable medical clinic or hospital with highly trained, qualified and experienced Plastic Surgeons and Cosmetic Nurses.
Every successful breast augmentation surgery begins with a successful consultation with the Plastic Surgeon. Taking your time to research and consult with quality Breast Surgeons will help you achieve the breast enhancement result you want.
Find the best Australian Breast Surgeons here.
Find out more about Shani’s and her boob job journey
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