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WHAT
to EXPECT
Moderate pain especially with movement of implant. Bruising
and swelling.
ANESTHESIA
- Usually general anesthesia as the pocket will be made behind
the muscle and it is difficult to keep you comfortable with
a local anesthetic.
DURATION
of OPERATION - One to one and a half hour.
DAY
of SURGERY - Following surgery you will spend one
hour in the recovery room. You will go to the post-op recovery
area for one to three hours then go home. You will have a
band over the breast area and possible a bra and drains. You
must have someone drive you to and from the surgical facility
and home. Also someone needs to stay with you the first night.
POST-OP DAY ONE - You will start breast exercises
to keep the pocket in the breast open. You will push the implant
to the top of the pocket and then to the bottom. Do this 10
times per day (once each hour). On a scale of 1-10, patients
usually say pain is 5-7 on the second day. The pain will decrease
to 3-4 the first three to four days. Do not drive or lift
objects heavier than five to seven pounds. Do exercises ten
times per day. You may hear fluid noise in breast. It is liquid
and air and will go away in 14-21 days.
WEEK
TWO - At week two you can walk up to 1/2 mile slowly.
No bouncing exercises.
WEEK
THREE - Continue exercises ten times per day. Slowly
increase activities by end of week three. After three weeks
decrease exercises to five times per day. Thereafter, the
exercises need to be done once a day. After six weeks you
are free to do any pre-surgery activities.
BACK
TO WORK - Usually 3-7 days following surgery.
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PLACEMENT
AND SIZE OF IMPLANT
You and
I will discuss the size you want to achieve. Usually a moderate
to full C-cup is a good size for your body shape. Bring me
a picture of how you want to look with or without a bra. I
cannot change the basic shape of the breast significantly.
Your final result will be determined by your original breast
shape and size of implant, You are not symmetrical now and
absolute symmetry is impossible due to chest wall structure,
shape and the amount of breast tissue.
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RISKS
BLEEDING
- Bleeding can occur following any surgery. If bleeding occurs
it will usually require going to operating room to correct.
INFECTION
- Uncommon. We use antibiotics pre- and post-operatively.
DEFLATION
- All implants will leak Present risk is 1-2% in fifteen years.
There are some some replacement guarantees from the manufacturer.
CAPSULAR
CONTRACTURE - Scar tissue can form. This will close
the pocket making the implant feel hard and possibly change
the shape of the breast. The cause is unknown but exercises
help prevent capsule. Risk is 5% - 8%.
LOSS
OF SENSATION - If a nerve is damaged it will result
in decreased sensation. The incision site is not a big factor.
Usually 90% of sensation returns.
INTERFERENCE
WITH MAMMOGRAM - When the radiologist takes two
extra views there is minimal risk of missing a mass.
CALCIUM
IN SCAR - You may need an MRl to show the calcium
is not in the breast.
HERNIATION
OF POCKET - Usually in the lateral area where there
is no muscle support. Heavy pectoral exercises can increase
the risk.
PAINFUL
BREAST - Unusual but usually associated with capsular
contracture.
SYMMETRY
- You are not symmetrical now and will not be perfectly symmetrical
after the surgery. Look very closely in the mirror prior to
surgery to identify asymmetry.
DEVELOPMENT
OF CANCER - Implants have no (zero) effect on your
developing breast cancer.
ALLERGIC/IMMUNE
REACTION - There is no scientific evidence to support
silicone causing immune problems.
EMOTION - You may have a period of mild depression
after surgery. This is caused by the stress of the surgery
and anesthesia. It will pass as you recover.
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WHAT AUGMENTATION WILL DO
- It
will increase your breast volume.
- It
will usually improve self image.
- It
will make clothes fit and look better.
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WHAT AUGMENTATION WILL NOT DO
- Correct
all symmetry.
- Change
basic shape of breast totally.
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WHAT
IF REVISIONS ARE NEEDED
You are
responsible for anesthesia and facility charges.
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HOW LONG WILL RESULTS LAST
This is a very difficult question to answer. Longevity of
the procedure depends on your skin elasticity, heredity, previous
sun exposure and post-operatively, stress, smoking and elastic
fibers in your skin.
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