Breast Augmentation

If you’re wondering how long the results of a breast augmentation will last, the important first step is to consider that everyone’s breasts will change over time: regardless of whether you’ve had a breast augmentation in Los Angeles. So in this sense, you can certainly expect there to be changes in your breasts over time. However, the breast augmentation itself can last forever.

The breast changes you see will be from factors like gravity, changes in your breast tissue, weight fluctuations, and the natural aging process. On the other hand, the breast implants themselves should ideally be changed every 10 - 15 years. The implants are medical devices, and although they are extremely safe, they have the potential to degrade, leak, or rupture over time.

Many women ask whether the scars from their breast augmentation will be noticeable. There are many options for breast augmentation incisions, but only 2 options that Dr. Rahban uses in part because of their unparalleled ability to result in almost invisible scars when the incisions are closed with the utmost of care and precision. To keep the breast augmentation scars discreet, Dr. Rahban makes the incisions either in the crease of the breasts, or around the areola.

When the breast augmentation is performed through an incision in the breast crease, there should be no change in your ability to breastfeed or the volume of milk produced. When the breast augmentation is performed with incisions around the areola, however, some of the milk ducts are separated which can result in lower production of breast milk.

For women that do have a reduction in breast milk production, many of them are still able to breastfeed successfully, depending on the natural amount of breast milk their body is able to produce. However, It’s also important to remember that some women are not able to breastfeed at all, whether or not they’ve had a breast augmentation. In the majority of cases, women will be able to breastfeed after breast augmentation surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, breast augmentation has risks. Breast augmentation risks include:

• Scars: the risk of scars can be minimized by a surgeon with the skill to make and close the incisions in a way that is very discreet.
• Asymmetry of the breasts: all women have some level of asymmetry in their natural breasts, so in many cases an extremely detail-oriented surgeon can create more symmetry with breast augmentation than the patient had before. In some cases Dr. Rahban uses 2 different-sized implants to create more balance between breasts that were previously asymmetric.
• Loss of nipple sensation: Dr. Rahban mitigates this risk by carefully analyzing the maximum size of implant that a patient’s anatomy can handle, without unwanted pressure on the nerves. It is not the incision which generally causes loss of nipple sensation, but an implant that is too large.
• Decreased milk production: this risk can be mitigated by carefully choosing the incision placement.
• Rupture: today’s breast implants are extremely well made and rupture is quite rare.
• Rippling: visual rippling is rippling that can be seen when you look in the mirror. This risk is very rare and tends to happen in women who are quite thin. Palpable rippling is also unlikely but more common than visual rippling. Palpable rippling is happens when you can feel a little of the contours of the breast implant. This risk is also more likely in thin patients.
• Capsular contracture: this is the primary risk of breast augmentation and happens in approximately 5 - 15% of women with implants. Every woman who has breast implants has scar tissue around those implants. This is normal and not a risk. However, in a small percentage of women, their bodies makes thicker scar tissue than needed around the implant. This is in no way dangerous, but can make the breast slightly firmer, sit higher, or cause some discomfort. This can generally be corrected with reoperation to remove the thicker scar tissue.

There are several factors that are important in being a good candidate for breast augmentation surgery. These include:

• Health: good overall health is important for any surgery, so you’ll want to ensure you are in the best health possible, physically as well as mentally.
• Age: candidates should be old enough for their breast tissue to be fully developed, which is generally around 18 - 20 years old.
• Some existing breast tissue: While the primary purpose of a breast augmentation is to add volume to the breasts, it is important that the right candidate has some level of existing breast tissue. Someone who is extremely thin or emaciated will not have good results from a breast augmentation.
• Informed expectations: While people often discuss your health or age as important factors for a breast augmentation, another truly critical question is “What are your expectations from the breast augmentation?” If you are very thin and want a larger implant than can fit your body, this is a barrier to successful surgery and Dr. Rahban will not perform a breast augmentation on you. A good candidate understands the limits of their anatomy, and understands that if the surgeon does not adhere to your anatomical structure, you will not have a good outcome.

The recovery time for breast augmentation depends on what you consider a ‘recovery’. In terms of initial recovery, Dr. Rahban recommends you take a week off of work after your operation. While some surgeons say you can return to work the next day, there is trauma to the body during surgery, and you need time for your wounds to heal. Beyond the initial recovery, you want to give your breast implants time to settle and for your body to continue to heal.

Because of this, Dr. Rahban recommends you wait 4 - 6 weeks before returning to exercise or lifting anything heavy. Trying to rush your recovery not only can lower the quality of your results but can lead to emotional dissatisfaction. After 2 - 3 months your swelling will generally be gone and you should be back to all of your normal activities.

There is no definitive answer to the question of whether you should wait to have a breast augmentation until you have children. The answer is completely dependent on each person. If someone wants to get pregnant within a year, Dr. Rahban would strongly encourage them to wait on having breast implants until after they have children. The breasts undergo tremendous change during pregnancy, which can alter the results of the breast augmentation.

If someone does not want children in the near future, but may have them eventually, that person needs to decide whether they want to enjoy the benefits of breast augmentation in the years before their pregnancy. Dr. Rahban’s experience is that approximately half his patients have breast augmentation before pregnancy, and half after having children.

One important aspect of preparing for surgery involves being financially prepared for the costs. This is an elective surgery which should not cause great financial strain. You should also be healthy physically, and not in substantial emotional distress.

For instance, if someone has just had an upsetting break up and hopes that a breast augmentation will make them feel better, this is not the right mentality to make such a major decision. Finally, it’s important to ensure you have a support system of friends or family that will be there to help you in the first week after your breast augmentation.

Choosing the right size of implants is such an important and misunderstood process. Many patients come in for a consultation, thinking that the best way to ask for the breast implant results they want is by giving a cup size.

However, if a surgeon allows a patient to ask for a cup size to describe their desired outcome, there is tremendous potential for misunderstanding and dissatisfaction. Dr. Rahban uses a comprehensive process combining thorough physical analysis of your anatomy, discussion of your goals, and pictures of breast implant results.