Hundreds of thousands of breast augmentation surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year. For most of these patients, the procedure follows a set of typical steps, with expected results and no serious complications.
Read more about our Breast Augmentation & Enhancement Surgery.
Here are the steps your surgeon is likely to follow in any typical procedure:
- Anesthesia
First, you’ll be given medication so you are comfortable throughout the procedure. There are several different anesthesia options, including intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Most patients opt for general anesthesia to be most comfortable. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about anesthesia, as well as about which options are best for you.
- Incision
Your surgeon makes an incision so that the implant can be inserted. While inframammary (under the breast) incisions are most common, other incision options are available. Talk to your doctor before you schedule surgery so you know your choices and what to expect.
- Inserting and Placing the Implants
After the incision is made, your doctor will insert each implant into a pocket created in the chest. Depending on the type of implant, your existing breast tissue, and the look you want, the implant will be placed either underneath the pectoral muscle or on top of the muscle underneath the breast tissue.
- Closing Incisions
Once the implants are placed, and your doctor has checked to ensure they are well-seated and symmetrical, the incisions are closed. Sutures are used in the internally to close up the tissues, and the incisions through the skin may be closed with sutures, adhesive, or surgical tape. Although incisions can look red immediately after surgery, the lines fades as the skin heals over time.
- Post-Operative Care
Once the procedure is finished, and your incisions are safely closed, you are taken to a post-operative care area. You may be given additional medications to control nausea, pain, and other forms of discomfort as you wake up from anesthesia. Generally speaking, patients who have a breast augmentation procedure are able to go home as soon as they are awake and it is clear that they have no major complications from the surgery.
- Recovering from a Breast Augmentation Surgery
Your doctor will give you a list of instructions to follow as your body heals. These may include rest, use of medications or a pain pump, and guidelines for how to care for the incision sites.
For a free, private consultation about your breast augmentation surgery options in Cleveland, please call our team at The Cosmetic Surgery Center at (216) 264-8100.
About Dr. Goldschmidt
Matthew Goldschmidt, MD, FACS is a cosmetic surgeon with an impressive list of academic and professional achievements. He is board certified by two surgical boards which include the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, for body, breast and facial surgery, as well as the Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.