Surgical Options

The surgical options vary depending on the amount of correction needed and whether you already have implants. If you don’t, the surgeon may use one implant, or two different sizes (volumes) to make breasts symmetrical. If you already have implants, the surgeon will resize the breast and perhaps even re position the implant on the chest. A breast lift or breast reduction can also be performed to achieve better symmetry.

The Surgical Procedure

The surgeon creates a detailed surgical plan, makes detailed markings on each breast prior to surgery, and selects sizer implants. The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours.

After Surgery

A 5-7 day recovery period is typical for implant first-timers. Doctors won’t allow you to drive or do any heavy lifting for up to two weeks. If you’ve had implants, and surgeons are merely replacing or resizing, there is much less recovery time because your chest muscles have already been stretched to accommodate the implant, so there is very little pain or discomfort with this surgical option.

Possible Complications

Any foreign object, like a breast implant, placed in the body triggers the body’s natural defenses to form a thin tissue lining around the object to wall it off. This is a normal response, but it can cause capsule contracture in some cases, because your body naturally tries to shrink this tissue lining. So, in some patients, the implant becomes tightened and squeezed and makes the breast implant feel hard and not look natural. Capsular contracture is the most common post-surgery complication and usually occurs within the first several months after breast augmentation surgery. There are several precautions surgeons can take before surgery to reduce this likelihood, but if you do develop contracture, another surgery may be needed to correct it.