Breast Implants: The Incision|

Breast Implants: The Incision|

Breast Implants: The Incision|

Breast Implants: The Incision|

Breast Implants: The Incision|

Breast Implants: The Incision|

The three different incision types that Dr Lim and Dr Somia may consider for breast augmentation surgery are:
-Inframammary: incision in the fold of the breast. This is the most common incision used. It is well hidden in a clean natural crease and is considered the incision with the least contamination and is usually recommended.
-Periareolar: incision around the nipple
-Transaxillary: incision is underneath the arm

The incision placement may be influenced by your clothing preferences, the shape of the implant, and the size and placement of the implant. Fear of visible scarring results in many patients being concerned about the placement of the incision.

Our goal is to achieve the desired final breast size and breast shape and this may determine the incision placement. Dr Lim and Dr Somia will talk with you about the options for incision placement and answer all of your queries during your breast augmentation consultation.

QUICK FACTS

Anesthesia

General Anaesthetic

In/Outpatient

Day Surgery or Overnight stay in hospital

Length of surgery

2 to 3 hours

Recovery

Normal daily activities at 1 week
Light exercise at 4 weeks resuming back to high intensity exercise at 3 months.

Results

Depending on the complexity of your procedure, it may require a second surgery to give optimal results. Final results from your breast implant surgery are seen around 6 months postoperatively.

About Breast Implants

There are two main types of breast implants. They are either silicone or saline (filled with salt water). Dr Lim and Dr Somia use both types – cohesive silicone gel and saline breast implants. Most breast implants used here in Australia are silicone gel as the silicone filled implants are known to achieve a more natural result. The shell or membrane of these implants are made of silicone and have either a smooth or rough surface. The current belief is that rough surfaced implants minimise the scar tissue that forms around them. The scarring may cause hardening or “capsular contracture”.

While breast implants may be either silicone or saline to give the implant volume, they all have an outer shell made of silicone. This outer shell is classified as either smooth or textured (rough). Textured implants are further classified according to the surface roughness and the surface area. Over the last 5-10 years, some types of textured breast implants have been associated with the development of a very rare form of lymphoma called BIA-ALCL – Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. It is important to highlight that this is very rare – with about 600 patients reported worldwide in 2019 from an estimated 40 million women with breast implants.

While the research in understanding this relatively new condition is early, there are some factors that seem to be relevant. Firstly, the surface of a breast implant has an impact on the development of this rare cancer. It is associated with rough, highly texturised breast implants (macro-texturised) such as salt loss reduction and polyurethane surfaces. Smooth or very low texturized (nano-texturised) implants have not been formally linked and micro-texturised implants rarely associated. Dr Lim and Dr Somia now use either nano-textured (Motiva) or micro-textured (Mentor) breast implants with low surface roughness as these have been shown to be the safest implants available on the market worldwide. These implants have TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) approval.

The latest information including advice for patients can be found here on the TGA website.

Breast implant shapes vary from round to anatomical (also known as tear-drop shape). Round breast implants are available in low and high profile, while the tear-drop shaped breast implants are available in various widths, heights, projections and sizes. Generally, round implants are more suited to patients that are happy with the breast shape and are looking only to increase in the size of their breasts. Round implants give more upper-pole fullness to the woman’s breast. On the other hand, tear-drop implants give much more natural shape to the breast. The more projected lower half of the breast may lift the nipple and may suit those patients with slightly droopy breasts, such as post-pregnancy, breastfeeding or with weight loss.

Different factors affect the selection of the breast implant shape and size. In general, women prefer to have their breast size in proportion with their body which can be proportionally large, medium or small. Dr Lim and Dr Somia are very experienced in the use of both implant shapes and will assist you in the decision making process. They will discuss this in great detail during your breast augmentation consultation. Choosing the size of your desired implants is a very important personal decision. Dr Lim and Dr Somia will help you select the optimal implant depending on your chest size and your breast base measurements.

Breast implant placement depends on the amount of breast tissue available to hide the implant to ensure it cannot be seen or felt. Generally, those with minimal breast tissue benefit from sub-muscular (sitting under the muscle) placement to provide more cover above the actual implant thereby preventing visible rippling of the implant. Sub-muscular placement also can reduce the risk of capsular contracture. In some cases, a dual plane position of the implant (partly above and partly behind the muscle) is recommended for slightly droopy breast. We will advise which is best at your consultation.

Your Breast Implant Surgery

The breast implant procedure takes about 90 minutes and is generally performed as day-surgery, however, some patients prefer to recover in hospital for a night.

Post surgery, you may awaken with a large bandage around your chest. Your surgeon will review your progress a little later on that day. You will be fitted into a post-operative bra and an implant stabiliser before you are discharged.

Upon release from hospital, you will receive a prescription for antibiotics and analgesia. Dr Lim and Dr Somia’s friendly staff will keep in contact after the procedure in order to monitor your progress. They will also attend to any queries or needs that you have. Dr Lim/ Dr Somia will review you again one week after you go home. Further reviews will be required at 1, 3 and 6 months. Appointments for these post consults will be made for you after each visit. An ultrasound is recommended yearly to monitor your breasts and implants.
Our objective is to ensure that your experience is as easy and comfortable as possible. Dr Lim, Dr Somia and their Nurse Consultants will give you as much time as you require in order to answer any queries that you may have.
Dr Lim and Dr Somia perform surgery only in fully accredited hospitals:
Lakeview Private Hospital in Bella Vista
Westmead Private Hospital

Breast augmentation surgery is usually performed as a day-surgery procedure, although, if you choose, you may wish to stay in the hospital overnight for further recovery. Breast augmentation surgery is performed under general anaesthetic.

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