The Medical Aesthetic Trend That Is Concerning to New Moms
The popularity of breast augmentations has more than tripled since 1997. In fact, a breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgery in 2017, according to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. These are just some of the reasons that women have been flocking to this surgery for many years:
- Greater ease with wearing flattering clothing
Many women find that when they get a breast augmentation, they are better able to fit into clothes that might not have fit them otherwise. For example, they might find that they have greater ease when it comes to wearing tube tops and sleeveless tops, and that certain clothing is more flattering than it was before.
- Improved sense of self-confidence
This is the main reason that most women seek a breast augmentation, and it seems to be effective in most cases. The University of Florida conducted a study on 84 women who received breast augmentation, and an overwhelming majority of the women saw improvements in their self-esteem and sexual satisfaction that were directly correlated with the breast augmentation.
- Quick results
There is a small rest and recovery period that comes with getting breast augmentations. Because every woman’s body will heal differently, there is not an exact amount of time it takes to recover. In most cases, women reach a full recovery in about six weeks, and some might even feel normal again after a week. Even during the recovery period, there will be noticeable changes to the breasts. This makes breast augmentation a great way to quickly enhance your already beautiful body.
- Restoring breast volume
Breast augmentations are a successful way to increase the volume and projection of the breasts. They are also great for improving the breast and hip contours. This surgery has the ability to increase size, correct sagging, and correct asymmetry.
- Long-lasting results
Although breast implants are not designed to be “lifetime devices,” they are designed to be long-lasting and safe. Although the longevity will vary from patient to patient, patients can expect the average implants to last more than a decade. It is important to remember that the chance of a breast implant rupturing increases by 1% every year.
- Correcting breast changes after pregnancy
Throughout your life and during your pregnancy, the size and shape of the breasts change. As you know, when an individual is pregnant, the breasts create milk which leads to denser tissue. After breastfeeding, both the fatty tissue and connective tissue in the breasts shift. This causes some women’s breasts to expand in size or to shrink, and they might seek a breast augmentation to correct any changes in shape.
Breast Augmentations Before Pregnancy: Will It Be Safe to Breastfeed?
When you receive a breast augmentation, if you want to have the ability to breastfeed afterwards, you should communicate this to us before the procedure. There are a few different ways we can make incisions in the breasts, and we will tailor your surgery in hopes to protect your ability to breastfeed. We consider many factors when deciding where to make your incision, but there are generally three common incision locations:
- Inframammary approach
This is the most common placement for a breast augmentation. With this approach, we create an incision in the crease under the breast, which is called the inframammary fold. One reason this is a great area is because most breasts hide the incision in this area. It also gives the surgeon more control of the procedure and creates precise placement. Another benefit of this approach is that it does not affect nipple sensation and it typically does not affect breastfeeding. If you are hoping to breastfeed at some point in the future after your surgery, it would be a good idea to ask your surgeon about this approach.
- Areolar or peri-areolar approach
With this approach, we place the incision around the darker outer edge of the nipple, which is called the areolar, or the semi-circle on the lower half of the nipple, which is called the peri-areolar. One of the benefits of this approach is that the incision tends to be small and heals well. The scar tends to be almost invisible and is camouflaged with the textures of the nipple. Another great part of this approach is that we can perform additional breast surgeries in the future without making a second incision. One major drawback of this approach for women who plan to breastfeed in the future is that it can complicate the surgery because of its involvement with the milk ducts.
- Trans-axillary approach
This approach is a bit different than what you might normally imagine when you think of breast augmentations. This is because we place an incision in the crease of the armpit rather than in the breast area. The trans-axillary approach is typically best for women who are receiving a saline implant and who have not had a breast augmentation before. Patients choose this approach when concealing any scarring and breastfeeding are major concerns to them. One downside of this procedure is that the surgeon has slightly less control over the placement of the implant, and some women report losing feeling in the area surrounding the scar.
What Should You Ask at a Breast Augmentation Consultation?
For women who want to breastfeed in the future, this is one concern that is extremely important to discuss during your consultation. This is one of many concerns and goals that we will discuss. First and foremost, we aim to create a comfortable, warm, and welcoming environment during these consultations and throughout our whole process. Our number one priority is to satisfy the goals and needs of our patients, and to make the experience as smooth as possible. In order to do this, we create a judgment-free zone at our clinic. The consultation is your opportunity to get to know your surgeon and our team, so we encourage you to gain all the insight you need. We are happy to walk you through our credentials and the background of our clinic in order to assure you that you are in good hands. We can also explain the pros and cons of different implant styles and incision placements, and we will also talk you through what to expect for your recovery process. Ultimately, we want to make sure that this is a great match for both parties, and that everyone feels comfortable and excited about the beautiful results that are to come.
If you have more questions about breast augmentations, breastfeeding, or cosmetic surgery in general, call us at (805) 978-8545 or contact us online.