Breast Augmentation Harley Street | Breast Implant Surgery

Your surgeon will always discuss with you and recommend the treatment that is appropriate for you. During the consultation, the surgeon will also explain the treatment, its results and benefits, the duration of the result, and the frequency of repeating the treatment.

BREAST AUGMENTATION

Breast surgery and augmentation is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts, using implants. Breast Surgery and Augmentation/Enlargement is performed for a number of reasons, varying from patient to patient, some cosmetic and some medical. These reasons may include enhancing the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small; to correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy; to balance a difference in breast size, or as a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.

By inserting an implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to increase a woman’s bustline by one or more bra cup sizes. If you’re considering breast surgery and augmentation, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure–when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please ask your surgeon if there is anything you don’t understand about the procedure.

THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY

Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

The best candidates for breast surgery and augmentation are women who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you’re physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.

In your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your health and explain which surgical techniques are most appropriate for you, based on the condition of your breasts and skin tone. If your breasts are sagging, your doctor may also recommend a breast lift.

WHERE THE SURGERY WILL BE PERFORMED

Breast Augmentation surgery will be performed at our Harley Street clinic.

TYPE OF ANAESTHESIA

The procedure is carried out under intravenous sedation so there will be no pain and you will sleep through the operation.

THE SURGERY

The breast augmentation procedure usually takes one and a half to two hours.

PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY

You will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medicines.

If you smoke, plan to quit at least two weeks prior to the surgery and not resume smoking for at least two weeks after your surgery. Avoid overexposure to the sun before the surgery, especially on the abdomen, and do not go on an astringent diet, as both can inhibit your ability to heal. If you develop a cold or infection of any kind, it is important to inform the surgeon, as your surgery may need to be postponed.

You will need to arrange for someone to collect you after your surgery, as you will be unable to drive. It is also advisable to have someone to stay with you for a few days to help you out if needed.

BEFORE YOUR BREAST AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE

In the week before your breast augmentation surgery with LCAS, you should not take any medications containing aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), since these products affect the blood clotting mechanism and therefore may lead to excessive bleeding during and after surgery, hence resulting in increased bruising. Taking high doses of vitamin E preparations, eating large amounts of garlic, and consuming alcohol can also produce the same result and should be avoided. If pain medication is necessary, we recommend you take ibuprofen/paracetamol. It is in your own best interests to quit smoking, at least two weeks before and until 2 weeks after surgery. It is well known that smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels, which leads to a decreased blood supply to the skin, thus slowing and interfering with the healing process. Be sure to inform your surgeon of any medications you take, as well as possible allergies including (drug, latex, plasters, etc). Your surgeon will decide whether preliminary examinations are necessary, such as blood tests, an electrocardiogram, or x-rays of the lungs. If this is the case, these tests should be performed several weeks before the surgery. It is best not to wear any makeup when you come in for your operation, and to tie your hair back if possible.

THE BREAST AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE

Your operation will be performed at the London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery clinic, under sedation, so you’ll sleep through the entire operation. You will need to arrange for someone to collect you from the clinic as driving and using public transport are to be avoided for 48hrs after the operation.

The method of inserting and positioning your implant will depend on your anatomy and your surgeon’s recommendation. Several incisions can be used to allow the placement of the breast implant. The most common incision is about 5cm long, close to the infra-mammary fold (crease of skin beneath the breast). This allows good access to correctly position the breast implant whilst placing the scar in an area that usually heals well and is not obviously seen. Incisions can alternatively be placed in the axilla (armpit) or around the nipple. Each incision has advantages, and your surgeon will explain why he has chosen to use a particular incision.

Working through the incision, the surgeon will lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath your chest wall muscle (the pectoral muscle). The implants are then centered beneath your nipples.

The use of drains is variable and depends on the position of the implant, the amount of bleeding, and whether any additional surgery has been carried out. They may come out of the scar or through a separate tiny incision. If drains are used, they will usually come out the day after the operation. If a large amount of fluid is drained, then the drains may stay for several days until this amount has reduced to an acceptable level.

The surgery usually takes one to two hours to complete. Stitches or skin glue are used to close the incisions, your new breast will then be taped up for greater support.

AFTER THE BREAST AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE

You’re likely to feel tired and sore for a few days following your breast augmentation surgery, particularly when the arms are moved, but you’ll be up and around in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your discomfort can be controlled by medication, which you will be given.

On the day of discharge, you will be given an information sheet and be asked to attend to have your dressing removed one week after the operation. At that appointment, the dressings will be removed by a nurse and the wound checked. You will only see a doctor if there is a problem. You will then be permitted to shower but it is inadvisable to soak in the bath with the wounds submerged for at least three weeks. The stitches are removed at two weeks. A further appointment will also be made to see the doctor between six and twelve weeks following the surgery.

After the dressings have been removed, you will be asked to wear a sports bra day and night to support the prosthesis for the first six weeks. It is advisable to continue to wear a bra during the day long-term in order to maintain your breast shape. After two weeks you may go back to non-physical employment and resume driving a

car, but check this with your insurance company as some do vary. Three weeks after your operation you may resume gentle exercise, but violent movements, upward stretching of the arms and physical employment are inadvisable for six weeks. You can sleep on your back or side but not on your stomach for at least four weeks. You should be back to complete normality by six weeks following the operation.

ALL SURGERY CARRIES SOME RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.

The most common problem, capsular contracture, occurs if the scar tissue tightens around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard. Capsular contracture can be treated in several ways, and sometimes requires either removal or “scoring” of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal or replacement of the implant. As with any surgical procedure, excessive bleeding following the operation may cause some swelling and pain. If excessive bleeding continues, another operation may be needed to control the bleeding and remove the accumulated blood. A small percentage of women develop an infection around an implant. This may occur at any time but is most often seen within a week after surgery. In some cases, the implant may need to be removed for several months until the infection clears. A new implant can then be inserted. Some women report that their nipples become oversensitive, less sensitive, or even numb. You may also notice small patches of numbness near your incisions. These symptoms usually disappear within time, but may become permanent in some patients.

There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse. If, however, you have nursed a baby within the year before augmentation, you may produce milk for a few days after surgery. This may cause some discomfort, but can be treated with medication prescribed by your doctor.

Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. Rupture can occur as a result of injury or even from the normal compression and movement of your breast and implant, causing the man-made shell to leak. If a break occurs in a gel-filled implant, one of two things may occur. If the shell breaks but the scar capsule around the implant does not, you may not detect any change. If the scar also breaks or tears, especially following extreme pressure, the silicone gel may move into the surrounding tissue. The gel may collect in the breast and cause a new scar to form around it, or it may migrate to another area of the body. There may be a change in the shape or firmness of the breast. If the implant breaks, a second operation is required to replace the leaking implant. In some cases, it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel in the breast tissue if a rupture should occur.

A few women with breast implants have reported symptoms similar to diseases of the immune system, such as scleroderma and other arthritis-like conditions. These symptoms may include joint pain or swelling, fever, fatigue, or breast pain. Research has found no clear link between silicone breast implants and the symptoms of what doctors refer to as “connective-tissue disorders,” but the FDA has requested further study.

While there is no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer, they may change the way mammography is done to detect cancer. When you request a routine mammogram, be sure to go to a radiology centre where technicians are experienced in the special techniques required to get a reliable x-ray of a breast with an implant. Additional views will be required. Ultrasound examinations may be of benefit in some women with implants to detect breast lumps or to evaluate the implant.

While the majority of women do not experience these complications, you should discuss each of them with the surgeon to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of breast augmentation.

WHAT EFFECT DOES SILICONE HAVE ON MY BODY?

Silicone is used in the body in a variety of ways from lubricating syringes to wrapping around cardiac pacemakers. Despite this, there has been a lot of media attention surrounding the use of silicone in breast implants. Minute quantities of silicone can diffuse, or ‘‘bleed’ through the silicone casing of the implant and it has been suggested that this silicone causes breast cancer, abnormalities in babies, and a range of diseases related to arthritis. Large studies in the United States and Europe have now shown that there is no increased risk of these diseases in women with breast implants. This has now been confirmed by an independent review on behalf of the Department of Health. Therefore, at present, there is no evidence to suggest that silicone from breast implants causes disease, however, the lifetime biological effects of silicone continue to be studied.

To book an appointment for Breast Augmentation, please call: 020 7636 4272

Patient reviews

I have been going to Dr Roberto Viel and Dr Maurizio Viel at LCAS for several years now, both in Dubai and London. I have always been incredibly impressed with the treatments offered, the level of professionalism and the fabulous results.

H.F.P

After two weeks, my skin looks incredible! The brown patches on my forehead have vanished and the brown spots on my right cheek have faded and am confident will disappear. My skin looks fresher, reduction in pores, giving me a much younger look and feel.

S.B.S

To say that I’m impressed with Roberto’s work is an understatement. His work has been completely brilliant, he is a true professional – a maestro. And the best results have actually been over the last month. I’m delighted, and feel free to forward this email to him.