Procedures Breast Augmentation

Breast enlargement, or augmentation, enhances the body contour of a woman who is unhappy with her breast size. It may also be used to correct volume loss after pregnancy, or to help balance breast size asymmetries, as well as a reconstructive technique following other breast surgery. An implant (silicone) is placed through an incision, under the breast tissue or under the muscle. The incision can be made under the breast, around the nipple or in the armpit. It generally takes one to two hours to complete the entire procedure. The outer surface may be smooth or textured, and implants come in various shapes to meet the individual woman’s needs.

Sizing

Long experience with this operation has demonstrated it to have highly satisfactory results for the majority of patients who are considered suitable candidates for the surgery. There are several ways in which the patient can help determine their desired size. During your consultation and pre operative visits to our office, Dr. Copty will help you determine the implant size by placing actual filled implants of various sizes in special surgical bras to help estimate the size you desire. You may want to bring different shirts to see how your new look appears in different clothing.

Placement & Muscle

The breast normally covers a muscle on the chest wall called the pectoralis muscle. Breast implants can be placed above or below this muscle. When implants are placed below the muscle, it is called a submuscular placement. When the implant is placed above the muscle, it is called a subglandular placement. Rippling following breast augmentation is a common problem with saline filled implants in women with only a small amount of natural soft tissue padding. An effective way to minimize this problem is to place the implants beneath the muscle. While this technique adds to the postoperative pain, it typically does not lead to any long-term decrease in muscle function. At our facility, submuscular augmentation is preferred by most of our patients. A possible advantage of submuscular placement is that it may allow better mammography.

It is generally felt that there is less chance of missing a lesion on mammography when the implant is below the muscle. Another advantage of submuscular placement is that the implant is entirely beneath the breast tissue, decreasing the possibility of interference with breast function. It is also felt that submuscular implants are less likely to develop firmness (capsular contracture).

Incisions

There are several ways in which the breast implant can be inserted. An incision can be made under the breast (inframammary), in the armpit (transaxillary), or around the bottom of the areola (periareolar).

Dr. Copty offers all of the three incision choices. Dr. Copty likes the transaxillary incision because it offers several advantages. The incision is approximately 4 centimeters in length placed high in the armpit. The incision usually heals very well leaving no visible scar on the breast itself. Because of its distance from the breast, an endoscope can be used for direct vision dissection and much better visualization of all muscles, nerves and vessels

Recovery and Results:

Although it takes some time for final healing and shaping of the breasts to occur, the initial recovery is typically very well tolerated. There is some soreness after the operation and pain medicine is sometimes required.

To learn more about the procedures performed by Dr. Tarek Copty, click here

To visit Dr. Tarek Copty's YouTube channel, click here