What is Breast Augmentation?
It is a surgery that increases or restores breast size using silicone gel implants, saline implants, or fat transfer, Breast augmentation, often colloquially called a “boob job,” is a cosmetic surgical procedure to increase the size, change the shape, or restore the volume of the breasts. This is primarily done using breast implants or, less commonly, through fat transfer.
Reasons for Considering Breast Augmentation
People choose this procedure for various reasons:
- Enhancing Breast Size: For those who feel their breasts are too small.
- Restoring Volume: Often after significant weight loss or pregnancy/breastfeeding, which can cause breasts to lose volume and sag.
- Achieving Symmetry: Correcting a natural difference in size between breasts.
- Reconstruction: Rebuilding the breast after a mastectomy or injury.
Key Decisions and Options in Breast Augmentation
This is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Several crucial choices will determine the final outcome:
1. Type of Implant
- Silicone Gel Implants: The most common type. They feel more like natural breast tissue and are pre-filled. They require regular MRI or ultrasound monitoring to ensure they haven’t ruptured silently.
- Saline Implants: Filled with sterile salt water after they are placed, allowing for a smaller incision. If they leak, the saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body, and the deflation is immediately noticeable.
- Structured Saline Implants: (e.g., IDEAL IMPLANT®) Have an internal structure designed to give a more natural feel than traditional saline.
- Gummy Bear Implants: (Form-Stable Cohesive Gel Implants) These silicone implants maintain their shape even if the shell is broken due to their thicker, cohesive gel.
2. Implant Placement
- Submuscular (Under the Muscle): The implant is placed beneath the pectoral chest muscle.
- Pros: Lower risk of capsular contracture; easier mammography; less visible rippling.
- Cons: Longer recovery; potentially more post-op pain; can animation (move) with chest muscle flexing.
- Subglandular (Over the Muscle): The implant is placed behind the breast tissue but in front of the chest muscle.
- Pros: Shorter recovery; less post-op pain; no animation deformity.
- Cons: Higher risk of capsular contracture and rippling, especially in women with thin breast tissue.
3. Incision Location
- Inframammary: In the crease under the breast. This is the most common approach, offering direct access and precise placement with the scar well-hidden in the fold.
- Periareolar: Along the lower edge of the areola. The scar blends with the color change of the areola, but it can pose a higher risk to nipple sensation and breastfeeding.
- Transaxillary: In the armpit. The scar is away from the breast entirely, but placement is less precise and often requires an endoscope.
- Transumbilical (TUBA): Through the navel. Only possible with saline implants and much less common.
4. Implant Size and Profile
- Size (cc volume): Measured in cubic centimeters (cc), not cup size. The right size is determined based on your existing breast tissue, body frame, and desired outcome.
- Profile: How far the implant projects forward from the chest wall. Options are typically low, moderate, high, and ultra-high profile. A higher profile offers more projection for a given width.
The Procedure and Recovery
Anesthesia: Performed under general anesthesia.
- Surgery Length: Typically takes 1-2 hours.
- Recovery: Most people need 1-2 weeks off work (avoiding strenuous activity). You will wear a surgical bra and may have drains. Swelling and bruising are normal and subside over several weeks. Full recovery and final results can take 3-6 months.
Important Considerations and Risks
Choosing a Surgeon: This is the most critical decision. Select a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in breast augmentation. Review their before-and-after photos to ensure their aesthetic matches yours.
Risks and Complications:
- Capsular Contracture: The most common complication, where the scar tissue around the implant tightens and hardens, causing pain and an unnatural shape, often requiring corrective surgery.
- Implant Rupture or Leakage
- Infection
- Changes in Nipple or Breast Sensation (can be temporary or permanent)
- Implant Malposition (implant shifting) or asymmetry
- Breast Implant Illness (BII): A term some women use to describe a wide range of symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog they believe are linked to their implants. While not a formal medical diagnosis, it is a serious concern for many.
- Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL): A rare and treatable type of lymphoma associated with textured implants. The FDA has called for a halt to the use of certain textured implants due to this risk.
Long-Term Maintenance: Breast implants are not lifetime devices. It is likely you will need additional surgery at some point to replace or remove them due to complications or natural aging changes.
Types of Breast Implants
- Saline Implants
- These implants are filled with a sterile mixture of salt and water after being placed in the body. This procedure requires much smaller incisions.
- Silicone Implants
- Silicone gel is very thick and similar to human fat. Hence, these implants give a natural look and feel, and are used widely.
- Cohesive Gel (Gummy Bear) Implants
- Similar to gummy bear candy, these implants are the newest generation to be used. They are teardrop shaped and filled with solid silicone, thus, giving very natural-looking outcomes.
Autologous Fat Transfer
This involves removing fat through liposuction from a body area with abundant fat cells, such as thighs, abdomen, and hips, and injecting it into the breasts.
Signs & Symptoms of Breast Augmentation Requirement
- Small size of breasts in proportion to body
- Clothes fitted on the hips but unusually large at the bust line
- Small breasts or infirm due to childbirth
- Imbalance in the size of breasts
- Smaller breasts as a result of weight loss
Treatment of Breast Augmentation
The procedure is done under general anesthesia and usually takes 2-3 hours. The surgeon makes an incision, lifts the breast tissue, creates a pocket in the area, and places the implant. Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to minimize visible scarring. Incisions vary based on the type of breast implant, and degree of enlargement desired. After the incision, the placement of the implant is done in one of the following ways:
Why Choose India for Breast Augmentation?
1. World-Class Surgical Expertise
- Highly Qualified Surgeons: Indian plastic surgeons are often trained at renowned international institutions in the US, UK, Europe, and South Korea. They possess extensive experience and a keen aesthetic sense, ensuring natural-looking results.
- English Proficiency: Most surgeons and medical staff are fluent in English, facilitating clear and comfortable communication for international patients.
2. Advanced Technology and Techniques
Indian hospitals and specialty clinics are equipped with cutting-edge technology:
- 3D Imaging: Tools like Vectra 3D imaging allow patients to visualize potential outcomes before surgery, helping in setting realistic expectations.
- Premium Implants: Access to all leading international implant brands (e.g., Mentor, Allergan/Natrelle, Motiva, Eurosilicone) and the latest types, including silicone, saline, structured saline, and highly cohesive “gummy bear” implants.
- Modern Techniques: Surgeons are proficient in advanced placement techniques (submuscular, subfascial, dual-plane) and various incision approaches (inframammary, periareolar, transaxillary).
3. Significant Cost Advantage
This is one of the most compelling factors. The cost of breast augmentation in India is typically a fraction of the price in Western countries, often 60-75% less, without compromising on quality or safety.
Cost Breakdown (Approximate): Treatment of Breast Augmentation
- The total cost can range from ₹1,50,000 to ₹4,00,000+ (approx. $1,800 to $5,000 USD).
- This cost usually includes:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Anesthetist’s fee
- Hospital or facility charges
- Cost of the implants
- Pre-operative tests
- Post-operative garments and follow-up consultations
Note: The final cost depends on the surgeon’s experience, the city, the type of hospital, the brand and type of implants chosen, and the complexity of the procedure.
4. Comprehensive Care and Medical Tourism
- International Patient Departments: Top hospitals have dedicated teams to assist international patients with everything—from visa letters, travel arrangements, and hotel bookings to local transportation and language interpretation and Treatment of Breast Augmentation.
- All-Inclusive Packages: Many hospitals offer tailored packages that bundle the surgery, hospital stay, accommodation for a companion, and local concierge services.
- Post-Operative Care: Emphasis is placed on thorough follow-up care, including detailed recovery instructions and access to the surgical team for any concerns.
The Process: From Consultation to Recovery
- Initial Consultation: This can often be initiated online. You will discuss your goals, medical history, and options (implant type, size, placement, incision).
- Pre-Operative Workup: Once you arrive, you’ll undergo necessary blood tests and scans to ensure you are fit for surgery.
- The Procedure: Performed under general anesthesia, the surgery typically takes 1-2 hours.
- Recovery: You will usually need to stay in the hospital for 1 night. Most patients are advised to stay in the city for 7-10 days for follow-up appointments before traveling home. Strenuous activities and heavy lifting should be avoided for 4-6 weeks.
Top Destinations and Hospitals
The best centers are located in major metropolitan cities, known for their advanced medical infrastructure: Treatment of Breast Augmentation
- Chennai: A major medical tourism destination, led by Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road.Conclusion
- New Delhi: Home to premier institutes like Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurgaon), and Medanta – The Medicity.
- Mumbai: A hub for cosmetic surgery with renowned hospitals like Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Lilavati Hospital, and Breach Candy Hospital.
- Bangalore: Known for its technology-driven healthcare, with centers like Manipal Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals.
Breast augmentation is a highly personalized procedure that can yield satisfying and confidence-boosting results. However, it is major surgery with lifelong implications.
The key to success is:
- Realistic expectations about the outcomes and the recovery process.
- Thorough research and choosing a highly qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon.
- Open communication with your surgeon about your goals and understanding all the risks and options.
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