Breast Augmentation
No two people are the same - we all have different desires and different body types. Even your breasts can be different on each side and the shape of your rib cage can be uneven. We will listen carefully to your wishes and examine your breasts and upper body before helping you decide on the implant shape and size that will best suit you.
Dr Januszkiewicz has more than 25 years of experience and will help guide you through this process so you are comfortable with the choice you make.
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Where are you starting from?
- Your age:
Younger women who have not had children will generally have better skin quality and firmer tissues. A ‘perkier’ overall shape or more upper pole fullness may be more acceptable to the younger woman. If you have very little natural breast tissue and tight skin there is less room to accommodate the implant and this may limit the size of implant that can be used.
As time goes on our tissue quality softens and there is more natural pre-existing droop of breast tissues. Pregnancy and weight loss will hasten these changes. An implant can restore fullness and a more youthful shape.
When the natural droop is more severe placing an implant alone could leave a less attractive breast shape overall with a low nipple position. These situations often require combining the implant surgery with a breast lift. This is longer more complex surgery that adds extra incision lines on the breast. It is not a good idea to try to place oversize implants as a way of stretching the loose skin – it will only lead to a disproportionate look and more problems over time.- Body weight:
If you are athletic or have a very slim figure then there is much less of your own tissue to help disguise the appearance of an implant. In this situation the implant will usually be positioned under the pectoral muscle to help reduce the risk of edge visibility or a less natural step off in the upper part of the breast. Sometimes fat grafting is also added to help soften the appearance of the implant in very lean body types.
It is easier to create a softer natural looking result if you have a fuller figure. The implant will usually be positioned in front of the muscle in these circumstances. Please tell us if you intend to lose weight in future – this will influence the surgical planning.
- Chest shape:
There are many different implant shapes as well as sizes. Wide based implants cannot fit within a petite or narrow frame. Dr Januszkiewicz will take measurements to help plan the ideal implant dimensions that best compliment your figure and help you choose a size that you are most comfortable with.
There are many different implant shapes as well as sizes. Narrow based implants will not fill out a broad chest shape and can leave too wide a gap in the cleavage area. Dr Januszkiewicz will take measurements to help plan the ideal implant dimensions that best compliment your figure and help you choose a size that you are most comfortable with.
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How will they look?
There are many factors that influence how your breasts will look afterwards.
You - The most important of these is what you are starting with (see above) – in other words your age, your anatomy and your breast shape and tissue quality. Implant planning starts on the basis of your own dimensions so that it suits your figure. Smoking increases the risk of problems with wound healing and infection. All patients must quit smoking at least six weeks before surgery.
Implant size is not everything but too much volume will look disproportional and unnatural while too little may leave you disappointed. You should take time to make sure the size you choose is the most appropriate.
Implant shape will have some influence but depending on your circumstances perhaps less than you might think. Most women seek a natural looking outcome. The modern era of breast implant surgery limits the application for teardrop shaped textured surface implants. A smooth surface round implant will be recommended to most patients. Implant size, gel type and degree of projection nevertheless do influence the shape of your result. There have been siginificant technological leaps in smooth round implants over the past two decades. We will help you understand the different choices.
Surgical technique may be critical to achieving the best shape, especially if there is pre-existing unevenness or breast features that needs adjustment.
In breast surgery there is an art as well as a science involved in pursuit of the optimal result. Dr Januszkiewicz has 25 years of experience and will help guide you through this process so you are comfortable with the choice you make.
Go to our gallery to see examples of different breast augmentation -
What's possible, what's not?
This is a very personal decision, one that you should choose to do for yourself rather than for someone else.
Breast augmentation can increase the fullness and projection of your breasts, improve the proportions of your figure and lead to a better self-image or self confidence. However, as with any surgery, breast augmentation has risks and possible complications. It is important to understand these fully. You will need to decide if the surgery can achieve your goals and if the risks and possible complications are acceptable to you. We will discuss all of this with you and answer any further questions you have.
Breast implant surgery will not correct breasts that have a moderate or severe degree of droop. A breast lift is usually necessary in these circumstances.
Breast implants cannot be guaranteed to last a lifetime. Over time your breasts will change and pregnancy, weight changes, menopause and ageing all influence the results of your implant surgery. You may need to have more surgery in future to replace or adjust your implants.
Some patients may be candidates for fat transfer using their own fat tissues taken by liposuction from other parts of the body. The fat is then injected as a graft into your breasts. There are limits on how much tissue can be grafted in a single procedure and only approximately two thirds of the transferred fat graft survives in the long term. Usually only a small increase in breast size can be achieved in one procedure. Multiple fat transfer procedures may be necessary if you wish to avoid breast implants altogether.
In patients with thinner chest wall tissues, fat transfer can be combined with implants as a way of softening the appearance of the implant to help create a more natural result. -
On the day
Please read your pre-operative instructions carefully as they contain important information about preparing for your surgery.
You will be asked to arrive for admission to the surgery centre at a time that allows our staff to prepare you for surgery. Your family member or support person is encouraged to be with you at this stage. You will have time to discuss any last minute concerns with Dr Januszkiewicz before he draws the pre-surgical markings on you. The specialist doctor giving your anesthetic will also meet with you beforehand for a thorough discussion. -
After your procedure
After the surgery is complete you will wake up in our recovery area. Once you are more fully awake you should be able to sit up in a comfortable chair and have something to eat and drink. Once Dr Januszkiewicz and the nursing staff are happy that you are ready to be discharged a friend or family member can take you home. It is a good idea to have them bring a pillow so that you can use this under your seatbelt for comfort during the drive home.
For patients who live out of town we can recommend and help pre-arrange hotel or motel accommodation nearby. You must have a friend or family member stay with you for the first night.
Your breasts will be sore afterwards but the pain medication that has been prescribed will help and most women will report that the experience was easier than they expected.
We will see you for a brief check in the first week after surgery and then usually once more around five weeks later. It usually takes six weeks or so for the surgical swelling to settle and the breasts will soften gradually over the first few months after surgery.
