Breast augmentation is one of the major cosmetic surgery procedures, which involves several steps. Different surgical techniques may be applied to perform this procedure, but the steps involved will largely remain the same in each case. The procedure can be customized to match with the unique needs of a patient.
During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will explain the various steps involved in breast augmentation. This will allow the patient to have more familiarity with the procedure and get past her initial anxiety about the surgery. Patients in Chicago, IL and surrounding communities have an opportunity to receive breast augmentation from board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom.
Anesthesia
Once the patient is brought into the operating room, she will be placed under anesthesia. General anesthesia or deep sedation is usually applied for breast augmentation surgery, which may be administered by an anesthesiologist or a registered anesthetist nurse. After the surgery is complete, the patient will be brought out of anesthesia.
Grogginess, nausea and other mild side effects may linger on for a few hours, after which the patient is usually allowed to go home. She should, however, have someone responsible to drive her back home and preferably have someone stay over for the first one or two days to assist with the household chores.
Placing the Incisions
After anesthesia, the surgeon will place discreet incisions in pre-determined locations, which could be below the breast crease, or around the areolar circumference. The surgeon will place the incisions in such a way as to keep the subsequent scars well-hidden.
The size and location of incisions will be determined at the time of advance surgical planning. The patient’s breast anatomy, the choice of implant type and size, and the patient’s personal aesthetic goals will be taken into account. Patient’s feedback will be taken at every step during the breast augmentation plastic surgery planning process.
Implant Placement
The surgeon may place the breast implants under the pectoral muscle or in front of the pectoral muscle immediately behind the breast tissue. The implant placement will be decided after assessing the implant size and considering the unique breast anatomy of the patient. The pros and cons of each placement option will be informed to the patient to help her make a well-considered choice.
Wound Closure
Once the implant placement and adjustment is done, the surgeon will close the incisions with dissolvable sutures. No temporary drain tubes are needed in Dr. Bloom’s breast augmentation procedures. The patient will be advised to keep the incision areas clean and dry to minimize infection risks.
Bandages and Surgical Bra
The incision areas will be wrapped in bandages after the surgery to protect the wound. The bandages will be replaced in a day or two with a special surgical bra, which should be worn for several weeks. Committed and judicious cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bloom receives patients from Chicago, IL, Hinsdale, IL and Elk Grove Village, and nearby areas for breast augmentation and various other procedures.