Gallery

Before the surgery [View with PicLens]

After the surgery [View with PicLens]

Your surgery at a glance

• Stay in Tunisia:7 nights = 3 nights at the clinic + 4 nights at the hotel.
• Hospital stay: 3 nights (1night before + 2 nights after the surgery)
• Surgery length: 1 hour
• Anesthesia: general.
• Side Effects: temporary pain, bruising, swelling, temporary numbness.
• Risks: hematoma, seroma, infection, bad scarring, asymmetry, capsular contracture, rippling.
• Recovery: 7 to 10 days
• Result: 12 weeks until final result, scars continue to improve over 18 months.

Information about Breast Enlargement Abroad with Breast Implants

What is Breast Enlargement?

Breast enlargement surgery, also called augmentation mammoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure to increase the size of breasts. Augmentation mammoplasty will also correct slight sagging of the breast and can increase breast firmness. It involves surgical placement of an implant behind each breast to increase its volume and enhance its shape.

Is Breast Enlargement right for you?

• You may wish to consider augmentation mammoplasty if you feel your breasts are smaller than you would like or are out of proportion with the rest of your body.
• Possible reasons for having a breast augmentation are underdevelopment during puberty, loss of volume after pregnancy, difference in size between the two breasts and loss of breast size after losing weight.
• Breast augmentation can be performed at any age after the breasts are fully developed.
• A good candidate for breast enlargement is emotionally mature, understands her personal motivations and has realistic goals for the procedure.
• Following breast enlargement, it may be easier to find clothing that fits you well, and you may feel more confident about your appearance.

Your Breast Enlargement Consultation

During your consultation, your surgeon will ask you for a general medical history and the details of any previous breast surgery.
Successful breast augmentation surgery begins with careful planning to meet your particular goals. There are several decisions to be made:

• the choice of the incisions
• the choice between saline and silicone implants.
• the choice between round and anatomical (teardrop-shaped) breast implants.
• the positioning of the implants.
• the size of your breast implant.

Additional Information about Breast Augmentation Abroad with Breast Implants

Breast Augmentation Options

Choice of incision

Incisions are made in inconspicuous area to minimize visible scarring. Three approaches to the operation using a different incision for each can be used:

• Peri-areolar incision made around the nipple.
• Sub mammary – incision: in the fold under the breast.
• Axilliary incision in the armpit.

Each approach has advantages and drawbacks. Your plastic surgeon can discuss these with you the most appropriate approach for you.

Types of breast implants

Breast implants have a silicone shell that is filled with either silicone gel or salt-water.

• Shell : Implant shells can be smooth or rough.
  Smooth shelled implants are easy to insert but have a disadvantage of being more likely to develop a capsular contracture (20-50%). The textured shelled implants were invented to combat the problem of capsular contracture. The current implants with textured shells have a much smaller risk of capsular contracture (1-5%).
• Shape: The shape of the implant also varies. Some varieties are round whilst some are made in a teardrop or “anatomic” shape that more closely resembles the natural shape of a breast. Your plastic surgeon can discuss the advantages of each with you.
• The Filler : A breast implant may be filled with silicone gel or salt water.
  - The silicone gel implants available today are constructed of a “cohesive” gel that feels, looks and moves much like normal breast tissue. Unlike older silicone implants, these “new” silicone implants do not leak throughout the body or deflate if ruptured. Cohesive gel filled implants are most commonly used now.
  - The saline filled implant is readily available .They are known to be safe. However, they are not as durable and deflation of the implant is one of the potential risks.
  - The pros and cons of various types of implants and their sizes will be discussed at the time of consultation.

Choice of breast implant placement

Breast Implants can be placed either under the breast tissue or under the muscle of the chest wall (pectoral muscle). The placement depends on your pre-existing breast shape and size, the amount of tissue in your upper chest, the amount of physical activity you do and the size of implant you wish to have. Excellent results can be achieved with the use of both placements but each has certain limitations. This will be discussed with you and the appropriate choice determined at the time of consultation.

Preparation for Breast Enlargement Surgery

Smokers will be asked to stop smoking 2 weeks before surgery. Aspirin and some anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for 2 weeks before surgery.

Breast Enlargement Operation

• Breast augmentation is carried out under general anaesthesia, lasts 1½ hours and requires 1 night in hospital. Implants are usually inserted through incisions around the areola. Alternatively, the incisions may be made in the inframammary fold or in the armpit.
• After making the incision around the areola, the surgeon creates a pocket for the implant either beneath the breast tissue or beneath the muscle on which the breast lies. The incision is then sutured with dissolving stitches and covered with simple dressings.
• This is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures and has high patient satisfaction and low complication rate.

After Breast Enlargement Surgery

• After surgery the breasts will be tender and swollen for a few days and it is advisable to limit the arms movements and take the painkillers prescribed.
• It is necessary to wear a non-under-wired support bra, worn day and night for 4 weeks and avoid vigorous exercise for the same period.It is prudent to avoid aspirin/ibuprofen in the pre and postoperative period.
• You should be able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks of surgery.

Breast Enlargement risks and possible complications

All surgery inevitably carries some uncertainty and risk, however they are small and infrequent.. Breast augmentation is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed each year, and it can be done very safely.

• Haematoma (a collection of blood under the breast) may occur in the post operative period. Should this happen, it may necessitate a return to the operating theatre but this would not affect the long-term outcome. The risk of such bleeding is less than 3%.
• Seroma refers to the accumulation of fluid (serum) around the implant, post-operatively. It tends to be the watery part of the blood which is not expelled or absorbed. In many cases, seroma resolves itself when it is eventually reabsorbed by the body, but if seroma persists it is usually first treated with aspiration.
• Infection with breast augmentation is fortunately very rare (around 2%) and will exhibit itself by swelling and redness appearing up to three weeks after surgery. Should this complication occur, it would mean the removal of the implant and the infection allowed to clear before the re-insertion of a new implant. Changes in nipple or breast sensation occur in approximately 15% of breast augmentation surgery, although they are usually temporary.

• Capsular contracture: When a breast implant is inserted, a scar capsule forms around it as part of the natural healing process. The capsule may sometimes tighten and compress the implant, causing the breast to feel firmer than normal. Capsular contracture can occur to varying degrees. If it is severe, it can cause discomfort or changes in the breast’s appearance. In such cases, more surgery may be needed to modify or remove the scar tissue, or perhaps remove or replace the implant. The risk of capsular contracture occurring varies widely and is not possible to predict. With modern textured implants, the risk is as low as 3% but may be significantly higher.
• Asymetry: Most women have some degree of asymmetry between breasts and breast augmentation may occasionally exaggerate this difference. Implant movement may occur, resulting in asymmetry of the breasts.
• Scarring: can be unpredictable and thick, stretched scars may result. Most of these can be treated well by steroid injections and silicone sheet application.
• Wrinkles or ripples: in the surface of the implant can be visible or palpable in thin women, and this may necessitate a change in implant type or location.
• Deflation, leak or Rupture: can occur as a result of trauma to the chest, but more commonly it occurs spontaneously with no apparent cause. Surgery will be required to replace the implant, if desired.
• Replacement: Breast implants are not lifetime devices and cannot be expected to last forever; revision surgery, including explantation and replacement, may be needed at any time.

Medical management of any of the complications described above may include explantation. You can help to minimise certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after your surgery.

Breast Enlargement Frequently Asked Questions

• Pregnancy/breastfeeding - After having this procedure there is no problem regarding pregnancy either for the mother or the child, but it is advisable to wait for six month safter surgery. Breastfeeding is still possible in most cases.
• Implants and breast cancer - To our knowledge at present we can affirm that breast implants, including those filled with silicone, do not increase the risk of breast cancer.
• How long will the implants last ? - Although it is true that some patients can keep their implants for decades without major changes, an implant, whether filled with silicone gel or saline, cannot be said to last for a specific time, this is not a permanent life-long prothesis. It is impossible to predict the life-span of an implant. This means that no guarantee can be given regarding their life-span. It should be noted however that the new generation implants are far more hardwearing and reliable. The notion of replacement after ten years is no longer justified, they only need to be replaced if a problem is detected, or the patient wishes to change their size or shape or to correct ptosis

Your New Look after Breast Enlargement/Augmentation/Implants Surgery Abroad

If you went into breast augmentation with realistic expectations, you’ll most likely be very pleased with your results. Most procedures produce beautiful, natural-looking breasts. Many patients experience a boost in their self-image. Though breast augmentation provides long-lasting enhancement, it is important to remember that issues such as age, genetics and weight fluctuation can change the size, shape and position of even enhanced breasts over time.