Breast Implants Before And After Photos

It’s entirely up to you – you can choose to stay overnight, or go home the day of your surgery. You’ll need someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours. When you leave hospital, you’ll be given prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication to minimise any discomfort.

You’ll see Dr Hunt three to four days after surgery. At this time, he’ll check on your progress and teach you how to massage and exercise your breasts.

You can resume light activities within 48 hours, and regular activities within a week. However, you must not undertake any strenuous activities for four weeks, and do any chest or weight exercises for six weeks, at which point you will be fully recovered. You’ll experience the most discomfort in the first 24 to 48 hours after your surgery. During this time your breasts will be swollen and tender, although this will settle quickly. Waterproof dressings are applied at the time of surgery – so you can shower immediately. You can remove the dressings over your incisions after three days. Most bruising will also fade within the first five or six days.

Recovery times vary from woman to woman, however most of Dr Hunt’s patients require around one week off work depending on the physical demands of your workplace.

In my practice, breast augmentation really falls into three patient groups:
1. Primary breast augmentation mammoplasty
Primary breast augmentation mammoplasty will be performed for patients who may lack volume in their breast tissue and are looking for a fuller cup size.
2. Post pregnancy/post weight loss breast augmentation mammoplasty
In these patients, due to changes in the shape of the breasts and change in volume following pregnancy, breastfeeding and childbirth or weight loss, they are looking to restore potentially what they previously had.
These patients may also elect to restore more volume than they had previously to achieve a bigger cup size.
In these patients, consideration needs to also be given to whether a breast lift mastopexy in combination with an augmentation mammoplasty will achieve the best result and in these cases, an augmentation mastopexy or breast lift with implant will be the treatment of choice.
3. Breast asymmetry/congenital breast disease
Everybody understands that no two breasts are the same in terms of size and shape but in some instances, the differences can be clinically significant. The patients who experience a marked different in the size and shape of the breasts may have difficulty fitting clothes and swimsuits and are unable to enjoy the things that a lot of women take for granted. In cases such as this, their medical condition can be corrected with the use of breast implants to restore volume in a smaller breast and potentially combined with a breast-lift or reduction on the larger side to create two breast mounds that are the same size and shape.

Options exist for different locations for placement of the incision to allow positioning of the breast implant. The most commonly used incision is in the fold under the breast, known as an inframammary fold. Other options to consider are placing the implant via an incision in the armpit, around the nipple or through the umbilicus or tummy button and each of these will have advantages and disadvantages.

A round implant has more fullness in the upper pole and an anatomic implant has a more tear drop shape. When used in appropriate patients, these implants can create different results and this needs to be discussed with your surgeon.

Patients seeking volume in the upper pole will be well suited with a round implant, whereas patients who have a lack of breast shape and definition will be better suited with an anatomic or tear drop shaped implant.

Silicone implants are more commonly used these days than saline implants. In the past, saline implants were used when silicone implants were being investigated, as they were thought to be associated with a number of disease conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome. At this stage, there is no scientific evidence to support any link of a disease to a silicone implant and given this, they have made a widespread return and are the most commonly used implant in Australia.

When it comes to choosing an implant, a saline implant or a silicone implant offer options. In the past, saline implants were the only implants available until silicone implants were developed. Silicone implants are now on the fifth generation and in many surgeons’ hands provide a superior product, achieving superior results. For patients who are concerned about the use of silicone, they do need to be mindful that the shell of the saline implant is in fact made of silicone.

Breast Implants come in volumes ranging from 100 cc to 800 cc in Australia. Different volumes will create different results on different patients’ frames. During the consultation, we will assess which volume of implant is best suited to you, using an implant sizing system so that you can have an understanding of what to expect from your augmentation mammoplasty.

I offer the procedure of breast augmentation in a fully accredited hospital, under a general anaesthetic. This aims to ensure maximum safety and the best outcome for the patient.

The procedure is often performed as a day surgery procedure and takes approximately one to two hours. In terms of recovery, patients will need to consider taking the remainder of a week off work to allow tissue to settle and the healing process to start. Following this, they can plan to return to normal activities with a view to returning to sporting activities at approximately six weeks.

Following the procedure, it is very important that patients return for postoperative care. We will instruct them on implant massage, pain relief and scar management to ensure they achieve the best result possible.

Local anaesthetic is used to minimise postoperative pain and nerve blocks are placed at the time of the procedure to ensure patients have a rapid recovery. Patients can expect discomfort on the first few days after the operation and then a return to light duties following this. A postoperative compression garment will be provided at the time of the operation and is used to minimise swelling and speed the recovery process. Adequate postoperative instructions will be provided, as will contact details to ensure if anyone has any queries following their procedure, they can easily and quickly be answered by my office.

Having a breast augmentation mammoplasty is a big decision and patients often spend many months researching the procedure before booking their initial consultation. Once you have made the decision to have breast surgery, you may be interested to understand what steps you’ll have to take before and after the procedure. No matter what surgery you’re having, all patients need to have an initial consultation to discuss exactly what procedure they want and what they expect to achieve from the surgery. Dr Hunt considers the initial consultation as a very personal experience and it involves sitting down with the patient to ascertain exactly what the patient wants. Following this, Dr Hunt will formulate a surgical plan.

The procedure will be performed in a fully accredited hospital under anaesthetic given by a fully accredited anaesthetist. In most instances, the surgery will be a day surgery procedure with the patient returning home the same day. Once back at home, patients will be given clear instructions on what to do and what not to do and we anticipate they will probably need a week off work. Following this, they will need a postoperative appointment to asses how they’re healing, and they may be able to return to work depending how physical/manual their job may be.

6 weeks after surgery, the majority of patients will be back to full activities, including physical exercise, and be able to enjoy the results of their breast augmentation. Follow-up does need to be maintained and we do recommend that the implants are reviewed at the 10-year mark to make sure they are functioning as they should and that the patient is still happy with the result.

Many people have the impression that breast implants need to be changed after 10 years, but this is not necessarily the case. Like all products, there will be a life on the breast implant. After 10 years, it is advised that the implants are reviewed by a professional to check they are still intact and that the results of the breast augmentation are still the best they can be. If there are no problem with the implants at 10 years then they do not need to be changed and further monitoring can be undertaken.

When a breast implant is inserted, it does not disrupt the connections between the breast tissue and the nipple, ensuring the milk ducts can still function. This means that people with breast implants should be able to breastfeed as freely as those who do not have breast implants. However, the incision used to insert the breast implant, particularly incisions around the nipple can decrease the ability to breastfeed to some degree.

A breast implant can be placed in front of or behind the pectoralis (pec) muscle. If the implant is placed in front of the muscle, it is more visible and this can create a certain look that some patients like. If the upper part of the implant is to be more subtle, it can be hidden underneath the pectoralis muscle. Placement under the muscle involves dividing some muscle fibers. This can be more uncomfortable in the first 2 weeks following the procedure, but the long-term benefits are worthwhile for patients who choose this option.

Recently, a number of women have experienced symptoms ranging from tiredness to rashes and a feeling of un-wellness that has then been related to their breast implants. At this stage, there is no scientific link between breast implant illness and breast implants. However, it has been found that women who have some symptoms, can be relieved by the removal of their implants. Further investigation needs to be done to clarify exactly what the association is between these symptoms and implants, and we hope to be able to provide a clearer picture in the short-term.

Implants do have a lifespan and they do need to be observed to ensure that they are functioning properly. For Dr Hunt’s patients he suggests that self-examination is the first step and if you note a change in the size, shape or position of the implant, you should seek a surgical opinion.

Following this, an ultrasound is a simple test to assess whether an implant is leaking or is ruptured, though it is not as sensitive or specific as an MRI scan. MRI scans remains the gold standard for assessing whether an implant is ruptured or leaking and is quite often the test of choice for patients who are trying to assess whether their implants removal or not.

In Summary

Breast augmentation mammoplasty remains one of the most commonly performed procedures in Australia. The fact that it is frequently performed does not mean that it is a straightforward ‘cookie cutter’ procedure and each operation needs to be tailored to an individual. This process begins at the time of the consultation and is carried through to the surgical procedure itself and through the postoperative period, to ensure my patients achieve the best results possible in the short term and the long term. The goal of the procedure would be two breast mounds of the same size and shape with intact sensation that allows patients to fulfil all of their expectations.

The best way to determine the right breast implant size for you is to book a consultation with a top plastic surgeon. The surgeon will take into account your lifestyle, anatomy, and aesthetic goals to determine the right size for you. Surgeons typically use 3D imaging to help you understand how you will look post-surgery.

The most popular implant size in Australia is in the range 300 to 400 ccs. On most patients, it will look like a small to large C-cup. It doesn’t mean that you have to get this size. Implant size is a very personal choice.

You will have to book a consultation with a surgeon. The surgeon will take into account your lifestyle, anatomy, and aesthetic goals to determine the right size for you. Moreover, surgeons use 3D imaging and breast implant sizers to determine the look and ensure it works with your lifestyle.

Generally speaking, one breast cup size is about 175cc, but the results can vary based on the type of implant, texture, placement, and body anatomy.

Generally, 250 to 350 cc make a B cup size. This is just a general idea. The sizes can vary based on the type of implant, body anatomy, incisions, and texture.

Generally, 350 to 400 cc make a C cup size. This is just a general idea. The sizes can vary based on the type of implant, body anatomy, incisions, and texture.

Silicone implants produce the most natural look and feel of breasts.

There was a wide recall by TGA of heavily textured implants, and the use of these implants was suspended, then banned. However, not all textured implants were banned, but rather those belonging to the brand Allergan.

Mentor and Motiva breast implants are the leading suppliers of breast implants used in Australia. Other brands you may find in Australia include Nagor, Polytech, Allergan, Eurosilicone, Sebbin and Silimed. (and old McGann & PIP implants)

• Breast Fat Transfer
• Breast Reduction Mammaplasty
• Breast Lift Mastopexy
• Breast Reconstruction
• Breast Asymmetry
• Tuberous Breast Correction
• Breast Implant Revision
• Breast Implant Removal
• Breast Implant Replacement
• Inverted Nipple Correction