Everything You Need to Know About Breast Implants

How are breast Implants inserted?

Breast implants require incisions to insert the implants. the techniques that can be used are:

• Periareolar (incision around the nipple area)
• Trans-axillary (incision under the armpit)
• Inframammary (incision on the crease area, under the breast)

Your plastic surgeon will choose a method of incision depending on his/her expertise, your body, and the size or type of the implant.

Then, the plastic surgeon inserts the implants through the incisions by separating breast tissue from the muscle. Two things will be considered in this stage of the surgery:

• Firstly, breast implants can be placed below the breast tissue/muscles (submuscular) or above them (subglandular).
• Secondly, the type of implants (saline/silicone) should be taken into consideration. Saline implants are just an empty shell when they are inserted into the breasts. It is after inserting the implants that the surgeon fills them with saline solution. Whereas, silicone implants are pre-filled.

We will discuss the difference between the two further in the article. 

After the implantation, the plastic surgeon encloses the incision with dissolvable sutures. The whole procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes; and in most cases, you will be under general anesthesia. usually, patients do not require a hospital stay.

What you need to do before getting breast Implants

A successful breast implant surgery requires taking some precautions beforehand. Follow these instructions to make sure you get a satisfactory breast implant surgery. 

Find a trustworthy, board-certified plastic surgeon 

We cannot emphasize this point enough. The plastic surgeon plays a huge part in delivering the right outcome that is also both aesthetically and physically in your favor. Always ask for before-after photos of their previous surgeries and make sure they are registered as a specialist on a trustworthy platform such as Alomedical. A free consultation with Alomedical experts can help you reach a sound decision.

Consult with your plastic surgeon beforehand

Breast implants come in all shapes, sizes, and textures. You will probably spend huge amounts of money on breast implant surgery. Therefore, you should be well-informed about everything. With an experienced plastic surgeon, you will have nothing to worry about. During the consultation session, you discuss your expectations about the size of your future breasts as well as how you want them to feel or appear in different situations. Your doctor helps you choose the right size that meets your expectations. You will also discuss types (silicone/saline), textures (smooth/textured), and different brands of breast implant. 

Pre-op tips

After the consultation session with the right surgeon, you should follow his instructions strictly. The following are some of the most fundamental pre-op tips to go along with.

• For at least a week before the surgery, avoid blood thinners such as anti-inflammatory drugs, food supplements or natural blood thinners such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, etc.
• Quit tobacco products or alcohol for at least 2 weeks prior to the surgery.
• Buy a sports bra to wear after the surgery
• Arrange for someone to take you to the hotel after the surgery and stay with you for one night at the least.

How to choose a breast implant size?

It is important that you choose a breast implant that is both satisfactory and in proportion to your body. While a breast implant might look large on someone, the same implant could seem smaller on someone with broad shoulders and chest. You can discuss the options with your plastic surgeon and sleep on it. Once you made up your mind about the size of the implant, you are halfway there. You can collect some photos of breast sizes you like and show them to the doctor at the consultation session. Breast implant size is measured with "CC", short for "cubic centimeters". 

The Rice Test

There are several ways you can measure your ideal implant size at home. A common method is known as the rice test. 

1. Take a pair of pantyhose and cut off a strip about 12 inches long (leave the foot part untouched)
2. Tie a knot in the bottom end
3. Fill it with your preferred amount of uncooked rice
4. Tie off the other end
5. Do the procedure twice to make yourself a pair of "sizer implants"

Now you can almost accurately size your ideal implant size. Every 1ml of rice equals 1CC. If you are using a measuring cup, this chart can help you find the right size.

• 1/8 cup rice = 30 cc
• 1/4 cup rice = 59 cc
• 1/3 cup rice = 78 cc
• 1/2 cup rice = 118 cc
• 2/3 cup rice = 156 cc
• 3/4 cup rice = 177 cc
• 1 cup rice = 236 cc

Also, your doctor uses in-clinic sizers to measure the right size of breast implant. In this sizing session, he might also mention a term known as projection. Projection is the distance that the implant projects from the breast. The breast implant projection determines your side profile.

What type of breast implant is better: Silicone or Saline?

There are two types of implants; silicone and saline implants. Both of these implants have almost the same lifespan. Silicone implant needs a little more investment. We think you should decide for yourself. But, if you needed some help with your decision making, just get in touch with our specialists.

A silicone breast implant is a shell made of an inert polymer that is filled with silicone gel. Silicone does not lead to any human-allergies and has a texture similar to a gummy bear. When the breast tissue does not exist due to mastectomy, silicone implants are better options. Silicone breast implants come in two different textures; smooth and textured. Smooth breast implant moves freely beneath the breast tissues and easily imitates the breast's movement. A textured breast implant is more stable and stays more stiffly in place. According to FDA regulations, silicone breast implants are available only to women with the age of 22 or more. 

Advantages:

• Looks and feels natural
• The viscous texture will stick to the inner side of the shell and won't leak

Disadvantages: 

• More expensive
• A ruptured silicone implant demonstrates almost no symptoms. Doctors suggest that regular MRI can help ensure safety.

A saline breast implant has a silicone shell filled with saline. Saline has the consistency of water and as a result, doesn't resemble a natural breast as much as a silicone breast implant does. Women who are 18 years old or more can undergo breast implant surgery using saline implants.

Advantages: 

• More affordable
• Immediately shows signs of rupture and is safer to use

Disadvantages:

• Has the tendency to ripple or wrinkle
• Does not feel or look natural

Which breast implant brand is the best?

Breast implant brands are increasing in number and the competition only benefits breast implant patients. Different companies including Allergan, Hans Biomed, Sientra, and Mentor strive to lower the risks and complications while making their products more affordable. 

Mentor offers a broad variety of silicone and saline breast implants with long-lasting quality and complication rate of only 1%. Many Iranian surgeons entrust the company's guaranteed quality. Fill out this form to find out which type/size of Mentor breast implant suits you best.

should I get breast implants?

Breast implant surgery is the perfect option for you if you are unhappy with your small breasts. It can also benefit you if you have lost your breast tissues as a part of your breast cancer treatment. Furthermore, many women who are on their male to female transition journey, undergo breast implant for men.

However, there are some precautions that shouldn't be taken for granted. Firstly, you should make sure you are less likely to have cancer in the future. Since mammograms will be complicated with implants inside the breasts, the doctor asks about your family's medical history to make sure the risks are low. To get breast implants surgery after cancer, the medical team should make sure your cancer has been adequately treated. Also, you should know that breast implant surgery is not an ideal treatment for breasts with high levels of sagging. These cases should try breast lift surgery along with their breast augmentation surgery. Also, breastfeeding may be challenging after augmentation mammoplasty surgery. Consult with your plastic surgeon if you wish to get pregnant in the future.

Breast Implants in Iran

Breast implants are ranked among the top 5 surgeries performed in Iran. Plastic surgeons are highly experienced in this field and are performing the surgery on more than 200000 patients annually. There are two main reasons that contribute to people flocking to Iran to undergo breast implant surgery. 

High-quality medical service

Iranians are obsessed with providing the best medical service. The country is home to thousands of highly accredited surgeons who are well-known throughout the world. Moreover, Clinics and hospitals offer the latest technologies less known in many other countries.

Cheap prices

You like the idea of performing breast surgery in Iran but the cost of breast implant abroad sounds high, right? You will be surprised! Almost everything in Iran is unbelievably cheap. In most countries, the average cost of breast implants is $3,708. In Iran, the whole package including accommodation in a 5-star hotel and other facilities will cost you only $2,840! Reach out to us today and learn more about our packages.

Breast implants post-op recovery and aftercare

After the breast implant surgery, you are going to experience some soreness or swelling in your breasts and that's completely normal. You should wear compression bandages over the incisions and wear a comfortable sports bra for a few days. You can take a shower after a day following the surgery; ask someone else to wash and do your hair because lifting your arms can damage the incisions. The recovery stage is minimal and in a week, you can leave Iran and get back to work. Healing takes 10 to 15 days long and the scars will fade away gradually. You can get back to moderate sports after 4 to 6 weeks but consult with your physician before doing any rigorous activities.

Risks and side effects

Breast implant surgery, just like any other surgery, is followed by some complications. With the right surgeon and having realistic expectations, the risks can be prevented. Some risks include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Separation of incision
• Persistent pain
• Change in nipple or breast sensation
• Implant rupture or leakage

FAQ

Are breast implants painful?

It is normal to experience some pain and discomfort in your breasts after the surgery. In 2 to 3 days, you can get back to doing daily activities without needing pain medications.

Will breast implants last forever?

Saline or silicone implants don't expire; however, some patients may decide to remove them as a result of complications or cosmetic concerns in 10 to 20 years.

Does breast implants surgery increase the risk of cancer?

No studies suggest that breast implants could lead to cancer. However, some information is available about the possible link between breast implants and ALCL which is a very rare form of breast tissue cancer.

Does breast implants affect breastfeeding or pregnancy?

During breast augmentation surgery, there is no interference with your breast ducts or the areas where milk is produced. However, it also depends on the area of the incision and the techniques utilized in the surgery. If you plan to have babies in the future, let your doctor know.