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Why Consider Breast Augmentation

NorthEast Plastic Surgery’s team of highly experienced surgeons and nurses produce excellent surgical results from breast augmentation procedures at their Brisbane practice.

Patients most commonly seek breast augmentation to balance chest and hip proportions.

Breast enlargement increases size of the breasts and optimises their shape. Many different types of implants are used, most of which are filled with silicone with a variable surface texture and outer shell. Breast augmentation may restore aesthetic body proportions in those who have underdeveloped breasts or who have lost breast volume after pregnancy, breast feeding, experienced significant changes in weight or hormonal fluctuations. It is also effective in addressing breast volume asymmetry in those who have developmental or post-mastectomy (breast removal) deformity.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Consultation

Patients should seriously consider the significant adjustment following a change in appearance in addition to the process of post-operative recovery before making the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery.

Aims

At our Brisbane Practice, a consultation will be undertaken to determine your desired outcome. The surgeon will identify potential limitations to breast augmentation surgery which can include; skin quality, breast ptosis (sagginess), breast volume, and chest wall soft tissue cover.

During the consultation, the Surgeon will cover issues which need to be considered before undergoing surgery. These may include:

  • Desired breast size – While this is a very individual decision, it is critical that the desired breast size is determined as accurately as possible pre-operatively as ‘under-sizing’ may result in disappointment and ‘over-sizing’ may lead to feelings of self-consciousness. During pre-operative consultations, crop top exercise bras and appropriate sized implants will be discussed and trialled to complement the desired aesthetic outcome and individual body morphology.
  • Implant shape – Breast implants vary from round to tear drop in shape and their suitability depends on numerous variables including your desired aesthetic outcome following surgery. Your surgeon will discuss this with you and show you pre and post-operative images to illustrate the different cosmetic outcomes achievable with different implant shapes.
  • Implant type – Currently, cohesive silicone gel implants are most frequently used in breast augmentation as saline implants may result in a worse aesthetic outcome over time. Evolving implant technology has led to the surface of the silicone gel implants being variable in nature. The significance of this will be discussed during the consultation with your Surgeon as it impacts directly on the implant selection you choose.
  • Implant position – Breast implants can be positioned sub-glandular (behind the breast), sub-pectoral (behind the pectoralis major muscle), or dual plane (a combination of the two methods). Each method produces a different aesthetic outcome, especially in patients who have breast ptosis (sagginess) of the breast. Some patients may also consider a breast lift procedure as part of their augmentation to achieve the look they desire. This will be discussed at the consultation.
  • Scar – An inframammary approach (inserted via incisions placed in the fold under the breast) is the most commonly used incision. Incisions can also be made at the junction of the areolar and breast skin (periareolar) or through the axilla (transaxillary).

Cost

In Australia, surgeons are strongly discouraged from advertising a set price for a medical procedure. This is in line with the Guidelines for advertising of regulated health services by the Australian Medical Board. For this reason, we do not include a cost per procedure on our website.

Part of your consultation with our surgeons will be dedicated to discussing the cost of your procedure, where you will be given a personalised quote for your procedure.

We are happy to provide approximate costs for out of pocket costs before your initial consultation including any applicable Medicare rebate. We are available by phone on 07 3180 3400 or via enquiry through our website.

Consultation Cost

There is a cost for an initial consultation at our Brisbane clinic, with the potential to receive a portion of this back via Medicare where eligible for rebate, provided you have a referral from your GP.

Past Medical History

At the consultation, the surgeon must be informed of the following:

  • a tendency for easy bruising and excessive bleeding
  • deep venous clots involving the legs
  • all prescription and non-prescription medication
  • allergies to anaesthetic agents, antibiotics and dressings
  • family medical history including breast cancer history
  • past or future planned pregnancies
  • breastfeeding history
  • breast imaging with mammography and ultrasound studies
  • history of smoking
  • psychological or psychiatric issues.
  • previous surgeries
  • history of scarring
  • significant medical history including breast cancers

It is vitally important that the surgeon is made aware of these, or other material information before undergoing surgery. Each has the potential to affect the surgery, anaesthesia, and recovery.

Pre-operative Management

Your surgeon may require you to undergo further tests to ensure you are a suitable candidate for the surgery and general anaesthesia.

Before surgery, your surgeon will also inform you of certain medications to avoid two weeks prior to and after surgery, including:

  • Aspirin
  • Oral contraceptive pill
  • Medication containing blood thinning agents
  • Herbal medications such as Garlic, Ginseng, Ginko, Arnica, Fish and Krill oil
  • Disprin
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as Nurofen

If you’re a smoker, you will be required to stop smoking six weeks before and after surgery to minimise the risk of surgical wound complications and anaesthesia. Products containing nicotine, such as patches and gum, can also affect wound healing and should be ceased two weeks prior to and after surgery.

Breast Augmentation Surgery

The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic administered by a Specialist Anaesthetist in an accredited hospital. The incision is made through inframammary incision. NorthEast Plastic Surgery chooses not to administer twilight sedation (sedation without losing consciousness), as this has been found to cause adverse clinical outcomes. Expected scarring will be discussed prior to surgery.

Internal dissolving stitches are used to close the wound. Drainage tubes may be required to drain tissue fluid and blood.

Post-surgery, a waterproof dressing will be applied (which can be used while showering) and a tubigrip (boob tube) applied to minimise soft tissue swelling.

Recovery Period

It is important that access to medical attention is available by telephone once you have been discharged. Issues about which your surgeon needs to be made aware urgently include pain uncontrolled by medication, bleeding to the extent that the dressings soak through with blood, temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, redness of the skin or any concerns related to the surgery.

Patients are typically discharged on the same day to the care of a responsible adult. It’s very important you take the prescribed pain medication and antibiotics at this time to control your levels of discomfort and reduce the risk of infection.

You will need to notify the surgeon immediately if you experience temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, bleeding to the extent that the dressings soak through with blood, pain not controlled by the medication, redness of the breast skin or any concerns related to the surgery.

In general, swelling and bruising increase over the first three to five days and improve between five to ten days. In some instances, it may take several months for the soft tissue swelling to subside completely. During this period the sensation of the breast skin and nipples may be affected but it typically returns to normal over a few months, although permanent loss of nipple sensation can occur in a small percentage of patients (approximately one to two percent).

During post-operative visits, your dressings will be changed as appropriate. Wound healing will generally take approximately two weeks to achieve. During this period, movement should be undertaken with care to assist the wound healing process. Driving a motor vehicle can typically commence when you have ceased pain medication which is usually one week after surgery; strenuous exercise can be resumed at around six to eight weeks. It is important to avoid accidentally hitting or knocking the site for six weeks after surgery. Return to work can be anticipated after two to three weeks.

NorthEast Plastic Surgery will provide instructions on swelling and scar management strategies such as low level laser therapy, massage, taping and silicone gel sheeting during post-operative consultations.

Every patient scars differently. Your surgeon will make every attempt to minimise the size and visibility of your breast augmentation scar.

Due to soft tissue swelling, the final result of breast augmentation surgery may not fully visible for many months after surgery.

Risks

While risks are infrequent, your surgeon will inform you of the potential risks and complications of surgery in general, and of your specific procedure.

Risks common to all operations include problem scarring such as keloid or hypertrophic scars, wound complications including infection and breakdown, haematoma formation (bleeding) or seroma formation (tissue fluid collection), as well as the risk of further surgery to address such complications.

Risks specific to breast augmentation surgery include changes in nipple sensation, capsular contracture, implant failure/rupture and asymmetry.

Informed Consent

Consent should only be given after having the opportunity to have your questions and concerns addressed by your surgeon at the culmination of the consultation process. The consent process will also include a discussion of the cost of surgery and the potential for revisional surgery.

Second Opinion

Mr Patrick Tansley MD FRCS (Plast) and Dr Sugitha Seneviratne FRACS (Plast) provide second opinion to patients seeking to address previous cosmetic plastic surgery problems and revisions for already ‘botched’ surgery. If you would like a second opinion on previously undertaken surgery, book a consultation to discuss this with one or both of our surgeons.

Before & After Photos

As the privacy of our patients is of the utmost importance to us, we do not provide before and after photos on our website. You will be shown a number of before and after images during your private consultation to illustrate the potential outcomes of surgery. These images have been provided by previous patients who have consented to their private use.

contact us

E: brisbane@northeastplasticsurgery.com.au
T (07) 3180 3400
F (07) 3180 3401
P 0411865055
(paging service for after hours emergencies only)

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NorthEast Plastic Surgery
Wickham House
Level 1 155 Wickham Terrace
Spring Hill
Brisbane
Queensland 4000

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