Breast Surgery in Brisbane

The issue of breast implant safety has been a hot topic throughout the last few decades. As a result, more stringent standards have emerged in order to protect patients. Current breast implant procedures by Dr Goh primarily use silicone shell implants filled with silicone gel.

Safety of Silicone

Special studies have been done and have determined that much higher levels of silicone have been found in cows’ milk and commercially available infant formula than are found in the breast milk of women with implants. The Institute of Medicine concluded that “There is no evidence that silicone implants are responsible for any major diseases of the whole body. Women are exposed to silicone constantly in their daily lives” www.nap.edu.

Rarely, an implant will rupture or leak. The effect of silicone-gel leaking into the body is still being researched, although modern advancements in breast implant technology have come a long way in minimizing the potential side effects of any rupture or leakage. If a silicone implant ruptures, the new cohesive gel should remain within the outer shell and not harm your body. It is hard to detect a rupture so an ultrasound may be necessary if suspected.

Other possible complications from breast implant surgery may include blood clotting or pooling (haematoma), overly sensitive breasts or loss of sensation in the breasts, and capsular contracture (a hardening of the tissues surrounding the implant). Our expert team is dedicated to making your operation a smooth one. We take every precaution necessary to reduce the possibility of any complications.

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Both silicone and saline implants are composed of a silicone outer shell that contains the content of the implant. The difference lies in the content of the two types of implants. Silicone implants are filled with silicone gel, whereas saline implants are inflated to the necessary volume with saline after it is placed in the body. In general, Dr Goh prefers to use silicone implants for breast augmentation procedures since they tend to provide a more natural feel, and is associated with less rippling.

Breast Augmentation is an operation that carries its own set of risks and potential complications. The level of pain experienced from the operation depends on the site of incision and the location of implant placement; however, our staff will ensure that the most appropriate form of pain relief is provided to make your recovery from the procedure comfortable. You may feel somewhat tired and sore for several days following the operation, and your breasts may remain swollen and sensitive for up to a month or longer, although the majority of swelling and bruising tends to subside by two weeks. You may feel tight in the chest as your skin adapts to the new size of your breasts.

After the procedure is complete, you will wake up in the recovery room with a compression bandage over your chest. Medication will be administered to keep any pain and discomfort under control. If you have elected to stay overnight in hospital, you will then be transferred to the ward. On the other hand, if the procedure is been performed as a day case, you can go home accompanied by a responsible adult once you have fully recovered from the effects of the sedation. You will be given antibiotics and pain relief medication to take home. It is important that take your antibiotics as instructed in order to minimize the risk of infection. You should not drive your own vehicle for 24 hours nor consume alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. Dr Goh or a member of his staff will contact you the day after the procedure to check on your recovery process, and to arrange a follow-up appointment, usually one week later.

We prefer you to refrain from smoking for a period before and after your surgery. Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood supply and oxygen carried by the blood to the surgical area. When blood supply is reduced, the tissues heal more slowly.

We encourage you to take it easy and let your body rest and heal for the first week after surgery. It is important not to sweat into the incision while it is healing. Therefore curtail activity and sun tanning until after the incision is healed and sealed. Similarly, during the early recovery period (first one to two weeks), try to avoid a jacuzzi or bath that can soak the incision. If the implants are placed under the muscle, then movement of the arms, especially at the shoulders, should be restricted for the first two or three days. You will find that you will be able to increase the range of motion of your arms a little more each day with decreasing discomfort.

As a general rule, if a particular motion causes you pain or discomfort, then you should refrain from that motion until you feel comfortable with it. Plan in advance before your operation so that strenuous activities can be minimized after your operation. Arrange for friends or family to help with taking care of children or running errands around the house for the first two weeks if you can. We recommend that you refrain from vigorous exercise (eg. aerobics, jogging) until all the bruising has disappeared and the tenderness has gone, usually two to three weeks following your procedure. Walkin is generally recommended to encourage circulation. You should wear good support bras while running to minimize pull on the skin and droopingof the breast. The average time to return to full activites is four to six weeks.

This depends on the type of breast surgery and the location of the incision. Many women with breast implants have successfully breast fed their babies. Current studies indicate that women with breast implants do not have any higher levels of silicone in their milk than women without breast implants. Breast implants can interfere with the ability of some women to breast-feed. The peri-areolar incision site is more likely to affect this ability. During your consultation, Dr Goh will outline the benefits as well as the risks, side effects, and potential complications of the procedure you are interested in.

After breast implant surgery, the breasts may appear higher in the initially period. This is normal, and the implants will drop into a more natural position within the first few weeks. Dr Goh may apply a breast band over the top of the breasts to encourage downward movement of the implants. Alternatively, we may teach you to regularly massage the breasts in a downward direction.

Despite major advancements in breast implant technology, all implants have a limited lifetime, and may need to be removed or replaced sometime in your life. The time period of breast implants can vary from woman to woman. Some women need replacement surgery in only a few years while otheres may go 10-20 years or longer. There are several reasons why a woman might need replacement surgery. Sometimes it is a matter of choice, such as a size change or an implant style change, and sometimes removal and replacement is necessary because of a complication, such as deflation, or shifting of the implant.

After breast implants have been placed in the chest, scar tissue will form around the implants creating a capsule. This is a normal and natural response from your body toward any foreign material. Occasionally, this scar may thicken, tighten, and squeeze on the implant, causing a capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is more common following infection, haematoma, and seroma. It is more common with subglandular placement. Symptoms from this highly unpredictable potential side-effect can range from mild discomfort to pain, visible distortion of the breasts, palpability of the implant, and displacement of the implant. If severe enough, a second operation to release this scar may be required. You should be aware that closed capsulotomy, the practice of forcible squeezing or pressing on the fibrous capsuel around the implant to break the scar capsule, is not recommended, as this may result in breakage of the implant.

No studies have ever shown this to be a concern for humans. There is no evidence that implants cause cancer

Insertion of implants can cause stretch marks but rarely does. If you are concerned, go for a smaller size implant to minimize the stretching of the skin.

General good health is important, not age.

Bigger is not always better when it comes to breast implants. Dr Goh follows the philosophy that the breasts should be proportional to the rest of your body. It should look natural, and should purvey an aura of femininity, youth, and vibrance. Selection of breast implant size need to be balanced between your personal desires and what your chest will allow. Placing implants that are too big for your chest or body will make you look unnatural and disproportional.