Augmentation Mammoplasty in Poznan

Several procedures fall under mammoplasty: augmentation (volume increase with implants), reduction (excision of extra tissue and skin), mastopexy (lift of sagging breasts), reconstruction (after mastectomy) and asymmetry correction. The right method is chosen for each patient according to her wishes and the surgeon's advice.

As long as all recommendations are kept, complications are rare. Among the possible ones: hematoma or seroma, wound infection, reduced or increased nipple sensitivity, capsular contracture, aesthetic asymmetry, wound separation and tissue necrosis.

Mammoplasty results last a long time: about 10–15 years after augmentation (until implant replacement) and 5–10 years after a lift or reduction. Weight, pregnancy, skin aging and gravity affect how long it lasts. To maintain the result, wear supportive underwear and control your weight.

Whether you can breastfeed after mammoplasty depends on the kind of surgery. After augmentation via an under-breast or armpit incision with the implant placed under the muscle, lactation is usually preserved, since the glandular tissue is not damaged. A lift or reduction carries a higher risk because ducts may be cut. Talk this over with your surgeon beforehand.

Choosing an implant takes into account the material (silicone looks the most natural, saline is used less often), shape (round or anatomical teardrop), surface (smooth or textured), size and profile. Your surgeon will select the best option for your anatomy and wishes.

During the operation the patient is under general anesthesia and feels nothing at all. For the first 1–3 days there may be moderate discomfort, relieved by painkillers. By day 5–7 pain is much lower, and by weeks 2–3 discomfort passes. Report severe pain to your doctor straight away.

Work is possible after 7–14 days, as long as it involves no physical exertion. Take light walks after 1–2 weeks. Fitness and swimming after 4–6 weeks; strength training after 3 months. Pool and sea after 4–6 weeks. Compression garments are worn for 4–6 weeks. Timing depends on your recovery.

Science offers no evidence that mammoplasty increases breast cancer risk. Implants are not a cause of cancer. After the operation, keep having regular screening: self-exams, mammography and ultrasound. Make sure the examining doctor always knows about your implants.

A C-section does not rule out mammoplasty, but full recovery of the body must come first. Wait 6–12 months or more after giving birth and after you stop breastfeeding. Before surgery, you must have a surgeon's consultation and check-up.

There are scars after mammoplasty, though a skilled surgeon keeps them minimal. The incisions go in discreet areas, such as under the breast, around the areola or in the armpit. Early on the scars are reddish, but over 6–12 months they fade and are almost unnoticeable.

It is normal to have slight asymmetry in the first weeks after surgery, because of swelling and uneven healing. If a difference in size or shape persists after 3–6 months, book an examination with your surgeon to find the cause.

Mammoplasty may temporarily alter the sensitivity of the nipples and breasts, making it lower or higher. This is caused by irritated nerve endings. In most cases it recovers within 3–12 months. If you see no improvement after a year, contact your surgeon.

Hormonal medications (contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy) do not act on implants directly, yet they may lead to swelling or shifts in breast tissue volume that affect the look for a while. Make sure your surgeon knows about them before surgery.