Possibilities of plastic surgery in breast correction

Dmitry Slosser, plastic surgeon, head of the Plastic Surgery Center at the Oberig universal clinic (Ukraine, Kiev)

What is cell involution

We often hear the phrase “young, blooming organism.” But not everyone knows what exactly is meant by the word “youth.” A young organism is an organism whose cells are constantly dividing, old ones are replaced by new “building blocks”, and this process proceeds continuously, without failures. For example, a human kidney is renewed one hundred percent in three years, the gastric mucosa - in less than ten days. But scientists have found that, unfortunately, this biological technology does not last forever.

Closer to thirty years, the body's systems begin to exhaust their resources and fail. Cellular elements gradually stop developing and begin to degrade. The process of biological regression of cellular systems is called “involution”. This term is used in a very wide range of descriptions of reverse development processes. But in general, its essence is the same - the aging process.

Each silicone implant comes with a lifetime warranty. But, despite this, you should not forget about periodic visits to a plastic surgeon.

Cell involution is not the name of a pathology or disease, but only a label assigned to the process of cellular degradation of the body with age. At the same time, its speed depends not only on age, but also on living conditions. And in some cases, cell involution can be slowed down or its external negative manifestations can be hidden for a very long time with the help of plastic surgery.

Breast involution

The most problematic areas in women after the onset of involutionary processes in the body are the face and chest. The glandular functional elements of the mammary glands are degenerated into new types of tissue. The start of the process most often occurs in the lower hemisphere of the chest. The involution of functional tissues in this area occurs faster than in the upper parts of the mammary glands. The layer of subcutaneous fat thickens, and the functional elements of the breast gradually degenerate, which leads to an inevitable reduction in their percentage mass.

In total, there are two main types of breast involution.

Fat involution. In this case, the lobules of glandular tissue are displaced by fatty cell masses growing between them. Subsequently, the gland is completely replaced by adipose tissue, which is accompanied by thinning of the pectoral cords.

Fibrous involution. In this case, the glandular tissue is completely replaced by connective tissue. The proliferation of fat cells is mild. The fibrous type of breast involution is much less common than the fat type.

In addition, there is the so-called post-lactation involution of the breast. Its cause is a shift in the hormonal background of a woman who is breastfeeding. You can return the beautiful, firm shape that your breasts had before childbirth with mammoplasty.

Symptoms and course of involutional processes

Self-examination does not always reveal symptoms of breast involution. Changes in the structure of the breast are detected using special equipment and only by a specialist who can correctly read x-rays. Fat involution on them looks like this: the mammary glands will be too light in the picture, milk ducts, blood vessels and strands of connective tissue will begin to stand out against the background of the formed fat cell masses. But do not panic, since breast involution occurs in all women and is not always pathological.

The initiation and speed of the process of degradation of the mammary glands depends on age, hormonal levels and other factors in each individual clinical case. The largest percentage of women whose breasts are already subject to involutional processes are women over forty years old. This process is the body’s preparation for the onset of menopause.

The nature of fibrofatty involution is absolutely natural and does not imply any diseases or inconveniences, other than psychological discomfort. True, if breast degradation began in a young female body due to feeding a child or injury, the negative psychological effect can be quite noticeable. Today it is possible to get rid of it and restore beautiful, youthful breast shapes thanks to the achievements of plastic surgery.

Mammoplasty as a means to restore youthful breasts

Beautiful breasts were considered one of the most important signs of beauty, health and perfection at all times. But, as we found out above, nature has measured out a very short period of time for our perfection.

It has been scientifically proven that endoprostheses do not cause the development of breast cancer, so any statements to the contrary are groundless.

Today there is a reliable and safe way to restore femininity, sexuality and beauty - aesthetic mammoplasty. At the moment, operations of this type are the most popular in plastic surgery. In addition, over the past decade, the procedure has become much safer, and the injection method of breast enlargement has given way to more reliable changes in its size and giving a stable shape with the help of implants. Their use makes it possible to restore youth and self-esteem to women whose breasts are subject to involution processes or are disfigured by injury. Correction of the shape of mammary glands with ptosis, concomitant tissue atrophy, tubular forms and the solution of many other problems is a reality today.

Main types of breast correction

To the envy of the beauties of antiquity, who were forced to use only the time allotted to them by nature, modern women have access to the following types of mammoplasty:

• Possibility to increase breast size. The most popular plastic surgery today. This type of plastic surgery allows you to obtain the required size and shape of the mammary gland. At the same time, the consequences of the operation are almost invisible, and the woman’s appearance is significantly improved. It should also be noted that augmentation surgery does not affect the ability to breastfeed.
• Changing the shape and contours of the breast. Quite a popular operation. Its essence is to change the appearance of the mammary glands by removing excess skin or stretching it over the implant. It is used to achieve beauty and attractiveness by acquiring a new geometric shape. The operation does not interfere with future breastfeeding of the child.
• Breast lift and size reduction. During this type of mammoplasty, the surgeon needs to make several more incisions than in other cases. Beautiful breasts of the same size are the result of the procedure. Often after it, women experience pain in the neck and back, and the appearance of the mammary glands becomes much better and is in harmony with the rest of the physical characteristics of the body as a whole.
• Correction of areolas and nipples. Plastic surgery after which breastfeeding is impossible. The procedure involves a complete transplant of the nipple-areolar complex. The goal is a beautiful appearance of the specified area.

Modern types of breast implants

Considering that breast implants are the most popular in the plastic surgery market today, their improvement continues constantly. Ten years ago, the quality of implants was not high enough, so patient complaints were common. Today, the level of development of plastic surgery technologies is high enough to minimize possible risks and postoperative discomfort for the client.
Currently, mammoplasty uses modern silicone implants filled with silicone gel of varying degrees of cohesiveness, due to which the operated mammary glands do not feel like twins to the touch, but have their own unique degree of softness. A plastic surgeon will help you choose the optimal implant for each woman.

Profile, shape, purpose – the choice is quite wide

In addition to the material of the implant, its shape is very important. Today there are two main types available:

• round implants designed to add volume to the upper part of the mammary glands in particular and fullness to the breasts in general;
• anatomical, or teardrop-shaped, the task of which is to preserve or restore the natural anatomical shape of the patient’s breast before the onset of its irreversible changes under the influence of involution processes.

Breast implant manufacturing companies produce a very wide range of them. Sizes, profile, surface type - there are so many options that every woman can regain her usual breast shape without any problems. Or even improve them. But remember that the selected size should not be excessive. Otherwise, there is a risk of complications, and the implants will have to be replaced, which can lead to serious surgical problems.

Indications and contraindications for mammoplasty

Any procedure of medical intervention in the body, even for the purpose of restoring attractiveness, has its own indications and contraindications. This rule applies especially strictly in the case of surgical interventions, which include all types of mammoplasty. Therefore, each operation to enlarge the breast or change its shape should begin only after consulting a mammologist.

So, the indications for mammoplasty are the following problems with the mammary glands:

• post-lactation involution of the breast, including due to feeding a newborn;
• restoration of the previous shape of the mammary gland damaged by mastectomy or injury;
• asymmetry, breast reduction, other congenital developmental disorders;
• cosmetic implantation agreed with a plastic surgeon.

Contraindications to the procedure for changing the shape or size of the breast are:

• all types of malignant breast tumors;
• local and general acute inflammatory processes;
• severe disturbances in the functioning of the body, somatic diseases, including diabetes;
• progressive benign breast tumor;
• lack of tissue required to completely cover the implant;
• radiation, peptic ulcer, poor blood supply to previous healed wounds after surgery;
• age up to 18 years, when the formation of the mammary glands is not yet complete.

Thus, we can safely say that if a woman is healthy and wants to change/improve the shape of her breasts, there should be no obstacles to this. Since the reason for turning to a plastic surgeon is the desire to change the appearance of the mammary glands due to the involution process, and it is not a disease, it means that its negative manifestations can be hidden using modern plastic surgery techniques.

A woman's breasts change regularly over a period of five to seven years. Therefore, no specialist can guarantee that after a certain period of time, repeated surgical intervention will not be required to restore beautiful, sexy breasts. The best option would be an annual examination of the condition of the implants by a doctor.

Mammoplasty is a responsible step
Restoring external beauty, sexuality and attractiveness with breast surgery is a serious task. Involutional processes are a good enough reason to use the services of a plastic surgeon. But chasing a “trend”, a momentary impulsive decision to undergo a mammoplasty procedure – no.

Beauty is an individual concept, and to restore it, you need to clearly understand all the risks of this process. The patient must make a firm decision, and then carefully choose a clinic and surgeon, because his professionalism directly affects the final result. A competent specialist will select the best option, make a complete prognosis for the operation together with the patient, and be sure to warn about possible risks and complications of the procedure.

You should not chase far-fetched standards: beauty depends on the totality of external data. For example, a woman with size five breasts and a height of one meter and forty centimeters will not always look beautiful, even if after the operation her mammary glands turned out to be perfect. Remember that beauty is a relative concept that applies to each woman individually.

Postoperative follow-up of patients

Each silicone implant comes with a lifetime warranty. But, despite this, you should not forget about periodic visits to the plastic surgeon. A woman's breasts change regularly over a period of five to seven years. Therefore, no specialist can guarantee that after a certain period of time, repeated surgical intervention will not be required to restore beautiful, sexy breasts. The best option would be an annual examination of the condition of the implants by a doctor.

There are a number of recommendations that will help avoid postoperative complications:

• Firstly, you should not become pregnant for six months. During pregnancy, functional glandular elements begin to actively rearrange and change in size. After six months, the implant does not yet become a familiar part of the body, so discomfort may occur. In addition, hormonal shifts can lead to its rejection. Breastfeeding is not a contraindication, but the process requires more careful care of the nipples.
• For a couple of months it is better to forget about the sauna, fitness club and any serious physical activity.
• Rough physical contact should be avoided during the first few weeks. It should be remembered that the final result of breast formation after mammoplasty will appear no earlier than eight months later.

Possible complications and methods of treating them

Features of the body, non-compliance with medical recommendations, exposure to negative factors can lead to a number of problems, including the following:

• Capsular contracture. The second name is scar capsule. A seal forms around the implant. It requires surgical removal and replacement of the implant with a new one.
• Hematoma. This is a fairly rare occurrence, but if it occurs, emergency surgery and removal of the hematoma is required.
• Domestic trauma. The technology for the production of breast implants includes the possibility of mechanical damage so that the gel does not spread beyond the shell. However, an urgent replacement of the endoprosthesis will be required.
• Infection. It may occur in the postoperative period due to careless care of postoperative sutures. Treatment is antibiotics and, if necessary, removal of the implant.

It has been scientifically proven that endoprostheses do not cause the development of breast cancer, so any statements to the contrary are groundless.

Source: KOSMETIK international journal, No. 2 (56) / 2014