How can you make your dream of having beautiful breasts come true?

In the new special issue of the magazine ”IEVAS SKAISTUMS,” Dr. med. Kalvis Pastars, a board-certified plastic surgeon, microsurgeon, and hand surgeon at our center, discusses breast augmentation.

Firm and full breasts are a symbol of femininity that boost self-confidence and instill confidence in one’s appearance, strength, and capabilities. Anyone can fulfill her dream of having beautiful breasts by undergoing breast augmentation. Plastic surgeon Kalvis Pastars explains more.

During your consultation with the surgeon, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to try on silicone breast implants of various sizes in a bra to see how your breasts will look. Don’t be afraid to try on larger sizes as well—experiment and try all sizes to figure out which option is best and most suitable for your body type.

Breast augmentation can restore volume lost after breastfeeding or weight loss, as well as create beautiful breasts if a woman feels they are too small or asymmetrical. I must admit, though, that I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman whose breasts are perfectly symmetrical—everyone has some degree of asymmetry, whether it’s a slight difference or breasts of unequal size. Breast augmentation is also an excellent option for women whose breast volume has decreased after breastfeeding. However, it’s always important to consult with a specialist to determine whether breast augmentation alone is sufficient or if a breast lift is also necessary. This is because sometimes the breast not only loses its shape and firmness but also changes its anatomical proportions. Therefore, the best option is often to combine breast augmentation with implants and a breast lift.

Looking back at history, it must be acknowledged that very large breasts are no longer in fashion. Women are increasingly opting for naturally shaped and naturally sized breasts.

I am very pleased that women are increasingly coming to understand that beauty lies not in size, but in the body's proportions.

IMPLANTS OR FAT?

Silicone implants are the first choice for breast augmentation both worldwide and in Latvia. Technology, materials, and quality have reached such a high level that the risk of complications has been minimized. Therefore, breast augmentation with implants is very safe and yields highly predictable results. Yes, breast augmentation using fat tissue is also possible; in this procedure, fat is extracted from other parts of the body via liposuction, specially prepared, and injected into the breast tissue, but it must be acknowledged that this method is not suitable for all women. If a woman wishes to increase her breast size by several cup sizes, it is very difficult to achieve this with fat injections. A thin woman also does not have enough fat reserves, so silicone implants are the only option. Silicone implants also offer more predictable results. When using fat tissue, predicting the outcome is much more difficult, and it is still not entirely clear how to assess the long-term health of breast tissue, since the injected tissue is not actually breast tissue—it is different. This is worth considering if someone is determined to enlarge her breasts using only fat grafting. I believe that fat grafting is more suitable for correcting breast shape rather than for augmentation. Another problem is that not all of the transplanted fat survives; some of it fails to take and causes additional scarring.

IMPLANTS – SAFE AND PREDICTABLE

There are still women who fear that their bodies won’t accept silicone implants either and that, simply put, the implants won’t take root in their bodies. That’s why I’ll tell you more about implants. Implants are divided into two groups based on their shape: round implants and anatomical implants. Anatomical implants are intended for women who want naturally shaped breasts with a characteristic breast contour. Round implants are more suitable for women who want a fuller upper pole of the breast. When it comes to complications, implant capsular contracture is worth mentioning. A capsule always forms around the implant because it is, after all, a foreign object, and this is a normal bodily reaction. In the past, implant manufacturers tried to prevent this capsule formation; now it is understood that it is better to allow the capsule to form, but in a controlled manner. Leading implant manufacturers have achieved a rate of capsular contracture of less than 1 in 1,000 cases—which is an excellent result. Therefore, returning to the issue of implant rejection, I can reassure everyone: technology has advanced to the point where implant rejection or expulsion no longer occurs. The implanted material is biologically inert, which means it does not react with the body in any way, and the gel’s structure is such that, even if the implant ruptures—which rarely happens with the latest-generation implants— the gel does not leak out but retains its structure and shape. The reasons why an implant might need to be removed are hematoma—when blood accumulates around the implant—and wound infection. These are cases that can be considered implant rejection, but they are very rare.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT?

Before breast augmentation, a complete blood count is usually performed, blood chemistry and blood type are determined, and a urinalysis is conducted. This is standard procedure to ensure that the woman is in good health at the time of surgery. The patient will also need to undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check her heart function. As a woman ages, her risk of developing breast cancer increases, so it is also advisable to undergo a mammogram or breast ultrasound.

Breasts can be enlarged by placing an implant under the breast gland or under the pectoral muscle. Currently, placing the implant under the pectoral muscle is recognized worldwide as the best method, as it provides the best aesthetic results. Sometimes women worry that they will be able to feel the implant when they touch their breast. The good news is that when the implant is placed under the muscle, it cannot be felt, and the breast takes on a naturally beautiful, feminine shape. Implants are placed under the breast gland only in specific cases, such as when the breast has a particular anatomical feature or when the woman participates in physically demanding sports that could affect the implant’s position under the muscle. The surgical scar can be located in three places: around the nipple, in the inframammary fold—the crease where the breast meets the chest wall—or in the armpit. Currently, the incision in the inframammary fold is considered the best option worldwide, as the scar is virtually invisible. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and lasts about two hours. You’ll need to spend the first night in the hospital, but you can go home the next day. Every surgeon has their own surgical techniques, but it’s better to use sutures that need to be removed, as this has been shown to result in a neater scar. The sutures are removed after two weeks.

YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT

Keep in mind that breast swelling may develop after surgery; at first, one breast may look larger and the other smaller. As I like to joke, the breast plays around with its appearance for a while. Although this varies from woman to woman, the final result can be assessed after about three months. During the first week after implant placement, there is some discomfort because the muscle is stretched, so women are advised to spend more time in a bent-over position. Taking pain medication significantly reduces the discomfort. The first few days are simply difficult to get used to—there’s a feeling of pressure on the chest— but then the muscle gradually stretches, takes on its new shape, and within just two weeks, the woman adapts to the implant, gets used to it, and feels very well. A special bra must be worn for the first month. I do not recommend that my patients wear bras with underwires for up to two months, as this can affect scar formation. During the first month, you should also avoid strenuous physical activity, which could affect the implant’s position due to the movement of the chest muscles.

BEAUTIFUL AND CONFIDENT

It used to be believed that implants should be replaced after 10–15 years, but the current view is that they do not need to be replaced. They are replaced only if there is a problem, such as a rupture or the development of capsular contracture. They can also be removed if, over time, a woman decides she no longer wants the implants. However, this happens very rarely, as women are generally very satisfied with their breasts.

I have also met many happy men who are proud of their wives and express their gratitude that their wives are so beautiful and feminine after the surgery. However, a woman should only undergo breast augmentation because she wants it herself, not because her partner wants it, since they are her breasts and she will have to live with them. But everyone will benefit in every way—not because the woman will become sexier, but because she’ll become more self-confident and more satisfied with herself and her body, and consequently happier.

MAYBE JUST LIFT IT?

If the breasts are sagging, a breast lift, or mastopexy, can be performed on its own. This can create an optical illusion that makes the breasts appear larger. A breast lift uses the woman’s own tissue, and by repositioning it within the breast, it makes the breast appear larger. However, it’s important to note that a breast lift results in a larger scar than a breast augmentation alone. A breast lift alone is usually performed on women who have had multiple pregnancies and have breastfed, when sagging is so severe that it is no longer possible to enlarge the breasts with implants and restore their shape. It is also common to combine both a breast lift and breast augmentation with implants.

SOURCE: “IEVAS SKAISTUMS” MAGAZINE”