Breast Augmentation Procedures Detroit

The Basics:

Breast augmentation or breast enlargement is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to improve the size and shape of the breasts. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 300,000 women a year undergo breast augmentation, making it one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. The tremendous popularity is due to the very high rate of patient satisfaction. After breast implant surgery, most women are thrilled with their new appearance and improved self-esteem.

Women choose to have breast augmentation for a variety of reasons. Some feel that their breasts are underdeveloped, sagging, or uneven. Others simply want to increase the size of their breasts to meet their personal aesthetic goals.

Breast augmentation (or augmentation mammoplasty) is usually performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia or IV sedation. During the surgery, a breast implant is placed either directly behind the breast or behind the chest muscle. In some cases, a breast lift (mastopexy) procedure is done at the same time.

Breast implants are made of a silicone shell that is filled with either saline (salt water) or silicone gel. While women from all age groups have breast augmentation, the Food and Drug Administration stipulates that potential patients must be at least 18 years old for saline breast implants. For silicone breast implants, it is recommended that the patient be at least 22 years old.

What breast augmentation surgery won’t do

Breast augmentation does not correct severely drooping breasts. If you want your breasts to look fuller and to be lifted due to sagging, a breast lift may be required in conjunction with breast augmentation.

Breast lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation.

Technique:

Women considering breast augmentation will be delighted to know that the surgery and its recovery can be easier than they ever imagined. The incisions are very small and well-hidden. There is little to no bruising. The recovery is very fast, the risks are minimized, and the results are beautiful and natural-looking.

Procedure

Patients are placed under general anesthesia or IV sedation. A small incision is usually made in the breast crease. He then creates a space or “pocket” into which the breast implant is inserted. The implant is placed either directly behind the breast tissue (sub-glandular) or behind the pectoral muscle (sub-pectoral). A sizer (a temporary implant) is first placed into this pocket to be certain that the selected implant has the desired volume and fit. If not, a different sizer is placed until the desired volume and shape are obtained. After carefully assessing the breast for size, shape, and symmetry, the implant is placed. The incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures and surgical glue. A small gauze dressing and the surgical bra are applied. The surgery usually takes about 1-2 hours.

Key Features of Dr. Lytle’s Technique

• Precise system for selecting implant size
• Gentle surgery with little to no bruising
• Shorter surgery time
• Nerve blocks performed for post-operative comfort
• Rapid, comfortable recovery, most patients feel great within a few days
• No sutures to remove
• No drainage tubes
• No wraps or bandages

Implant Options:

For women having breast augmentation, one of the most important decisions is which breast implant to use. There are two types of breast implants: saline breast implants and silicone breast implants. Both are made of an outer silicone shell. Where they differ is the substance that is inside the implant. Saline implants are filled with a sterile salt-water solution, while silicone implants contain a thicker silicone gel. Both types come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. Each has its own benefits.

Dr. Lytle uses both saline and silicone implants with great success. During your consultation, he will discuss all implant options and help you decide which is best for you.

Saline Breast Implants

• Filled with sterile saline (salt water). Since saline is like normal body fluid, it is safe and easily absorbed if the implants were to leak
• Leaks are easily detected due to implant deflation
• Saline is filled after the breast implant is placed
• The unfilled saline breast implant is able to fit through Dr. Lytle’s extremely small incision (about one inch in length)
• The volume of saline can be adjusted to meet your desired goal or to correct a size difference between the two breasts
• Less expensive than silicone implants
• Rippling may be felt or seen in thin patients but rarely occurs due to placement behind the chest muscle

Silicone Gel Breast Implants

• Look and feel very natural due to silicone gel’s thick, cohesive material that moves and feels like real breast tissue
• New generation of silicone gel implants made by Mentor are far superior to those used in the past and have a proven track record of safety
• Silicone implants are also preferred if there is a need to place implants on top of the muscle
• Unlike saline breast implants which are filled during the surgical procedure, silicone breast implants come pre-filled with gel from the manufacturer’s factory. Because of this, they require a larger incision
• While the cohesive gel material found inside the implant will not migrate into the body if the shell leaks, it may be more difficult to detect a leak
• The FDA suggests that women have periodic MRI scans to ensure that silicone implants are intact
• After two decades of intense study and research, the FDA declared silicone gel breast implants safe and approved their use in the United States.

Dr. Lytle often recommends silicone implants to those women seeking the softest, most natural breasts, especially if they are very thin.

With both saline and silicone breast implants available, Dr. Lytle will use his experience and expertise to help you make the right choice.

Implant Placement:

If you are interested in breast augmentation, you have options in regard to where the breast implant is placed in your chest. Dr. Lytle uses both submuscular and subglandular placement when performing breast augmentation.

There are advantages to each method and depending on your anatomy, including factors such as muscle thickness, original breast size, and skin thickness, we will help you decide which method of placement is right for you.

Subglandular Breast Implant Placement

Subglandular breast implant placement places the implant in front of the chest muscles and behind the breast tissue. This method is normally recommended for women who already have relatively large breasts or for women who participate in fitness competitions. There is an increased risk of rippling.

Submuscular Breast Implant Placement

Submuscular or sub-pectoral placement involves placing the breast implant underneath the chest muscle. Actually, in most cases, the muscle covers approximately two-thirds of the implant. The lower third of the implant is covered by the fascia and breast tissue. Sub-pectoral placement is generally preferred for women with very small breasts or thin skin, as the additional coverage of the muscle will make your breasts appear more natural and reduce the chance of rippling. While Dr. Lytle’s surgical technique will dramatically reduce your recovery time, getting your implants placed below the muscle will still take longer to recover from than a sub-glandular procedure.

There are many pros and cons to each method and finding the appropriate one for your body type and needs are extremely important. Dr. Lytle will leave you as well-informed as possible so that you will know going in what your breast implant placement options are.

Your Consultation:

Patient consultation is one of the most important steps in the plastic surgery process. During this time you would learn more about Dr. Lytle, our practice, and our unique approach toward breast augmentation and other plastic surgery procedures in Detroit. More importantly, we learn about you, your goals, your concerns, and your “likes and dislikes,” so that we can design a plan that is just right for you.

We offer our patients a complimentary consultation so they may learn and explore your options without feeling obligated.

Dr. Lytle encourages you to discuss your concerns and desires freely.  We want you to relax and feel completely comfortable. And we want you to leave the consultation feeling very well informed. Our detailed patient education program will ensure that your consultation is thorough and that your questions are addressed.

For patients considering breast augmentation, we have breast implants available for you to see and feel. We also use a precise sizing system based on your anatomy measurements to help make decisions on implant size.

Dr. Lytle will perform a physical exam to evaluate the size, shape, symmetry, and elasticity of your skin. He will also look at your height, your frame, and your overall proportions.

In addition to meeting with the doctor, you will also visit with his nurse Cindy and his patient coordinator, Kim.  Dr. Lytle’s team is extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

Once you and Dr. Lytle have decided on the ideal surgical plan, it’s time to schedule your surgery date. We meet again for a pre-op visit one to two weeks prior to surgery to review our plan and make sure you are comfortable and well-prepared.

What to Expect:

After completing your initial consultation with Dr. Lytle and his staff, you should have a clear understanding of the surgical options and your potential to achieve your appearance goals. The next step is to schedule your surgery date with Kim, our patient coordinator. We will see you at the office a week or two prior to surgery for a pre-op visit where we will review the surgical plan, review your breast implant selection, and take photographs. During this visit to Detroit, you will also receive prescriptions for medication and review the consent forms. You will receive specific instructions for things to avoid before surgery such as aspirin and smoking and be advised not to eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery.

During Your Procedure

Your surgery will be performed at the Dearborn Surgery Center in Detroit under the care of board-certified anesthesiologists and extremely qualified OR personnel, many of whom have been part of the Lytle Team for years. You will be carefully monitored throughout the procedure to ensure your safety and comfort. Dr. Lytle’s precise technique lets surgery proceed in a very smooth and efficient manner. You will be asleep and completely comfortable during the procedure. His surgical skill and expertise allow him to achieve beautiful, natural-looking results that look good even in the operating room.

After Surgery

One of the greatest benefits Dr. Lytle’s patients receive is a much easier, more comfortable recovery. Following surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery room until you are completely awake and alert. Because of his gentle technique, there is no need for drainage tubes or wraps. Instead, you are placed in a surgical bra. The nerve block performed during surgery, a muscle relaxant and pain medication helps to minimize discomfort. Most patients are feeling good and are ready for discharge after a brief observation period.

The majority of women can be off of pain medication and back to their normal routine (with some limitations, of course) in a matter of days. We see you in the office several times over the course of the next year for continued evaluation. All sutures are dissolvable and hidden beneath the skin, so there are no stitches to remove.

Risks:

The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal and you will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of breast augmentation are acceptable.

You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

Although the risks are minimal, possible breast augmentation surgery risks include:

• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation
• Poor scarring of the skin
• Poor position of the implant
• Implant leakage or rupture
• The formation of tight scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture)
• Fluid accumulation (seroma) in the surgical pocket
• Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
• Pain, which may persist
• Possibility of revisional surgery

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

Mammograms:

Many women who decide to undergo breast augmentation wonder how breast implants will affect their mammograms. Accurate screening can still be performed following breast augmentation.

How?

To ensure adequate mammograms, it is important to let the mammography center know that you have breast implants. The technician and radiologist should be familiar with performing mammograms on women with implants. They may elect to do special techniques known as “implant displacement views” in order to visualize all areas of the breast. So, accurate mammograms can still be performed after breast augmentation, although a slightly different technique may be used to obtain the image.

When?

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer for women and routine mammograms are very important in locating possible tumors. Dr. Lytle encourages his patients to follow the general guidelines described by the American Cancer Society which suggest that women over the age of 40 should have mammograms every one to two years. For women in this age group, a baseline mammogram before surgery is generally recommended. An additional mammogram one year post-operatively is also useful to have an image of your breasts with implants in place. He also suggests that women with a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer (such as a strong family history of the disease) should talk with their doctor about whether they should have mammograms before age 40 and how often to have them. He also recommends routine self–breast exams to feel for lumps, which is possible (and in some cases even easier) in patients with breast implants.

Additional Concerns

Some women with breast implants fear that the mammogram test will rupture their breast implants. This may lead to them delaying or even forgoing this extremely important exam. While there have been cases of breast implant rupture following mammograms, it is highly unlikely that this would occur. Breast implants are rather durable and can withstand the forces associated with mammograms. Because your health and safety are the number one priority, it is important that you do not skip your mammogram just because you have breast implants!

Other radiographic studies

Ultrasound is a commonly used breast imaging technique. It is often recommended to evaluate solid masses and fluid-filled cysts. Ultrasound is entirely safe to perform on women with breast implants. The presence of implants should not interfere with the ability to obtain an accurate ultrasound image.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is particularly useful in the evaluation of women with breast implants. In addition to providing outstanding views of the breast tissue, MRI can determine whether or not an implant is intact. Because of this ability, MRI is often utilized in patients with silicone gel breast implants. Unlike saline implants, which visibly deflate as the saline leaks from a ruptured implant, silicone gel implant ruptures are more difficult to detect. This is because the thick cohesive gel tends to maintain its shape, making it difficult to see leaks with the naked eye. MRI allows your doctor to visualize the breast implant shell directly to identify possible ruptures.

Because of MRI’s effectiveness in evaluating silicone gel breast implants, the FDA recommends that women with silicone gel breast implants undergo baseline MRI at 3 years postoperatively, and follow-up MRIs every 2 years thereafter. Many plastic surgeons and other physicians question whether or not this FDA guideline is too frequent. Dr. Lytle will discuss with you what role MRI may play in your care.

Implant Warranty:

Many women realize that breast implants are not meant to last forever. But it may be a surprise to hear that Saline breast implants and Silicone Breast Implants have available warranties. These warranties can be further discussed at the time of your appointment.

Words to know:

• Areola: Pigmented skin surrounding the nipple.
• Augmentation mammaplasty: Breast enlargement or breast enhancement by surgery.
• Breast Augmentation: Also known as augmentation mammaplasty; breast enlargement or breast enhancement.
• Breast Implants: Medical devices placed in your body to enhance existing breast size or to reconstruct your breast. Breast implants fall into two categories: saline breast implants and silicone breast implants.
• Capsular contracture: A complication of breast implant surgery that occurs when scar tissue that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes the implant and becomes firm.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• Inframammary incision: An incision made in the fold under the breast.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
• Mammogram: An x-ray image of the breast.
• Mastectomy: The removal of breast tissue, typically to rid the body of cancer.
• MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a painless test to view tissue similar to an x-ray.
• Periareolar incision: An incision made at the edge of the areola.
• Saline implants: Breast implants filled with salt water.
• Silicone implants: Breast implants filled with an elastic gel.
• Submammary or subglandular placement: Breast implants placed directly behind the breast tissue, over the pectoral muscle.
• Submuscular or subpectoral placement: Breast implants are placed under the pectoral muscle, which is located between the breast tissue and chest wall.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.
• Transaxillary incision: An incision made in the underarm area.
• Ultrasound: A diagnostic procedure that projects high-frequency sound waves into the body and records the echoes as pictures.

How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?

The cost of a Breast Augmentation in Detroit varies, because it is a highly individualized surgery tailored for each patient. The overall price may include anesthesia, operating room facilities, new breast implants, and other related expenses. Additional tests and imaging may also add to your total. Contact us for additional information

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