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Is Breast Augmentation Right for Me?
Augmentation is more than a physical enhancement. Your body can affect and reflect how you feel. Let's learn more about the procedure and the choices you have with Mentor.
Augmentation is more than a physical enhancement. Your body can affect and reflect how you feel. Let's learn more about the procedure and the choices you have with Mentor.
What is Involved in a Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is the medical term for a boob job – the surgical procedure of inserting implants beneath your breasts to make them bigger. Breast augmentation, or BA, can be used to make your breasts appear fuller, even them up if they are different sizes or restore their shape after partial or total loss. What it can’t do is stop them from sagging – if this is your main concern you may need a different procedure called a breast lift, which can be combined with a BA to get your desired shape.
During a BA procedure your surgeon will make a cut near your breast (or sometimes in your armpit), create a pocket behind your current breast tissue and place the implant inside (either under the chest muscle, partially under the muscle or on top of the muscle).1,2
How Long Will They Last & How Much Will it Cost?
Breast implants are not generally considered ‘lifetime devices’. The TGA website states that breast implants need to be replaced after approximately 10 to 15 years.
The cost of a breast augmentation can vary quite a bit based on the type of implant you choose, your location, surgery-related expenses and surgeon's fees. Ask your surgeon directly if all costs are included in your estimate.
Warranties are also an important consideration to protect you from additional costs down the road. Please refer to Mentor Warranty Details.
*average cost does not include hospital/facility fees, anesthesia, prescriptions, post-surgery garments, medical tests or other miscellaneous costs
Let's Talk Recovery - How Long Will it Take?
Each patient's post-op instructions are different, but some women are able to return to work within a few days. You should consult your surgeon for this information and when to start returning to normal activities. In general, recovery can look like this:4,5
Immediately after surgery: dressing or bandages may be applied to your incision sites, and you may be wrapped in a compression garment to minimise swelling and help you heal.
Weeks 1-2: you will have swelling and bruising that may last for a week or two. You will also have some pain and discomfort.
Weeks 3+: you may need to wear supportive garments until your breasts heal. You will also need to return to your surgeon for a follow-up and checkin on how you’re progressing.
Looking Your Best Means Understanding the Risks
Of course looking sexy requires being safe! Here are some things to consider according to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (the peak body for Specialist Plastic Surgeons):4
- Ensure your expectations are realistic – your surgeon should help you determine what this means for you and your body
- You may experience areas of numbness – this can be temporary or permanent
- You won’t see the final result until the implants have settled and the swelling has gone away – ask your surgeon how long this may be in your case
- If you’re a smoker you may be at increased risk of complications from surgery
- Breast implants may impact your ability to breastfeed, if breastfeeding is in your future talk about this aspect with your surgeon
Let Us Help You Navigate Your Breast Surgery Journey
Look & Feel
You probably have a preference of how you want your breasts to look and feel. Explore the three characteristics that will help you choose the right Mentor implant for you.
Projection
Projection is the distance between the base and the outer-facing side of the implant. “High profile” implants are designed to produce maximal projection from the chest, while “moderate profile” indicates less projection.
Fullness
Fullness varies depending on implant type. Round implants are designed to show more fullness above the nipple while teardrop implants are designed to create a gradual increase in fullness and projection from top to bottom.
Firmness
Firmness determines how natural the breast feels to the touch. Saline delivers the firmest feel while gel implants feel more like natural breast tissue.
Your Incision Site
Explore three common incision site options for breast implant surgery. Your choices depend on the type of implant, degree of enlargement, your particular body and your surgeon's preference.
Inframammary Fold Incision
The inframammary incision is made under your breast at the crease, where the breast meets the body. While less concealed, some surgeons find outcomes to be more successful for breastfeeding.
Peri-areolar Incision
Situated at the transition between the areola and the breast skin, minimising visibility.
The peri-areolar incision is made around the nipple to help conceal the incision site. It involves cutting through the breast tissue and may be associated with the risk of a change in nipple sensation compared to other options.
Transaxillary Incision
Primarily for saline, under the arm.
The transaxillary incision involves using a lighted camera (endoscope) to help tunnel through the area under the arm and create a pocket behind the breast. It's primarily used to place saline breast implants before they're filled.
Your Implant Placement
You'll choose from three placement options for your breast augmentation.
Over
Behind the glandular tissue of the breast but over the chest muscles (pectorals). This placement is also known as 'subglandular' placement.
Under
Completely underneath the chest muscles and connective tissues. This placement is also known as 'submuscular' placement.
Partial Under
Partially under the chest muscles with the lower portion of the implant not completely covered by muscle. This placement is also known as 'dual plane' or 'partial submuscular'.
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References
+ In-person Consumer survey with 452 respondents
* Breast Implants are not a lifetime device and may require replacement during your lifetime
1. Health Direct, Breast augmentation (breast implants). Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/breast-augmentation-breast-implants#what-is (accessed April 2022).
2. Better Health Channel, Breast augmentation surgery (breast implants). Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/breast-implantsaugmentation (accessed April 2022).
3. Therapeutic Goods Administration, Breast Implant Hub. Available from: https://www.tga.gov.au/hubs/breast-implants (accessed April 2022).
4. Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Breast Augmentation (implants). Available from: https://plasticsurgery.org.au/procedures/surgical-procedures/breast-augmentation-implants/ (accessed April 2022).
5. Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Breast Augmentation – Saline Implants procedure video. Available from: https://player.understand.com/ausps/en/b4d9716a-d5ff-4ec9-8d1a- 931ad6997c9e (accessed April 2022)
6. Maxwell_2015_Aesth_Surgery_Jour_35_145-Allergan 410 Core Study
7. MENTOR Consumer Preference Market Research Report - July 2017
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