Breast Implants in Biloxi, MS
Michael Diaz, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified plastic surgeon in Biloxi, MS, performs breast implant surgery for residents in and around Southern Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
What are Breast Implants?
Breast implants are enhancements that augment the appearance, size, and shape of a woman’s breasts. Patients typically receive one of three types of breast implants: saline, silicone or the patient’s own fat. Each one offers advantages and disadvantages depending on the patient’s goals. During a consultation, we discuss the pros and cons of each implant so you can select the best option.
Silicone implants: Implants filled with a silicone gel look and feel more like natural breasts since silicone mimics human fat. With silicone implants, the incision is a bit larger, as the implants are filled prior to inserting them in the breast area. Women must be at least 22 years old to have silicone implants.
Saline implants: With saline implants, the incision is much smaller since the saline is injected after the implants are inserted. If the implant tears, the saline solution (salt water) is harmless, as it is naturally absorbed by the body. Saline implants are available to women 18 years old and older.
Fat transfer: With fat transfer, liposuction takes fat from one area of the body, such as the thighs, abdomen, or flanks, and injects it into the breasts. This type of implant is often chosen for those not wanting a significant increase in size or who want to use their own body tissue.
The Best Candidates for Breast Implants
Breast implants are ideal for anyone wanting to increase the size of her breasts or reshape them to look naturally rounder and fuller. Prior to having breast implant surgery, it is important to understand what the procedure involves and have realistic expectations as to the outcome. To have breast implants, the breasts must be fully developed.
Planning Your Breast Implant Surgery
There are several factors that play into planning your breast implant surgery. During a consultation with Dr. Diaz, you and he work together to determine whether you are a candidate for breast implants – physically, mentally and emotionally. At that point, you can choose which type of implant you want and discuss the size of the implants.
In addition, you need to review the costs involved with breast implant surgery. Insurance typically does not provide coverage unless this procedure is part of breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. The cost of the procedure is your responsibility, so it is important to know what the investment is prior to having the procedure.
Preparing for Your Breast Lift Surgery
To prepare for breast implant surgery, you typically have pre-operative testing and a check up to ensure there are no other health issues that may interfere with the surgery. Additionally, you must stop taking any medications and supplements that thin the blood at least a week prior to the procedure to allow them time to leave your system. If you smoke, you should stop this as well about two weeks prior to and two weeks following the surgery, as it has a negative effect on the healing process.
Finally, you need to arrange for someone to accompany you to and from the surgery, and to stay with you for the first 24 hours following the surgery.
Types of Anesthesia
With breast implants, general anesthesia is typically used.
General anesthesia. General anesthesia allows patients to be unconscious while the surgery is done. This allows them to feel nothing. With general anesthesia, they receive medications intravenously and through inhalation. Longer, more involved surgeries are typically performed with general anesthesia.
The Breast Implant Procedure
To start, you are given anesthesia to help you relax and even go to sleep throughout the surgery. Anti-nausea and pain medicine are also administered as well as antibiotics to prevent infection. After that, an incision is made to insert the implant into the breast area. The location of the incision depends on the type of implant, but it is made around the nipple, under the breast or under the arm. Once that is done, the implant is inserted into the area either under the pectoral muscle or behind the breast tissue, again depending on the type of implant and its size.
Following the implant placement, the incision is sutured and covered with gauze followed by wrapping the entire breast area with bandages to hold the new implants in place for the initial start of healing. The entire surgery takes about one to two hours to complete.
Breast Implant Removal
On the other end of the spectrum, breast implant removal has become more common with women who have had implants for many years and either want to replace them with newer or a different size of implants or want to remove them and return to their original size breasts. The procedure is much the same process except the implants are taken out and replaced or simply removed.
After Your Breast Implant Surgery
Immediately following the surgery, you are taken to the recovery area to allow time to come out of the anesthesia. Since breast implant surgery is done on an outpatient basis, you can leave following the surgery with the person who accompanied you to the appointment. It is important that someone stay with you for the first 24 hours to allow the anesthesia to wear off and care for children if necessary.
How Much Do Breast Implants Cost in Mississippi?
The cost of breast implants varies depending on the type of implant, where the incision is placed and whether other cosmetic procedures or Medical Spa treatments are done during the same appointment. We can go over the costs with you during your consultation with Dr. Diaz as well as payment and financing options.
Getting Back to Normal Following Breast Implant Surgery
We recommend that patients take several days to rest before returning to work. This gives the body time to heal and recover from the surgery. Patients must avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for a few weeks following breast implant surgery. Any bruising and swelling takes a few weeks to diminish and go away while scars from the incisions take a few months.
Your New Look
The full results from breast implant surgery come to fruition within a few weeks following surgery even though they are immediately noticeable. The new look is fuller, rounder breasts that still have a natural appearance.
If you live in or around Southern Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, and are not happy with the size of your breasts or are considering breast implant removal, board-certified plastic surgeon, Michael Diaz, M.D., F.A.C.S., performs breast implant surgery in Biloxi, MS. Contact us today to set up an appointment.