It might surprise you to know that female bodybuilders are one demographic showing a growing trend in opting for breast augmentation. This can be attributed to the popularity of the bikini competitions which focus on more traditionally feminine aesthetics versus traditional female bodybuilding competitions which favor a more muscular, masculine aesthetic. For this reason, more and more women opt for breast augmentation with concerns about their workout regimen and exercise routine. If fitness is a concern when it comes to your recovery period, then it’s important to know what to expect. Although Dr. Homas or Dr. Brostrom will make sure you have instructions to follow, here’s a rough guide to working out after breast augmentation.

Your Implants

There are a lot of choices that you’ll make while planning your breast augmentation. As such, there are some specific choices that will affect your recovery and ability to exercise after surgery. Your implant choice won’t have much bearing on your final results or ability to exercise, but your implant placement will. If you opt to have the implant placed under the chest muscle (which is generally recommended if you have low body fat) then your recovery period will be longer. This also means that you’ll need to avoid working your chest muscles for some time, so you should avoid certain exercises and instead opt for others in the meantime.

Your Recovery Timeframe

The typical recovery period is six to eight weeks, although your doctor can give you the best idea of what to expect from your timeframe. You can count on being at home and in bed for the first one to two weeks with only light activities to keep your blood moving. After you begin to regain energy, it’s important to avoid raising your heart rate too much and elevate your level of activity gradually and with the guidance of Dr. Homas or Dr. Brostrom. Overall, you can expect to return to full capacity after eight weeks (although you still may not feel comfortable with your full regimen at this point). The most important thing to keep in mind is listening to your body and not pushing yourself until you’re ready.

Your Workout Regimen

If you feel you’re ready to begin upping your activity level after the first two weeks, you can begin with low-impact cardio like walking inside or outside. It’s extremely important to avoid moving your implants around too much and to continue wearing your supportive recovery bra. Too much movement can put a strain on your incisions, inhibiting your recovery. After you’re cleared to begin your exercise regimen again, it’s a good idea to start with exercises that focus on the legs and buttocks, like lunges or hip abduction. Again, listen to your body as you gradually include exercises for your core, arms, and chest. You can always check with Dr. Homas or Dr. Brostrom before incorporating your next steps in fitness during your recovery period.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re considering breast augmentation to boost your body goals and achieve the figure you’re working towards, then we can help. To get started on discussing your options for breast augmentation, contact New Image Plastic Surgery by calling or filling out our online form.

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Breast augmentations have always been one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, with an estimated 313,735 performed in the USA in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, it’s not uncommon for women to replace their implants in the years following augmentation, whether for elective reasons or complications. If you’re considering breast augmentation, it’s important to know why revisional surgery happens and what your options are. Here’s a guide as you plan your consultation.

Will My Implants Last Forever?

The lifespan of breast implants is different for everyone and is determined on a case by case basis. While some mistakenly believe that implants will last forever, the majority of women are under the assumption that they will need them replaced ten years after surgery. This is because of a public report made by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011, stating that one in five breast implant patients required a revision or replacement after ten years in the survey they performed.

In other words, eighty percent of patients will likely be able to enjoy their implants for longer than ten years after insertion. The idea that the remaining twenty percent have eventual complications with their implants may be a concern, but that number is misleading. Only three percent of implants ever actually require further procedures due to deflation or ruptures. Many women replacing or revising their implants are doing so because they want to alter their size or refine the shape in some way.

Why Would I Replace My Implants?

There are a few concerns that might require replacement of your implants. These are not very common and you will most likely never face them if you undergo your procedure with a board-certified plastic surgeon. However, it’s important to know what to look for.

The first is the possibility of the implant deflating or rupturing. While these are very rare occurrences, they will require a timely revision. The effect of a rupture differs whether you have saline or silicone implants. With saline implants, you are immediately able to tell when they have ruptured, as the silicone shell will deflate. Your body can absorb the saline solution without causing any harm. With silicone implants, ruptures are often unnoticeable until an MRI scan or mammogram is performed. In this case, the silicone gel leaks out and normally stays within a scar capsule that your body forms around the ruptured implant. Even if there is no rupture, excess scar tissue can form around the breasts, changing their shape and making them uneven or adjust their position. The implants should be replaced if you want to correct this complication, called capsular contracture.

Schedule a Consultation

Of course, the likelihood of a breast implant complication is highly dependent on the quality of the plastic surgeon you choose. It’s important to make sure your surgeon is board certified and confirm that they are experienced in breast procedures like augmentation and revision. To verify their skill and experience, you should ask questions and look through photos of their previous patients to get a sense of what they can do for you. If you are thinking of adjusting your breast implants, they can easily be replaced or revised in the San Antonio, Texas area by Dr. Homas or Dr. Brostrom at New Image Plastic Surgery. Both our surgeons are highly experienced in breast procedures, including augmentation, lifts, and reductions.

To get started on your breast augmentation or revisional surgery, contact our office by calling or filling out our online form.

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Breast augmentations with implants were introduced in the early ’60s. Since then, this procedure has evolved tremendously. When this type of cosmetic surgery evolved, surgeons used a silicone gel, which was in a rubber sac, or they used a water balloon. Technology has come a long way.

When a vast media scare was broadcasted in the early ’80s, companies that manufactured the implant products started to concentrate on better technologies; like the filler materials, the packaging, the shell coating, and the gel consistency. They needed to make higher quality products to prevent implant leakage. The outcome was the form-stable implant, which is also referred to as the gummy bear implant.

The newer types of implants (the form-stable types) and the standard silicone ones are what surgeons use now. Each type has its own advantages and potential issues. Today, breast augmentation is more advanced and is a safe alternative for individuals who want their bodies to feel and look more attractive. To know — what is the best implant type to get? – it is vital to understand the different kinds of products and their benefits and disadvantages.

What is the Typical Silicone Gel Like?

Typical silicone gel feels soft and plush and it feels exactly like breast tissue. This type of implant product requires a bigger incision for placement. However, many women and surgeons still prefer this implant type for its natural look and feel.

Form-Stable Gel Implants

The latest technological innovation in cosmetic surgery is the form-stable gel implant. This product puts patients’ minds at ease. They are manufactured with a truly consistent, solid gel that comes in diverse shapes and sizes. The name “Gummy Bear Implants” was given to these implants because they hold their cohesive consistency. They look more life-like, feel like real breasts, maintain their fullness, utilizing less material, and the issues with rupturing or leaking are not as common. That is great news for patients, as well as cosmetic surgeons. It is the largest breast implant revolution in years.

Disadvantages of Form-Stable Implants

The issue with the anatomic contour of the form-stable implants is that, if it is not in an upright position, it can look odd. Standard round ones rotate with ease and keep the same shape. When the form-stable implants rotate, the patient needs to have the surgeon rotate them back into their original place. That could mean another surgery for the patient.

To eliminate that issue, these implant products are manufactured with a textured coating, which adheres to the tissues. As well as helping with rotating issues, the texturizing might additionally stop some implant-connected problems; such as capsular contracture, which can cause the implants to harden. That could require another surgery to fix it if that happens.

Nonetheless, the textured covering can additionally cause the body to generate more fluid about the implant—and this is a likely reason for other kinds of problems, ones that are mainly problematic in the setting of elective enhancing surgical treatment.

The New Age Form-Stable Saline

Since implants were invented, most people preferred the softer gel implants. When patients were asked to hold a silicone gel implant in one hand and the form-stable saline implant in the other hand, most of them chose the standard version (the softer, more life-like kind).

The “Ideal Implant” was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014. The new form-stable implants are saline-based, designed products with more than one compartment. The many compartments allow the saline to move within the augmented breasts restricting movement within the shells. This means additional stability, regarding shape, and less chance of ruptures. The “Ideal Implant” is the only cosmetic surgery product that has many compartments, and that is the new age technology for breast enhancements today: controlled support.

Even though each type of implant will feel different, the “Ideal Implant” does provide a more life-like feel and look. It is somewhat firmer than silicone gel implants, however, it keeps its shape better, no matter how a woman moves. The breasts have a perkier look as well.

But its largest advantage is that the chance of rupturing is lower, which means that these breast enhancement products will not need any monitoring, and the chance of repeating surgery is lower too. In addition, the chance of complications is lower, so patients can feel more confident before and after surgery.

What is the Best Type of Breast Implant to Get?

Not every patient will select the same breast implants, however, each person ought to understand his or her choices. As technology improves, surgeons, grab hold of the new products to offer their patients the safest and most pleasant experience.

The main thing is to locate a board-certified surgeon who uses the newest breast implant products that are safer and of higher quality and approved by the FDA. Every patient should continuously think about their health and well-being, future aspects related to breast surgeries, safety, and probable issues, combined with the beautifying outcome. If you are thinking of getting a breast augmentation with implants, ensure you are aware of what it entails. You can start the conversation by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Homas or Dr. Brostrom at New Image Plastic Surgery to get more information.

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