Dr. Benchetrit specializes in breast augmentation with over 20 years of experience.
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast for a 
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ber of reasons:
- To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.
- To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy. To balance a difference in breast size.
- As a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.
By inserting an implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to increase a woman's bust line by one or more bra cup sizes. If you're considering breast augmentation, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure - when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect.
It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please ask Dr.Benchetrit if there is anything you don't understand about the procedure during your consultation.
The Best Candidates for Breast Augmentation :
Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. The best candidates for breast augmentation are women who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you're physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
Types of Implants :
A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as saline.
All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk: Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. During your consultation, Dr. Benchetrit will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery as well as the types of anesthesia to be used. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.
Planning Your Surgery :
In your initial consultation, Dr. Benchetrit will evaluate your health and explain which surgical techniques are most appropriate for you, based on the condition of your breasts and skin tone. If your breasts are sagging, he may also recommend a breast lift.
Be sure to discuss your expectations frankly with Dr. Benchetrit . He will be equally frank with you, describing your alternatives and the risks and limitations of each. Be sure to tell Dr. Benchetrit if you smoke, and if you're taking any medications, vitamins or other drugs.
Preparing For Your Surgery :
Dr. Benchetrit will give you instructions to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. While making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days, if needed.
The Surgery : 
The method of inserting and positioning your implant will depend on your anatomy and Dr. Benchetrit's recommendation. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple), or in the armpit. Every effort will be made to assure that the incision is placed so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible. Working through the incision, Dr. Benchetrit will lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath your chest wall muscle (the pectoral muscle). The implants are then centered beneath your nipples.
Some surgeons believe that putting the implants behind your chest muscle may reduce the potential for capsular contracture. This placement may also interfere less with breast examination by mammogram than if the implant is placed directly behind the breast tissue. Placement behind the muscle however, may be more painful for a few days after surgery than placement directly under the breast tissue.
After Your Surgery :
You're likely to feel tired and sore for a few days following your surgery, but you'll be up and around in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your discomfort can be controlled by prescribed medication. Within a few days, the gauze dressings, if you have them, will be removed. You may also experience a burning sensation in your nipples for about two weeks, but this will subside as bruising fades. Your stitches will come out in a week to 10 days, but the swelling in your breasts may take three to five weeks to disappear. You will be given a surgical bra which should be worn as specified by Dr. Benchetrit.
Getting Back To Normal :
You should be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the level of activity required for your job. You will be given advice on when to begin exercising and normal activities. Your breasts will probably be sensitive to direct stimulation for two to three weeks, so you should avoid too much physical contact.
After that, contact is fine once your breasts are no longer sore, usually three to four weeks after surgery. Your scars will be firm and pink for at least six weeks. They may remain the same size for several months, or even appear to widen. After several months, your scars will begin to fade, although they will never disappear completely.
Routine mammograms should be continued after breast augmentation for women who are in the appropriate age group, although the mammographic technician should use a special technique to assure that you get a reliable reading, as discussed earlier.
Your New Look:
For many women, the result of breast augmentation can be satisfying, even exhilarating, as they learn to appreciate their fuller appearance. Regular examination by your plastic surgeon and routine mammograms for those in the appropriate age groups at prescribed intervals will help assure that any complications, if they occur, can be detected early and treated. Your decision to have breast augmentation is a highly personal one that not everyone will understand.
The important thing is how you feel about it. If you've met your goals, then your surgery is a success.
Pre and Post Surgery Tips:
Have some spare pillows on your bed. After most patients breast augmentation, they found it hard to sleep on their back all the time, so they would fall asleep hugging a pillow and rolling sideways onto it. Be prepared that you may feel a little ‘down’ after surgery which is quite common.
The surgery, medication and not being able to sleep as well as normal can catch up with you. Even if you feel fine weeks after, do not exert yourself as you are still healing. Even months after you will feel different sensations in your breasts, especially when your nerves start to regenerate. Some patients commented that their breasts were ‘itchy’ about 2-3 months post surgery. Two weeks before surgery do not take any aspirin-containing products, anti-inflammatories, blood thinners or vitamin E . These medications thin the blood and greatly increase the risk of bleeping. Tylenol can be taken safely.
Stop taking any herbal, natural, diet or alternative drugs 14 days prior to your surgery (eg. Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St. John’s wort). A few patients react to the anesthetic after surgery with nausea and vomiting. This usually lasts less than 24 hours and should be treated with a lot of fluids, Gravol and rest. You may begin your regular exercise routine 2 – 3 weeks after surgery, except upper body weight training. Upper body weight training and push ups should not be done until 6 weeks. Particularly when implants are placed under the chest muscle, upper body weight training before 6 weeks could cause the implants to be pushed upwards.
