Stitches after mammoplasty: what they look like, what to fear and how to properly care. Serious consequences of mammoplasty and methods for their effective solution Mammoplasty: prevention of postoperative scars

Suturing is the final stage of any surgical operation. The appearance of the skin area depends on the quality of their implementation. Disgracefully made postoperative notes disfigure the incision site, repel people's views. And thanks to the inconspicuous jewelry seam, hardly anyone will guess about the operation, if the patient herself does not draw the attention of others to this.

Varieties of postoperative sutures

Modern plastic surgeons in their work are guided by the principle of "Make the visible invisible". From year to year, specialists in this medical industry are actively developing new technologies that improve both their own work and the work of their predecessors.

The chest is a special area for a woman. If she decided on an operation to increase or decrease it, then you should worry about all sorts of complications and consequences in advance. So, the most inconvenience is caused by problems with the seams. In order for the tissues to heal quickly and painlessly, you need to take care of them.

It is best to find out in advance at a preliminary consultation where exactly the sutures will be located and how the integrity of the skin will be restored. Modern surgery offers several options.

Surgical sutures

These are the seams of the old generation. To date, they are used only for screeds of a large surgical field, when the force of tissue pressure during their spread exceeds the holding capacity of most microsurgical devices.

In plastic surgery, these types of ties are used extremely rarely and mainly for primary tissue fusion when creating a field for secondary operations.

Cosmetic sutures

The most common types of splicing today. They are performed both as a final postoperative option, and as an intermediate fixation of tissues before the next intervention.

The latest generation of suture material is represented by a wide range of bioresorbable surgical sutures.

Their main advantage is that they do not imply subsequent stretching, which means that they do not injure the healing scar once again. Soluble threads are of three types:

• Catgut. The resorption time is from 1 to 4 months, depending on the nature of the operation, the thickness of the thread and the size of the surgical field.
• Lavsan. It differs from catgut only in the time of resorption - from 15 to 60 days.
• Vicryl. One of the varieties of catgut thread, intended mainly for deep postoperative fields, since the composition, in addition to the thread itself, includes bioglue components. Resolves on average up to 80 days.

Fixation of tissues with staples

To date, in plastic surgery, this fusion method is used only on bodily areas that will not be exposed. The brackets are flattened. They are made of zirconium or chromium-nickel alloys. They are applied along the entire length of the postoperative suture with mandatory fixation of its edges and middle.

The main task of the surgeon when applying them is the exact alignment of the edges of the incision. The operation is considered the more successful, the more accurately this work is done. This method of fusion has a number of significant disadvantages:

• the healing process is slow;
• there is always a threat of tissue spreading under brackets and improper splicing;
• staples cling to clothing materials and there is a risk of rupture of connected tissues;
• the scars look imperfect, especially at the ends of the incision.

At present, this method is widely used in small strip operations, excluding endoscopic techniques (for example, caesarean section). When performing mammoplasty, they do not resort to it.

invisible seam

This is the most preferred type of suture in plastic surgery, especially in blepharoplasty and other interventions on the facial part. Splicing in this type of suture is carried out using a special fibrin-based bio-adhesive.

Despite the superficial simplicity of this type of suture, technologically its application is one of the stages of the operation, because it is necessary to gradually heal one or more dissected edges.

Due to the fact that the glue immediately enters into a chemical reaction with blood plasma and the surface adhesion occurs in a few minutes, the following should not be allowed during crosslinking:

• skewing the edges of the incision;
• overlaying the edges of the incision on each other;
• appearance of fixation nodules.

It will not be superfluous to note the fact that during any surgical intervention, special attention is paid to the moments of fixing the suture.

In the process of applying the nodule, one way or another, an additional pocket is formed from the skin or fibrin layering. This protrusion becomes a great place to attract infection. Suppuration and swelling appear first at the ends of the seam.

Location of sutures in mammoplasty

When providing services to increase or correct the mammary glands, a plastic surgeon faces a number of professional tasks, such as:

• improvement of the existing form;
• tightening of the mammary glands;
• enlargement / reduction of the gland to the desired volume.

It is important to correctly compare the wishes of the patient and the possibilities of mammoplasty in each case. In addition, it is required to correctly hide the traces of surgical intervention, bringing the result closer to the most natural look.

Not the least important is the location of the sutures during surgery on the mammary glands. They should be removed from the human eye as much as possible and not cause discomfort to the patient in the future.

Currently, when performing plastic surgery on the breast, several methods of access to the gland are used. The location of the scar will directly depend on the chosen technique:

• Periareolar access. The future scar will be hidden on the areola of the nipple, and since it often has a bumpy or folded surface, the scar will be visible only upon close examination. This method is not suitable for women planning pregnancy and lactation, as the mammary ducts of the mammary gland may be damaged during the operation.
• axillary access. The sutures will run in the area of ​​​​the armpit along the line of the pectoralis major muscle. The disadvantages of this method are frequent bleeding of the scar, which occurs due to constant hand movements and stretching of the skin zone, as well as an increased risk of infection of the wound due to the proximity of the sweat glands.
• Submammary method. With it, the seams will pass in the infrasternal fold and will be well hidden from prying eyes. The downside of this imposition is the discomfort during the further use of bras with dense cores and a considerable risk of infection during the healing period, since the skin in the folded areas fogs up faster.
• transareolar method. The seam runs in a transverse line along the diameter of the areola of the nipple. This method is the most traumatic and bloody, but the scar after it is almost invisible.

As a rule, many patients are primarily interested in the question of the invisibility of the seam.

Today, plastic surgery has many means to hide the seam both from the patient's own eyes and from prying eyes.

But it should be understood that this will not be possible in all cases. There are some points that make it difficult to make the seam invisible:

1. The main factor that will prevent the correct suturing will be the mass of the glands: the higher it is, the more likely the further resistance of the tissues during fusion. It follows from this that women who are overweight have a lower chance of getting an invisible scar than thin women.
2. The second resistance to proper fusion will be the muscles. The stronger the resistance of the muscle fibers, the more difficult it will be for the surgeon to bring them together correctly.
3. And finally, the third factor is the quality of the skin. Roughened or overdried skin is more difficult to grow together than areas with soft supple dermis.

Postoperative suture care

The quality of the future suture largely depends not so much on the efforts of the plastic surgeon, but on the efforts made by the patient. When the operated woman is discharged home, the doctor gives her a number of useful recommendations that are necessary for implementation. As a rule, they boil down to:

• scar tissue treatment;
• wearing specialized underwear;
• dosing physical activity;
• prohibitions on lifting weights and moving arms.

The exact implementation of the doctor's instructions significantly reduces the risk of improper fusion of the seam.

How long does stitch healing take?

The general healing of tissues takes an average of 2-3 months. In an uncomplicated course, postoperative cicatricial foci first have an intense pink, less often a pink-violet color. Then the whitening process gradually begins, and soon a thin whitish strip appears at the implant site. With the proper qualification of the surgeon, this strip will be well disguised as the natural folds of the body.

At this stage, it is important to note that the process of regenerative healing of the skin in all women lasts differently and can take up to 4–6 months instead of the classic 2 months. This is largely influenced by factors of age, the presence of chronic inflammation, and, no matter how strange it may sound, the seasonality of surgical intervention plays a role.

It is noted that in the winter and early spring months, healing is slower than in summer and autumn. Presumably, this is due to the amount of sunlight received, which accelerates the synthesis of a number of vitamins in the body, and beriberi, characteristic of unfavorable periods.

Symptoms associated with suture healing

Some time after surgery, pain at the incision site is possible. This is due to the engraftment of tissues to each other and their fusion. The pain sensation should not be sharp, pulsating and permanent. If the listed symptoms are present, then it is better not to delay the visit to the operating doctor or any other surgical specialist if the manipulation was performed far from the place of residence.

In this case, there is every reason to suspect the penetration of infection and the development of a purulent inflammatory process. Such symptoms may have another, more serious reason - rejection of the implant. In this case, urgent surgical care is needed to avoid a rapidly developing septic process.

The owner of the new breast should also be alerted by the unnatural staining of the scar. It should be remembered that in most cases it is caused by increased blood flow to the inflamed area, which means that there is definitely a problem with the scar and the help of a doctor is needed to prevent further complications in a timely manner.

In some cases, the surgeon prescribes a number of medications to suppress inflammation and the process of implant rejection. The list of necessary medicines includes:

• antihistamines;
• antibiotics;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• ointments that accelerate tissue fusion.

Stitch care at home

Processing options largely depend on the quality of the seams themselves. With cosmetic joints of tissues, a deeper processing is expected than with a seam on an adhesive basis. For high-quality care of such a seam, you will need:

• antiseptic solution;
• special processing material;
• binding material.

As an antiseptic, you can use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or a medical antiseptic solution (ethanol). It is undesirable to use dyes, as they can enter into chemical reactions with the threads used to stitch the incision. In addition, a number of dyes are permanently eaten into the scar tissue.

Sometimes the scar can take on the shade of an antiseptic substance. Such phenomena usually occur during the treatment of postoperative sutures with a solution of fucorcin, they acquire an intense crimson hue and often confuse surgeons, as they create difficulties in the overall control of the state of the suture.

As a processed material, it is preferable to use a bandage rather than classic cotton wool. The latter tends to cling to scar tissue, which can create a precedent for the development of purulent inflammation.

Bonding materials are used in plastic surgery for a short time and mainly for a wide surgical impact, axillary implantation or surgery to decorate the removed breast. If the surgical field is located in the inframammary fold, the use of broadband adhesive tape or adhesive tape is limited.

Stages of processing the postoperative field

Scars must be treated without violating a certain sequence:

1. Carefully remove the bandage from the seam. If its ends are stuck, you need to pour a little antiseptic on top and separate the bandage from the wound with unsharp movements.
2. Moisten the bandage with an antiseptic solution and carefully wipe the scar along its entire length, without stretching or touching the wound surface. If it is possible to erase dried blood clots, it is better to remove them. This will prevent subsequent healing of the wound. If open unhealed areas are hidden behind blood clots, it is better not to disturb them in order to avoid infection.
3. Next, with wetting movements, you need to carefully process the wound space itself.
4. It is required to examine the seam well. It is important to pay attention to the presence of white or white-green blotches, to a specific change in the color of the scar. If any are found, the suture must be shown to the surgeon.
5. At the end, a fixing bandage should be applied. In this case, outside help is sometimes required.

Additional means for healing sutures

The use of traditional medicine that promotes accelerated tissue regeneration, such as string, plantain, knotweed (highlander), etc., is possible only after the scar has completely healed.

The technology of preparing herbal decoctions at home rarely makes them sterile, and in addition, drying the skin at the stage of scar healing can adversely affect its appearance.

After the scar is well covered with a protective fibrin film, and the dressings stop sticking to the operated surface, it is allowed to use products aimed at smoothing the scar tissue. One of these is Contractubex.

Complications in the postoperative period

Complications arising after the surgical intervention are not uncommon after the implant placement is completed. They are divided into the following groups:

• implant rejection;
• improper tissue splicing;
• infection during manipulation or in the postoperative period.

In case of implant rejection, symptoms begin to develop in the first days, and are characterized by:

• temperature rise;
• severe throbbing pain in the area of ​​implant placement;
• swelling and redness of the implant area;
• chills;
• weakness;
• headache;
• vomit.

The seams also look atypical. Often in the center of the wound surface, festering areas can be seen. At the same time, the soft tissues around the seam swell and turn red, become hot, and pulsate. These are all warning signs that require immediate attention.

We urgently need to call the medical team. In this case, emergency hospitalization is necessary for further treatment. Before the ambulance arrives, you can drink an anesthetic, but this can lubricate the clinic for the development of the disease, so you should not be zealous, especially since the medicine is unlikely to have time to work.

It is important to prepare all documents about the progress of the operation and to realize that the implant may have to be removed.

In case of improper union, visual deformations are noted: violation of the proportions of the mammary glands, pronounced asymmetry, protrusion of the implant through the skin folds. At the same time, there are no obvious signs of inflammation, the seams look absolutely normal.

In no case should you try to correct the defect yourself by repositioning, because you can pinch the internal tissues and provoke inflammation, and there is also a risk of rupture of the implant, which can lead to more serious consequences.

The nature of the surgical intervention will be primarily aimed at eliminating the components of the pillow, and you will have to think about external aesthetics additionally.

It is important to go to the hospital where the operation was performed, or to another plastic surgery clinic to correct the problem.

In the case of infection, it all depends on at what stage it happened. If an infectious microorganism is introduced during surgery, the symptoms will be in many ways similar to implant rejection, and medical attention will be needed immediately.

If the infection enters the thickness of the suture when the doctor's instructions are not properly followed, then the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe inflammatory process will be limited to its limits. The quality of the seam in this case runs the risk of being seriously affected: melted ends may appear, a more pronounced white segment in the future, and in some cases an initially even line undergoes serious deformation bends.

Help in this case consists in treating the inflamed segment with an antiseptic, covering it with a surface bandage or plaster to prevent additional infection or damage. In the near future, it is worth seeing a specialist to prescribe further treatment tactics.

If scars remain

Sometimes the presence of cicatricial changes in breast plastic surgery is inevitable. They can be both an individual reaction of the skin, and the result of insufficient compliance with postoperative care instructions.

It is not possible to remove them on your own. To this end, a number of plastic and cosmetology clinics perform specialized laser correction aimed at smoothing the postoperative scar.

This is a non-invasive type of surgical intervention aimed at the gradual alignment of fused skin segments. Manipulation can be either one-stage or carried out in several steps. It depends on the type of machine installed in the institution.

Healing of postoperative sutures is a delicate and responsible process. The appearance of a certain part of the body, and sometimes the general state of health, depends on their further condition. When leaving the clinic, it is important to follow the instructions for post-operative care developed by the plastic surgeon. Then the result of the performed mammoplasty will only please.

For someone, their small or large breasts are enough for happiness. Others, for the ideal, need a larger size in the form of a pair of implants - we'll talk about this category.

Requires a period of rehabilitation. The postoperative time is divided into part of the prohibitions for a relatively short time and the final stage up to six months.

Prior to the operation, a pair of compression bras/tops must be purchased, which will change each other during washing. You can get by with one set, but it's not convenient.

For the postoperative period, a leave of one to two weeks is taken, this time is somewhat individual and envy of the patient's health.

Recovery begins from the moment you come out of anesthesia.

1. The time spent in the hospital of the clinic is a day, sometimes two.
2. The first three days after surgery are given under bed rest.
3. Then in the next couple of weeks you can take short walks.

After breast augmentation, the patient is sent home with a list of personally prescribed medicines and ointments, the intake of which is strictly mandatory.

The drugs are taken as prescribed by the doctor who performed the operation without self-appointment. Any adjustment of medicines must be negotiated.

Also, at discharge, the terms of repeated appointments for the removal of sutures and dressings, as well as preventive examinations, will be agreed.

Rehabilitation after breast augmentation

During the entire recovery period, a number of rules must be strictly observed in order to avoid displacement of implants and complications.

1. Washing, or rather, taking a shower is allowed on the second or third day, or after the removal of the drains. Water should be close to body temperature, do not wash with hot or cold water. The seams and chest should not be rubbed with hands or a washcloth, soap or shower gel should be with a neutral Ph. After that, it is important to lubricate the breast skin and seams with a moisturizing cream with hydrolyzed proteins, while simultaneously conducting a soft stroking massage without pressure.
2. Car driving it is advisable to avoid the first two weeks, so as not to strain the arms and chest.
3. An important point - When can you raise your arms after mammoplasty?. The first four days of movement should be soft, without sharpness and stress on the upper body. This recommendation is very important to avoid displacement of the implants. Further, the body is mastered, but try to avoid sharp rises of the body / arms and inclinations for about a month.
4. Sex after breast augmentation will have to be postponed for at least three weeks.
5. Pro alcoholic drinks we forget for a couple of weeks so that there are no unforeseen complications and excessive swelling. The same rule applies to smoking, you should at least minimize the number of cigarettes per day.
6. Wearing compression stockings after breast augmentation- non-removable for the first month (with the exception of a visit to the shower). For the second month, we wear only in the daytime, that is, except for sleep. All this period it is undesirable to try on and even more so to wear new bras.
7. Bath, sauna, hammam, hot baths are prohibited for a period of one to six months, depending on the condition of the sutures and the opinion of the surgeon. A month later, you can go in for a little while to warm up in the hammam, a full visit is allowed after three months.
8. Swimming in the pool and the sea is possible after the complete removal of compression underwear.
9. Return to sports after mammoplasty should be gradual. Starting from the third week, you can start walking. A month later, you can start gradually increasing the load on the lower body, without tension on the upper body. After two months, you can do many physical activities. During this period, jogging and aerobics are included, but only after consulting a doctor. Neglecting the recommendations for sports is fraught with divergence of sutures and bleeding, can harm the healing of scars and displace implants.
10. Lifting weights in the first month is limited to 3 kilograms of weight, it is better to start from one and a half, from the second month you can gradually increase the load to ten kilos. If the family has a small child and his weight is included in the permitted, try to be careful during his climbs.
11. Tanning in the solarium and under the sun excluded for three months. This recommendation has some divergence in the opinions of different surgeons. At a minimum, it is necessary to wait for the complete healing of the sutures and the subsidence of edema. Attend sunbathing only with applied SPF and in a swimsuit covering the seams. Until the seams brighten, it is forbidden to expose them to the sun to avoid pigmentation.
12. Sleeping on your back is an unbearable test for many, and the main thing that interests women is when you can sleep on your side after mammoplasty. Try to avoid this pleasure for about three weeks after the operation. Some still want to sleep on their stomach, but this is prohibited for a month. Later, it is also better to sleep on your back, but turning over in a dream will not be dangerous for implants.
13. Airplane flights possible two weeks after mammoplasty.
14. The initial results of augmentation can begin to be assessed two months after implant placement, however, the full condition is assessed after 9-12 months.

Complications after breast augmentation

Complications in any medical intervention are divided into predictable, considered normal and those that are not normal and require a visit to the clinic and the surgeon who performed the operation.

• Pain is present during the first five days and is well stopped by taking analgesics.
• swelling after breast augmentation- the norm, as with any medical intervention. Edema subsides gradually over 1-1.5 months, but everything is individual.
• Reduced nipple sensitivity occurs quite often and disappears after a while on its own. There is also an increase in the sensitivity of the breast.
• Bruises - caused by damage to blood vessels, ointments recommended by the doctor can be used for healing. Self-resorption occurs in about two weeks.
• After the installation of implants, the breast initially becomes very dense, gradually, over 9-12 months, it becomes soft and natural when palpated.

Stitches after mammoplasty are almost a separate issue.

Lots of questions:

1. Treatment with Chlorhexidine or Miramistin 2-3 times a day. If a gel patch or glue is applied to the seams, no treatment is required.
2. When stitches are removed after mammoplasty, the average healing time is about 7-14 days, it all depends on the individual patient. By the way, after removing the stitches, it is necessary to stick special stickers for fixing for a couple of weeks.
3. If there is a discrepancy in the seam, you must immediately contact the clinic for suturing.
4. Scars heal according to the standard scheme, when the crusts come off, you can start using scar creams.

Unforeseen complications:

• Breast asymmetry after augmentation a rare phenomenon, has different formation factors: sleeping on the stomach, early exercise and sports, removal of compression underwear during the forbidden period, primary slight asymmetry, gel leakage, incorrect placement of implants.
  Reoperation to correct differences is scheduled after at least six months. If there are grounds (inflammation, penetration of the gel into the tissues), immediate intervention is prescribed.
• Appearance of redness around the seam, purulent discharge, fever - are an inflammatory phenomenon and require an immediate visit to the attending doctor.
• Hematomas around the implant caused by the characteristics of the body or some diseases, in the first couple of days they are removed independently through the drainage. In the further occurrence, the patients themselves are to blame for neglecting the rules of the postoperative period, such as sports and wearing special underwear. Removal is carried out by puncture selection or by wound revision.
• accumulation of serous fluid- requires removal by puncture.
• Fibrous contracture is the reaction of the body to a foreign body in the tissues. As a rule, the resulting capsule around the implant is soft and does not affect the breast. In some cases, the capsule becomes dense, painful, the chest becomes dense and there is a delineation or deformation of the shape. To eliminate an unpleasant formation, an implant replacement is required.
• Allergic reaction to the implant.

Some other complications are extremely rare. Any changes in the breast are noticeable during the examination by the surgeon, so do not neglect the health and beauty of the form and skip appointments.

Proper care of the sutures after surgery is the basis for a speedy recovery after surgery. Therefore, a professional surgeon pays special attention to this point of the rehabilitation program. Although this process is individual for each patient, there are general recommendations for care. We want to talk about them today.

Seams after mammoplasty: their types and features

To create a surgical access to the implant site, the surgeon needs to make a tissue incision in the selected place, where then a thin cosmetic suture will be applied. Three types of approaches for breast augmentation are common in aesthetic surgery:

• Submammary - the incision passes under the bust in a natural skin fold. If the patient has a sufficient amount of her integumentary tissues in the chest area, the sutures after mammoplasty are hardly distinguishable here.
• Axillary - access is performed in the axillary zone. The seam in the armpit after healing almost completely merges with the natural color of the body.
• Perialleolar - an incision is made along the lower border of the areola. The seams here have an aesthetic appearance and quickly become invisible.

Seams after mammoplasty tighten the edges of the surgical wound for its speedy healing. There are several types of them:

• Normotrophic. They are an area of ​​the skin that is slightly lighter than the main color of the tissues and is not felt at all when touched. In order for the seams to be completely aligned in shade, cosmetic peeling is enough.
• Hypertrophic. Such scars are pink in color and protrude slightly. Peels and laser resurfacing are used to completely smooth them.
• Keloid. These are the most difficult stitches after mammoplasty. Outwardly, they look rough, compacted, stand out with pigmentation and can be painful when touched.

Why do keloid scars appear?

Keloid scars are a complication of breast augmentation. Among the reasons for their formation are the following:

• features of the body's immune system;
• hereditary predisposition;
• excessive skin tension in the healing zone;
• suppuration or infection of the postoperative wound.

It should be noted that the seams after mammoplasty do not necessarily turn into keloids. This process mainly has a hereditary predisposition and manifests itself gradually, in some cases - up to 2 years. Therefore, with the constant supervision of a doctor, you can notice the ongoing changes in time and stop their development.

How to care for seams?

Each patient, before stepping into the operating room, must understand that thin and barely noticeable scars after surgery will remain in any case. But thanks to proper and careful care, they can be made little distinguishable. Here is a list of the main recommendations on how to handle stitches after mammoplasty.

• Smoking is strictly not recommended during the period of preparation for the intervention and until the final rehabilitation.
• Compression garments must be worn for up to six weeks after the surgical procedure.
• Seams after mammoplasty are treated with antiseptics (the drug and the frequency of application are prescribed by the surgeon). Also, the doctor can prescribe patches and silicone pads that prevent the appearance of rough scars.
• Contact with water is prohibited for the first week - the seams after mammoplasty during this period should remain dry.
• After hygienic procedures, a moisturizer or lotion should be applied to the place of the seams in order to avoid overdrying the skin and to maintain its elasticity.
• So that the seams after mammoplasty do not separate and tighten properly, in the first six months after the operation, physical activity on the shoulder girdle of the muscles should be limited.

And most importantly - steadily follow all the recommendations of your plastic surgeon. Then the recovery process will be quick and painless, and the stitches after mammoplasty will be completely invisible. Be healthy and beautiful!

The release of serous fluid from the suture after mammoplasty is diagnosed in every tenth patient. Fluid accumulates in the space that remains after suturing the wound and flows out when the suture is stretched under its pressure. This can happen both immediately after the operation, and after a few weeks. A “pocket” of fluid formed under the skin is called a seroma by surgeons. In most cases, seromas do not threaten the health of patients and go away on their own. Help is required only for those who have a strong reaction.

Why do seromas occur?

Seroma is the body's response to trauma and a foreign body, i.e., an implant. The soft tissues around the implant become inflamed and secrete serous fluid. This fluid is blood serum that seeps through the walls of small blood vessels. If the fluid is not drained through the drain, it accumulates in the sutured wound.

The development of complications can contribute to:

• increased tissue reactivity (for example, in diabetes mellitus or rheumatic diseases),
• lack of installed drains after surgery,
• physical activity in the early postoperative period, refusal to wear compression underwear.

How to detect gray?

Signs of seroma after mammoplasty include:

• the appearance of swelling and thickening of tissues in the lower part of the chest,
• an increase in body temperature up to 38 ° C,
• discharge of a clear or yellowish liquid from the suture.

Some patients may experience redness and soreness at the site of swelling. The presence of fluid in the mammary gland after mammoplasty is confirmed by the results of ultrasound.

Treatment

Small seromas usually resolve on their own, so patients with such formations are simply observed. Your doctor may recommend pain medication to reduce discomfort.
If the seroma increases rapidly or an abscess (suppuration of the wound) is suspected, the fluid is removed through a drain. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. To prevent infection, the patient is prescribed antibacterial agents.

In 95% of cases, seromas are completely cured in 5-7 days. The transferred complication does not affect the results. Upon completion of treatment, both mammary glands acquire the same aesthetic appearance.

When a woman decides to undergo an operation to correct the shape of her breasts, she does not expect to get serious health problems instead of a beautiful result.

But any plastic surgeon will tell you about the possible risk of complications at the first appointment.

Sometimes postoperative consequences cannot be avoided, and the patient should be informed about all the complications after mammoplasty, as well as ways to solve them.

General idea of ​​the procedure

Mammoplasty is a surgical restoration of the size or shape of the breast by installation of specially designed implants in the mammary gland. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, the incision is made with a surgical scalpel.

To place a foreign body in the chest, it is necessary to form a pocket by separating the tissues from each other. Such an intervention does not pass without a trace for the body and requires certain reserves from it for a quick recovery.

The average rehabilitation period after mammoplasty lasts about 1-3 months, depending on the health of the patient. The full result can be assessed after six months.

Limits of the postoperative norm

Throughout the recovery period, a woman must follow all the recommendations of a plastic surgeon. This will minimize all possible risks.

Of course, it is impossible to do without postoperative complications. For example, about a week after the intervention, the patient will be disturbed by palpable pain. Such discomfort is the norm and is eliminated by specially selected analgesics.

You can not do without bruises and swelling - they are an acceptable consequence after mammoplasty, if not accompanied by severe pain and fever.

To control the situation, it is necessary to regularly visit a plastic surgeon throughout the entire rehabilitation period.

Complications and solutions

In some cases, a woman notices that the implant in the breast is not positioned correctly or any movement of the body brings unbearable pain.

Most complications develop in the first hours and days after surgery, but sometimes disorders can appear months or even years later.

If discomfort occurs, it is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner in order to immediately begin treatment, if necessary.

puffiness

With normal recovery of the body, the edema disappears 3-5 days after the operation. This is the maximum period for which excessive hyperemia and tissue swelling must pass.

Edema is pathological if:

• there was a feeling of bursting;
• the skin around the chest is very reddened;
• local subfebrile condition (skin is hot to the touch);
• increased body temperature;
• pain is not relieved by analgesics.

When such signs appear, you should urgently seek the advice of a doctor.

Excessive puffiness is eliminated by physiotherapy, the application of cooling compresses in a hospital setting. It is not recommended to act on edema on your own. If the pathology is accompanied by the formation of pus under the implant, surgical treatment is prescribed.

Seroma

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Seroma is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the subcutaneous fat. Such a complication can be provoked by incorrect actions of the surgeon during the operation, too large implants for a particular breast, or non-anatomical tissue dissection.

When to suspect gray:

• the chest is very swollen;
• a clear liquid is separated from the unhealed scar of the swollen mammary gland;
• the pain is permanent;
• scar reddened a lot.

To eliminate the serous fluid, drainage of the postoperative wound or its dissection is prescribed, followed by pumping out the biological material. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in the complex.

Dangerous hematomas

Hematoma is called an ordinary bruise, that is, subcutaneous hemorrhage. It may appear due to trauma to the unrecovered breast, improper stop of bleeding during implant installation, and unskilled actions of medical personnel during the rehabilitation period.

Small bruises are normal and resolve on their own. But in some cases, medical attention is required.

When consultation is needed:

• the hematoma is very extensive, can spread under the chest or in the shoulder area;
• the symptom is accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
• the pain does not go away a week after the operation.

The first step is to stop the bleeding. To do this, the specialist uses hemostatic agents, drugs to lower blood pressure (if necessary) and the application of ice compresses.

In the future, an extensive hematoma must be removed using tissue drainage.

sagging chest

Sometimes sagging occurs a long time after surgery, as a natural process of tissue aging. But if we talk about complications, we should mention ptosis.

It is artificial and expressive. In the first case, sagging occurs due to an implant that is too small, in the second case, tissue descent is a feature of the body and its reaction to a foreign body.

How to determine ptosis:

• nipples are above average breast level;
• the mammary glands are strongly lowered down;
• the distance between the collarbones and the beginning of the chest has increased.

Correcting the sagging of the mammary glands is possible only with the help of repeated plastic surgery. The specialist must select implants that are larger in size and perform the operation based on the characteristics of the body.

Implant contouring

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This complication most often develops in those women who have too thin a layer of subcutaneous fat. When the implant is placed not under the muscle, but directly under the mammary gland, its contours can be seen through the surface of the epidermis.

How to define contouring:

• the contours of the implant can be seen visually and palpated;
• the chest protrudes unnaturally.

To eliminate such a complication, the specialist will suggest the introduction of special corrective fillers. In some cases, lipofilling is indicated.

This procedure involves taking sebum from suitable areas on the patient's body and then transplanting them into the chest area.

Implant displacement

Implant displacement is another unpleasant complication after mammoplasty. Most often it develops due to its incorrect selection of endoprosthesis or illiterate actions of the plastic surgeon during the operation.

How to determine offset:

• the implant protrudes unnaturally away from the main position;
• mammary glands look asymmetrical.

In the early stages, you can correct the situation by wearing a special corrective corset and a certain position of the body during sleep. Also, when the implant is displaced, all physical activity is temporarily excluded.

Inflammation, suppuration

One of the most dangerous complications is suppuration of the postoperative suture. This can happen due to non-compliance with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis during surgery, the patient's failure to follow the doctor's recommendations and improper treatment of the scar.

How the complication manifests itself:

• the chest is very swollen, burning;
• in a short time, body temperature rises to high levels;
• the skin around the breast turns red;
• pus is separated from the seam or nipple itself.

In the initial stages, inflammation can be stopped by taking antibacterial agents and enhanced treatment of inflamed skin.

If the process is not amenable to medical control, surgical intervention is prescribed.

Loss of sensation

In the first time after the incision on the skin, it loses its sensitivity. This is not a pathology and with the help of physiotherapy is quickly eliminated.

But sometimes the patient does not feel the breast tissue or the nipple itself for a long time. Such a complication occurs due to incorrect actions of the surgeon during mammoplasty, due to which the neural network can be damaged.

To combat the problem, the specialist prescribes a complex of physiotherapy and massage.

Capsular contracture

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After the implant is placed in the mammary gland, connective tissue begins to form around it. In the normal state, it does not exceed a tenth of a millimeter, and the growth stops there..

But due to the characteristics of the body, this process can progress, which provokes the formation of capsular contracture.

How to identify a complication:

• the endoprosthesis and its contours can be felt by hand;
• breast deformity occurs;
• seals, dents or defects appear on the mammary gland;
• when touched, the patient feels pain.

The second stage of capsular contracture is eliminated with the help of physiotherapy, massage, the use of vitamin E and a complex of anti-inflammatory injections.

Stages 3 and 4 are corrected only by surgery. To do this, the specialist completely removes the implant, removes the contracture and installs it again. Sometimes a smaller endoprosthesis is selected.

Rippling or skin rippling

Rippling, also called skin rippling, is a fairly rare complication after mammoplasty. This can happen due to the characteristics of the patient's body, the wrong type and size of the implant, as well as the illiterate actions of the surgeon.

How to identify the appearance of skin ripples:

• predominantly, the defect is noticeable when the body is tilted forward;
• peculiar folds appear on the skin of the chest, similar to fingerprints.

Most often, breast lipolifting is used to eliminate the defect. In some cases, the specialist may advise replacing the implant with an endoprosthesis with a denser structure.

Preventive measures

To minimize the risk of possible complications, first of all, you will need to responsibly approach the choice of a plastic surgeon.

The specialist must have the appropriate qualifications, have a diploma and certificates confirming regular professional development.

This will eliminate the problems that most often arise due to the wrong actions of the doctor during mammoplasty.

What can be done for prevention:

• wear corrective underwear for the entire recommended time (1-3 months);
• reduce physical activity to a minimum;
• do not lift weights;
• carefully treat the seam and the chest area with antiseptics;
• do not injure the mammary glands;
• regularly attend doctor's consultations until the tissues are completely healed;
• the entire rehabilitation period should not drink alcohol, smoke;
• take antibacterial agents after surgery as prescribed by the doctor.

With the right actions during the rehabilitation period after mammoplasty, most serious complications can be avoided.

Of course, some problems may appear due to the individual characteristics of the organism. But a good doctor will definitely warn about all possible troubles, based on the history of a particular patient.

The video provides additional information on the topic of the article.