Pain in Breast Surgery

Hello,

This is Dr. Han Kyu-Nam from 345 Plastic Surgery.

How painful is breast augmentation using implants?

Many patients hesitate to undergo secondary breast surgeries, even for relatively simple corrections like asymmetry, upper bulging, or implant displacement. The primary reason for this hesitation is likely pain.

The difficult memories of their initial surgery often linger.

Many patients report experiencing significant pain after breast surgery. Some even share how challenging it was to perform simple tasks like sitting on the toilet or managing hygiene.

On the other hand, some patients mention having very little pain after surgery.

Why does this difference in pain levels occur?
It’s not just about individual sensitivity to pain or tolerance.

Pain after breast surgery depends on factors like:

  • Patients who frequently use their arms and have firm skin tend to experience more pain when large implants are placed under the muscle.
  • Conversely, patients who rarely use their pectoral muscles, have sufficient skin elasticity, and receive moderately sized implants placed above the muscle usually report less pain.

Typical scenarios include:

  • Young women who maintain their figure through regular strength training often have firm, elastic skin and a smaller chest. If they aim for a C-cup and choose noticeable implants placed under the muscle to achieve a natural look, they are more likely to experience pain.
  • Mothers whose breasts weren’t small before but lost volume and became slightly saggy after breastfeeding often opt for small implants placed in the subfascial plane. These cases are usually less painful.

What about the surgical approach?
For the same size and position of implants, axillary (armpit) incisions may result in slightly more pain as they require more extensive upper-area dissection.

Pain levels can often be predicted based on the surgical plan and the choice of implants.

Ultimately, the level of pain can be somewhat predicted based on the surgical plan and the choice of implants.

Of course, the surgeon's skill is also crucial.

By performing only the necessary amount of dissection, avoiding damage to structures like the perichondrium or periosteum that can easily cause pain, minimizing thermal injury from surgical instruments, and completing the procedure efficiently in a short amount of time,
the pain experienced by the patient can be significantly reduced.

Pain and surgical outcomes are not directly correlated.

However, regardless of the type of pain, it can lead to elevated blood pressure and negatively affect the patient both physically and mentally. Therefore, it is true that a less painful surgery is ultimately better for the patient.

Breast surgery is considered one of the more painful cosmetic procedures.
However, it is also one of the most satisfying surgeries in terms of results.

Wishing you a successful and comfortable surgery!

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