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Frequently Asked Questions
about Breast

Breast


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT Breast

Swelling after breast augmentation is a normal part of the recovery process, but its intensity and duration can vary considerably depending on the technique used and each patient’s individual response.

The postoperative period following a traditional breast augmentation is not the same as with techniques such as MIA® or Preservé™, as the latter use an approach that is less traumatic to the tissues and, therefore, involves a reduced inflammatory phase.

Below, we explain how long swelling lasts after breast augmentation, how it evolves during the first few weeks, and the differences depending on the technique used.

One of the most common questions before undergoing breast surgery is how long breast augmentation surgery takes. The duration of the procedure depends mainly on the technique used and the individual characteristics of each patient.

At Clínica Planas, three breast augmentation options are available: the MIA® technique, the Preservé™ technique, and traditional breast augmentation. Each involves a different approach and, therefore, different amounts of time in the operating room.

In general, MIA® and Preservé™ usually take around 45 minutes, while traditional breast augmentation surgery may take approximately one to two hours, depending on each individual case.

One of the most common questions before undergoing a breast reduction is how long the procedure takes. In general, breast reduction surgery usually takes between 3 and 4.5 hours, although the duration may vary depending on each patient’s individual characteristics.

Not all women require the same treatment or surgical technique. Factors such as breast volume, the degree of breast sagging, the technique used, or the need for additional procedures can directly influence the duration of the surgery.

F.A.Q.

Phase 1: The First Hours After the Procedure

With MIA® and Preservé™, the inflammatory response is usually less intense due to the type of approach used during the procedure.

Dissection is performed along an anatomical plane, taking advantage of the natural separation between the tissues. This allows for atraumatic dissection.

During the procedure, an expander is used to separate the gland from the muscular plane. This approach avoids the use of electrocautery and, consequently, the transmission of heat to the tissues.

By reducing trauma to the tissues, swelling is also reduced and recovery may be faster. In addition, with these techniques, the implant is placed under the gland rather than under the muscle, which also helps reduce the inflammatory response.


Phase 2: When Does the Swelling Start to Go Down?

With MIA® and Preservé™, the first 3 or 4 days mainly correspond to the phase in which the skin adapts to the stretching caused by the implant.

During this period, swelling reaches its peak. It may progressively increase from the immediate postoperative period until approximately the second day and then begin to decrease.

By around the first week, the breasts usually show considerably less swelling.

Some bruising may also appear, particularly in the underarm area or, in the case of Preservé™, near the scar located in the inframammary fold. These bruises are initially more visible and are gradually reabsorbed by the body.

Between the first and second week, bruising usually begins to disappear, while the swelling associated with MIA® and Preservé™ progressively enters the resolution phase.

How Long Does Swelling Last After Traditional Breast Augmentation?

With a traditional breast augmentation, the inflammatory phase may last longer, particularly throughout the first month.

In this type of procedure, the use of electrocautery and the transmission of heat required for coagulation, together with lifting the muscle and creating a pocket in a non-anatomical plane, can cause a greater inflammatory response.

For this reason, during the first few weeks, the breasts may have a less natural appearance. The skin is tighter, and the breasts may feel firmer or more rigid.

From the first month onwards, this gradually changes: the breasts begin to soften and progressively develop a more natural consistency and movement.


Phase 3: When Can the Final Result Be Seen?

The disappearance of swelling does not necessarily mean that the breasts have already reached their final result. The tissues need time to adapt and for the breasts to gradually develop their final appearance, texture, and mobility.

With MIA® and Preservé™, the final result may be achieved within a period of 1 to 6 months, depending on each patient’s individual recovery.

With a traditional breast augmentation, the complete process may take up to 6 months or even a year, particularly for the breasts to achieve a completely natural texture, movement, and feel.

The ultimate goal is for the breasts to gradually integrate and achieve a more natural result that is unique to each patient.

Not all patients recover in the same way after breast surgery. Several factors can determine both the intensity of the swelling and the amount of time it takes to subside.

The surgical technique is one of the main factors influencing swelling and the recovery process.

A procedure performed through an incision in the inframammary fold using a traditional approach is not the same as techniques such as MIA® or Preservé™, which are designed to reduce trauma to the tissues.

Every body responds differently to a procedure.

Some patients recover more quickly and experience an earlier reduction in swelling, while others need more time for it to disappear completely.

For this reason, recovery times should always be understood as a general guideline and assessed on an individual basis.

Proper postoperative care after breast augmentation also influences how recovery progresses.

Following medical instructions correctly and adhering to the guidelines established after the procedure help support the recovery process and the gradual reduction of swelling.

The time required depends primarily on the technique used and each patient’s individual response.

With MIA® and Preservé™, swelling may reach its peak during the first few days and then begin to decrease progressively. By around the first week, the breasts usually have relatively little swelling and, between the first and second week, the swelling enters the resolution phase.

With a traditional breast augmentation, however, the inflammatory phase may last for approximately the first month. From then on, the breasts progressively begin to soften and develop a more natural appearance, movement, and texture.

In all cases, recovery is individual. The technique used, each patient’s individual characteristics, and proper adherence to postoperative instructions are key factors in understanding how the recovery process will evolve.

The amount of time a patient spends in the operating room is directly related to the technique selected.


Duration of Breast Augmentation with MIA® and Preservé™

The MIA® and Preservé™ techniques are the quickest options and usually take approximately 45 minutes.

Both are performed under sedation and local anesthesia. These 45 minutes include a waiting period of approximately 10–15 minutes to allow the local anesthesia to take effect and for vasoconstriction to occur thanks to the adrenaline contained in the infiltration solution.

This process allows the procedure to be performed with virtually no bleeding and without pain for the patient.


Duration of Traditional Breast Augmentation

In the case of traditional breast augmentation, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes approximately one hour, although certain cases may take up to two hours.

This variation in duration depends on both the surgical technique and each patient’s anatomical characteristics, as well as the specific complexity of the procedure.

Although there are approximate times for each procedure, not all surgeries take exactly the same amount of time. Different factors can make a procedure quicker or require a few additional minutes.


The Breast Augmentation Technique Used

The surgical technique is the factor that has the greatest influence on the duration of the procedure.

MIA® and Preservé™ usually take around 45 minutes, while traditional breast augmentation may take approximately one to two hours, depending on the individual characteristics of each case.

Therefore, when discussing how long breast augmentation surgery takes, it is important to bear in mind that there is no single duration that applies to every patient and every technique.


The Type of Anesthesia and Incision Site

The type of anesthesia can also influence the surgical time.

In traditional breast augmentation, because the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, there is no need to wait for local anesthesia to take effect. With MIA® and Preservé™, however, a waiting period of approximately 10–15 minutes is required for the infiltration to take effect.

The incision site used to place the implant may also slightly affect the duration of the surgery. For example, an approach through the areola may require slightly more time than an approach through the inframammary fold.


The Complexity of Each Case

The patient’s anatomical characteristics may mean that breast augmentation surgery requires slightly more time.

This may occur, for example, when it is necessary to treat tuberous breasts, perform glandulotomies to reshape the breast gland, or correct breast asymmetry.

In cases of asymmetry, implant sizers may need to be used during surgery to determine the final implant size and achieve the desired result.

The surgery may also take slightly longer if there is increased bleeding during the procedure, although these variations usually add only a few extra minutes.

The duration of the surgery can also be better understood by looking at the different stages involved in each procedure. These vary depending on whether breast augmentation is performed using MIA® or Preservé™, or a traditional technique.

 

Stages of Breast Augmentation with MIA® and Preservé™

Stage 1: Infiltration

The procedure begins with the infiltration of the breast with local anesthesia.

Stage 2: Waiting Period

After the infiltration is performed, approximately 10 to 15 minutes are allowed for the local anesthesia to take effect.

This period also allows the necessary vasoconstriction to occur, enabling the surgery to be performed without pain and with minimal bleeding.

Stage 3: Creating the Pocket

Next, the dissector and expander are introduced to create the pocket where the implant will subsequently be placed.

Stage 4: Implant Placement

Once the pocket has been prepared, the breast implant is inserted using the specific device employed for these techniques.

This completes the MIA® or Preservé™ breast augmentation procedure.

 

Stages of Traditional Breast Augmentation

Traditional breast augmentation follows a different process, adapted to the patient’s anatomy and the plane in which the implant needs to be placed.

Stage 1: Dissection

First, the breast gland is dissected to create the space required to accommodate the implant.

When necessary, the plane beneath the pectoral muscle is also prepared.

Stage 2: Preparation of the Implant Plane

If the selected technique requires placement beneath the muscle, the pectoral muscle is lifted.

When this is not necessary, the procedure is performed directly in the subglandular plane.

Stage 3: Implant Sizing

During the procedure, implant sizers may be used to determine the most appropriate size before placing the definitive implant.

This step is particularly relevant in cases involving breast asymmetry, where different options may need to be assessed.

Stage 4: Placement of the Definitive Implant

Once the appropriate size has been determined, the definitive breast implant is placed, completing the procedure.

As a general guideline, surgery with MIA® or Preservé™ usually takes around 45 minutes, including the approximately 10–15 minutes required for the local anesthesia to take effect.

With traditional breast augmentation, the procedure usually takes around one hour, although it may take up to two hours depending on the characteristics and complexity of the case.

Therefore, there is no single duration that applies to every patient. The technique used, the type of anesthesia, the incision site, and the individual anatomical characteristics of each case are the main factors that determine how much time will be required in the operating room.

As a general guideline, breast reduction surgery usually takes between 3 and 4.5 hours.

However, there is no single duration that applies to every patient. The size and degree of breast sagging, the surgical technique used, the need for complementary liposuction, and how the procedure itself progresses can all slightly affect the total surgical time.

Unlike breast augmentation, breast reduction involves not only reducing breast volume but also reshaping and reconstructing the breast. This is precisely why it requires more extensive surgical work and a longer time in the operating room.

The actual time spent in the operating room for a breast reduction is usually between 3 and 4.5 hours.

The duration depends mainly on the volume of the breasts, the surgical technique selected, and the extent of the incisions and scars required for the procedure.

The larger the breasts, the more time is required to reshape the breast gland, as well as to perform the sutures needed to reconstruct and shape the breasts.

In some cases, breast reduction surgery may be combined with liposuction of the preaxillary area and the sides of the chest. The aim is to improve the body contour and avoid extending the scar underneath the arm. When this additional procedure is performed, the surgical time may increase slightly.

Although we can establish an approximate duration for breast reduction surgery, each procedure must be adapted to the patient’s anatomical characteristics. Several factors can determine how long the surgery ultimately takes.


1. Breast Size and Degree of Sagging

Breast size and the degree of breast ptosis are two of the factors that have the greatest influence on the duration of the surgery.

The greater the breast volume and the more pronounced the sagging, the more work is required to reshape the gland and achieve a harmonious breast shape.

For this reason, breast reduction surgery may take longer in patients with a larger breast volume or a more significant degree of sagging.


2. The Surgical Technique Used

The duration of breast reduction surgery also depends on the technique required in each individual case.

The procedure must be adapted to the characteristics of the breasts and the desired result. In addition, if a liposuctionphase is required to improve the contour of the breasts and chest, the duration of the procedure may be slightly longer.


3. The Patient’s Response During Surgery

Each patient may respond differently during a surgical procedure.

For example, if there is increased bleeding during surgery, additional time may be required to complete the procedure. However, these variations are usually minor and generally only slightly affect the total duration of the surgery.

Breast reduction is usually a longer procedure than breast augmentation because it does not simply involve changing breast volume. In addition to reducing the size of the breasts, the breast tissue must also be reshaped and reconstructed.

The aim is to transform large, sagging breasts into breasts with a rounder, higher, and more harmonious shape.

To achieve this, the surgeon must reshape the breast gland, reconstruct its form, and perform more extensive suturing. The suture closure phase alone usually takes approximately 45 minutes.

Breast augmentation, on the other hand, is generally a quicker procedure because it mainly involves creating the necessary space to place an implant, although its duration may also vary depending on the technique used.

This difference in the procedure explains why breast reduction surgery generally requires more time in the operating room than breast augmentation.

To understand why breast reduction surgery can take several hours, it is important to know the main stages of the procedure.

From the initial planning to breast reconstruction and the closure of the incisions, each stage requires precision to achieve the desired shape.


Stage 1: Preoperative Marking

The surgery begins with preoperative marking, an essential stage for designing and planning the procedure.

During this stage, the surgeon determines which parts of the breast will be preserved and which areas will need to be reshaped or reduced to achieve the desired result.

This design serves as a reference throughout the subsequent stages of surgery.


Stage 2: De-epithelialization and Reduction

The next step is de-epithelialization, a procedure that involves removing only the skin from specific areas of the breast.

The excess breast tissue that does not need to be preserved is then removed to achieve the planned reduction.

This stage reduces breast volume and prepares the tissues that will subsequently be used to reconstruct the shape of the breast.


Stage 3: Reconstruction and Suturing

Once the reduction has been completed, the breast reconstruction stage begins.

The tissue that has been preserved is positioned appropriately to give the breast a more aesthetically pleasing, rounded, and harmonious shape.

Finally, the incisions are sutured. This stage requires particular precision and may take approximately 45 minutes.


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