Women who chose to have breast reduction surgery are generally the most satisfied with the surgery compared others who undergo cosmetic surgery. This section discusses the different types of breast reconstructive surgery as well as cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, and breast lift. Women who have a mastectomy may also decide to have breast reconstruction, either at the same time or later on. Women who pursue reduction surgery are often trying to relieve a secondary health issue caused or exacerbated by the size of their breasts. Again, this surgery is not foolproof and should be carefully researched before going forward.
Women consider breast augmentation -- or augmentation mammoplasty -- for different reasons. Some women feel their breasts are too small in relation to their body contour. Women with large breasts have a greater tendency to swelling following radiation and this can take some months to settle.
Cosmetic breast surgery can bring greater self-confidence to the patient. Cosmetic breast surgery gives you a lot of individualized options for changing the size and shape of your breasts. Surgical methods and breast-implant technology have improved dramatically in recent years: breast augmentation is less invasive, with more options and better post-surgical results. Cosmetic breast surgery, or breast augmentation, is a successful way to enhance the breasts, producing a larger and fuller bust. The goal is to augment the breasts for natural-looking, enhanced results.
Health insurance rarely covers breast implant surgery, and usually only when it is related to mastectomy. It may not cover the costs of removing breast implants, even if health problems have developed, and may not cover the costs of any future tests such as MRIs that your plastic surgeon may recommend. Healing tissue is dyanmic, often for a period of months, and this dynamic character is a potential cause of an unfavorable cosmetic appearance. Gentle and frequent massage of the scar reduces thickening, stimulates revascularization and promote mobility and elasticity of the skin. Breast surgery is tailored to each individual patient and a number of decisions need to be made with regards to the procedure. The selection of the breast implant shape and texture, fill material (silicone versus saline), position and incision location are all decisions which are undertaken with the patient and tailored to her individual need.Breast Implants is the fastest and easiest way to find a breast implant surgeon in your area.
Breast Implants also offers the best free information about breast implants, breast implant surgery, breast augmentation, saline and silicone breast implants, and breast enlargement. Breast implants are medical devices. Like all medical devices, they provide certain benefits, but also pose certain health risks. Breast implants have become a worldwide multi-billion dollar industry based on cultivating women's insecurities about their bodies, while failing to prove that implants are safe over the long-term. In 2006, after a 14 year ban, the Food and Drug Administration approved marketing silicone-gel breast implants to women aged 22 and older.
Breast Augmentation Before After
What is breast augmentation?
Augmentation of the breast consists of insertion of a silicone bag (prosthesis) under the breast (submammary) or under the breast and chest muscle (subpectoral) and then filling the bag with saline (salt water). This prosthesis expands the breast area to give a fuller breast (increased cup size), give a better contour, and give more cleavage.
How is the incision made?
The incision (cut) may be placed at various locations such as: under the breast at the breast fold; periareolar which is at the edge of the areola (brown area consisting of nipple and areola); within the areola; in the armpit (axillary); or in the umbilical area.
The thinnest scar is usually in the areola. The umbilical incision approach is used with an endoscope (tube with a light for visualization and placement of the breast implant).
What are smooth and textured implants?
The smooth surface implant requires a large pocket and is associated with a 10% incidence of capsule contracture (tightening of the scar around the implant causing firmness or hardness). The smooth implant has only an occasional occurrence of rippling or wrinkling which gives the overlying skin a wavy appearance.
A textured (roughened surface) implant is associated with a 3% incidence of capsule contracture but has a 7-9% occurrence of rippling.
What are the choices of implant positions?
The easiest surgical placement of the implant is under the breast tissue (submammary).
A slightly more difficult surgical placement is under the chest muscle (submuscular or subpectoral) but this position is associated with a lower incidence of capsule contracture and slightly less occurrence of rippling. There is more pain postoperatively than with a submammary placement.
What are the options for implant size?
The ultimate size of the breast is mainly a personal decision by the patient. Cup size is an inexact estimate of the final size since cup sizes vary with the bra manufacturer and how tight or loose the patient wears her bra as well as how much breast tissue is already present. Describing the preferred cup size does aid the surgeon, but it also helps to look at pictures or photos to show the physician the desired final look.
The most accurate method of estimating the implant size (in ounces) is to fill a plastic bag with measured amounts of water and place in a bra with the patient's estimated cup size. One can see with the bra on and covered by a sweater what the final result will approximate.
Patients most often comment that, "I wish I had gone larger," although there is a rare patient who feels she is too large.
What are risks and complications of breast augmentation?
1. Infection
Although infection is rare (1-3%) it can be a very distressing problem. Signs of infection are fever, redness, swelling, and discomfort. If the infection does not respond rapidly to antibiotic treatment, the implant must be removed and the implant can be replaced three (3) months after the wound is completely healed.
2. Bleeding
If bleeding occurs into the implant pocket after surgery, the implant must be surgically removed, the bleeding controlled, the wound washed out, and the implant replaced. Signs of bleeding include marked swelling, increasing pain, and bruising.
3. Capsule contracture
Hardening of the breast with distortion and sometime pain may require surgical incision of the fibrous scar capsule around the implant (capsulotomy) or partial or total removal of the scar capsule (capsulectomy). The implant can be immediately placed back in the new packet. About 30-35% of patients have recurrent capsule contracture.
Other means of treating the contracture is replacement of a smooth implant with a textured one or placing the implant in a new pocket either under the breast or under the muscle.
If capsule contracture occurs multiple times, the patient may decide to remove the implants permanently.
4. Asymmetry
Sometimes the implant will slip out of the position in which it was initially placed and appear too high, too low, or to one side. Most of the time this requires surgical repair.
5. Problems with Mammography
The implant will block some areas of the breast from being visualized on mammography. This is usually less if the implant is placed under the muscle.
Because breast implants might affect the clarity of the mammogram, patients who have multiple close family members with breast cancer probably should not have breast implants.
6. Autoimmune Disease
With all the confusion in the newspaper, magazines and on the T.V. or radio, there has been a fear that silicone implants may cause autoimmune disease. At this time there is no scientific evidence that silicone causes autoimmune disease.
7. Cancer
There is no evidence that silicone implants cause cancer.
8. Calcifications
Implants that have been in a patient for many years may cause calcifications in the scar capsule around the implant. These calcifications can almost always be distinguished from the calcifications which may indicate breast cancer.
9. Deflation
An implant may leak from weakness in the patch or valve area, a hole from incomplete inflation, or other factors. The more modern saline implants have been estimated to leak in 1-5% of cases.
How long do implants last?
It is not known how long implants will last. In the body, the wall of the implant may weaken and become disrupted. This is more likely when there is an impact injury, such as from the steering wheel of a car or fall. The implant may or may not last a lifetime and depends upon the manufacturing process and other, as yet, unknown factors.
FINAL RESULTS
Most patients are extremely happy with breast augmentation. There is a certain amount of increased self esteem and self confidence which may result.
The patient who desires augmentation should not be influenced by family or friends as to whether or not the surgery should be performed and what size is most desirable. This is a very personal matter to most patients and satisfaction is best when the patient makes the decisions.
Breast Augmentation At A Glance
Smooth implants have less chance of rippling (waviness of skin) than textured (roughened) implants.
Smooth implants have a higher incidence of capsule contracture (hardening of the implant) than textured implants.
Implants placed under the muscle result in more pain postoperatively but have a lower incidence of capsule contracture and rippling.
Infection and bleeding are rare but must be treated promptly.
A certain number of patients may need another surgery to correct a problem.
The aesthetic results of breast implants are best appreciated by the patient who feels the need for larger breasts.
Both Gabriel Machuret & Breast Implants Usa are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
