Body improvement through breast augmentation
Making your breasts the size and shape you're happy with can change your life in many ways. The emotional aspects are important, but you may also be looking forward to feeling more comfortable.
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. Through the placement of breast implants, women have been able to achieve changes in their figure that otherwise would have been impossible.
If you're considering breast augmentation with breast implants, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure.
The best candidates for breast augmentation are: 18 years of age or older; Not currently pregnant or nursing; In good physical health; Psychologically stable; Wanting to improve their appearance; Realistic in their expectations; Having this surgery for the first time.
Breast implants are used to make your breasts larger, firmer and fuller. Breast implants are available in a variety of shapes, types and sizes and are usually made of an outer layer of silicone, filled with either silicone gel or salt water (saline).
Breast augmentation consists of making an incision, lifting the breast tissue, creating a pocket in the chest/breast area, and placing an envelope containing a soft, natural feeling implant material underneath (breast implant).
Most likely, the anesthesia you receive will be general, although some doctors use a local anesthetic along with a sedative. Anesthesia type should be discussed with your doctor during the initial consultation.
Breast augmentation stretches the tissues, and can be painful. This is especially true when the implants are placed under the muscle and in young women who have never had children.
In spite of the initial discomfort, most women report that they are very satisfied with the results of their breast enlargment surgery.
Your surgeon may prescribe an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory medication to be taken after the surgery. It is a good idea to have these prescriptions filled beforehand.
It is possible that you may require surgery in later years to correct sagging if you choose to have large implants. Gravity, unfortunately has no exceptions.
Breast implants by type
By implant position, plastic surgeons are referring to whether the breast implant should be placed above or below the pectoralis muscle.
The advantages of placing the breast implant above the muscle includes less discomfort post-operatively, less swelling, and less chance that the breast will appear to move when you are exercising your upper body.
The advantages for placing the implants under the muscle include less interference with a mammography and less rippling in the upper half of the breast.
Thin, small-breasted, athletic women must weigh the options. You need to realize that many women who work out (and even some professional female athletes) have implants under the muscle and are very happy with their appearance.
By implant surface, plastic surgeons are referring to whether the implant is smooth or textured. Once the implants are in place under your breasts, it is impossible to tell whether you have smooth or textured implants.
A smooth implant is just that - as smooth as the surface of a balloon. Textured implants are rough, somewhat like sandpaper.
ou might be thinking that (of course) teardrop implants would be better. However, most plastic surgeons disagree.
Plastic surgeons find that teardrop implants may rotate, giving an unnatural appearance, and they impose restrictions in that they must be textured.
Volume is the all-important size issue. Breast implants come in all sizes with the most common sizes ranging from 200-600 cc (cubic centimeter; is the same as a ml (milliliter)).
In case placing a standard implant would risk an unnatural result, because it would be too wide for her body frame and would likely also extend too high and too low on her chest wall. In these cases, a High Profile implant is recommended.
With a high profile implant, the volume is the same, but the diameter (footprint) is narrower and the projection (the amount that it sticks out away from your body) is greater.
Silicone breast implants provide a more natural look and feel, which is particularly important to women who have a modest amount of breast tissue.
The main disadvantage of silicone gel breast implants is that they might have a higher rate of capsular contracture, the incision is usually longer, and the cost is higher than saline breast implants.
