Breast Augmentation
This site is primarily about surgery and weight loss, but cosmetic and weight loss surgery are so closely related that we have added
this section about the most popular cosmetic procedures, the most publicized of which is breast augmentation.
Popularized by celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, the surgery really gained in popularity over the last 15 years, to the point where in 2005 there were approximately 290,000 surgeries in the US alone!
Breast Augmentation Basics
There are two types of breast implant:
1. Saline Implants have a silicone elastomer shell filled with sterile saline liquid.
2. Silicone implants have a silicone shell filled with a viscous silicone gel.
Scarring from Saline implants is smaller, as the implant is filled after it is inserted into the body, whereas Silicone implants are inserted whole. Both types are very safe now, but older versions had a tendency to leak or rupture, causing many health problems.
The mode of insertion depends on the patient and the type of implant. Basically, you have the choice of below the breast (Inframammary), through the areola (Periareolar), through the armpit (Transaxillary) or through the navel (Transumbilical).
The placement of the implant will also vary case by case, but the most aesthetically pleasing is said to be the subglandular placement, whereby the implant lies between the breast tissue and the pectoralis muscle.
Is Breast Augmentation for you?
A breast augmentation can be undertaken for a number of reasons:
1. To enhance the body shape of a woman who feels her breasts are too small.
2. To achieve better body symmetry.
3. To restore a breast after surgery for breast cancer.
4. To restore volume after pregnancy.
Most breast surgeries these days are done for cosmetic reasons, popularized by celebrities such as Carmen Electra and Pamela Anderson. In some countries, like Venezuela and Brazil, it is now even more deeply ingrained that in the US.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Many factors contribute to your recovery time after a breast augmentation - age, skin type, surgery technique and medical history will all play a role. It is important to realise that the patient will not be able to lift anything after the operation, so a friend or family member should be nearby to assist them.
Typically a patient will be able to return to work within a week, as long as the job involves no exertion or lifting. Even simple motions like raising your hands over your head can take months to return. A full recovery can take 6 months or longer.
Breast Augmentation Dangers
Breast augmentation patients face a number of dangers when they walk out of the operating theater. The most common concern is rupture, whereby the implant leaks or bursts. This problem can be cured with more surgery to remove or replace the implant. Another worry is that scar tissue around the implant will harden, causing the implant to feel inflexible and unnatural. Again, more surgery is the answer.
A breast augmentation is traumatic for the body, so its no surprise that some patients lose feeling in their breast tissue or nipples are surgery. This can be temporary or permanent. Breast surgery patients are also subject to all the usual risks of general anaesthesia.