Cosmetic Procedures
Breast Augmentation
Part of having a nice figure entails having a proportionate chest. When breast size is flattering, clothes fit better, and the swimsuit season is something to look forward to rather than dread.
For the right candidate, a breast augmentation can not only enhance your outward look, it can also make you feel better about your appearance, causing you to exude confidence from the inside out.
Who Needs It
Women may choose to have a breast augmentation for several reasons. After years of gravity, women in their 40s and 50s are prime candidates for the surgery, as breast augmentation can restore a more youthful form. Others are simply women of all ages who have never liked the smallness of their chest. They want clothes to fit better and feel the procedure will enhance their appearance.
Preparation
During your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon and you will discuss what you would like to achieve through surgery. You will decide the size and shape you will be most happy with, what type of implant is best for you, where the incision will be made, and whether or not to insert the implant over or underneath the muscle wall.
Women now have more choices in implants than ever. The two main types of breast implants are gel-filled implants and saline-filled implants. Both types are used commonly and all of them have been deemed safe by the FDA. The gel implants are softer, appear more natural, and resist rippling better than saline implants, but saline implants can also provide excellent results- depending on a woman's breasts and frame. The decision on gel vs. saline needs to be explored with your surgeon, keeping in mind your individual needs. There are two types of implant surfaces-- textured and smooth. The textured implant tends to stay in place by attaching itself to the surrounding tissues, while a smooth implant tends to move more naturally with the breast. Textured implants can reveal rippling on the sides of the breast and more frequently deflate, although these issues have been minimized with the latest generation of form-stable gel implants. Your physician and you will have to discuss the best type of implant for you.
It is untrue that all implants "must" be replaced after 10 or 15 years. In general, the chances of needing to replace your implants increases with time, with a good rule of thumb being that your chances of needing new implants are more than half after 15 years. Although problems are very rare, the most common problem is hardening of the scar tissue around the implant- a capsular contracture- which may need to be dealt with surgically.
The Surgery
You will probably have your breast augmentation under general anesthesia and will decide with your physician where the incision will be made-under the armpit, in the breast crease, around the areola, or in the belly button. Any of these incisions will be made to make scars look as inconspicuous as possible, and the decision of scar location is usually left up to the patient. The implant will be inserted and centered around the nipple. The incisions will then be sutured back together and bandaged. After a day or two, the bandages will be replaced by a surgical bra, offering ample support.
Results
Recovery is usually no more than one day, with minimal or no use of pain pills. Most of the swelling has subsided after four to six weeks, and depending on the patient, the breasts need between one and six months to "settle". The incisions need to be kept out of the sun (or tanning bed) for one year to allow for maximal fading of the scars. Most women are very happy with their new look and feel more confident after surgery.
