Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery was the number one cosmetic surgical procedure in 2008, with more than 307,000 procedures performed in the United States as reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are several reasons why breast augmentation has become such a popular option for women, including:

• Reconstruction of breasts lost to disease or trauma
• Correction of breast abnormalities, such as asymmetry
• Enlargement for aesthetic reasons
• Revision surgery to correct breast implant complications

Regardless of the patient’s reasons for choosing <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=http://www.drbray.com/breast_aug.html>breast augmentation surgery</a>, when performed by a trained and experienced cosmetic surgeon this procedure can help to:

• Increase a woman’s self-assurance
• Improve a woman’s body proportions

No Two Breast Implants Are the Same

Often women who are considering <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=http://www.drbray.com/breast_aug_faq.html>breast implants</a> will have seen a friend, family member or even a movie star with breasts she wishes to mimic. The fact is that no two breast implants will look exactly the same, and what works for one woman may be completely wrong for another. While it is good for a woman to have an idea of how she would like her breasts to look, a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon can help to identify the right choices to achieve the desired appearance.

Be Prepared to Make Informed Breast Augmentation Choices

There are many decisions to make when it comes to breast augmentation surgery.

• Breast Implant Type: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both saline and silicone gel implants for women over 18 or 22 years of age, respectively
• Incision Area: Under the arm (transaxillary), around the areola (periareolar), inside the navel (transumbilical/TUBA) or in the under breast crease (inframmary)
• Breast Implant Placement: Under the pectoral muscles and underlying muscles (submuscular), under the upper pectoral muscles but above the chest muscles (subpectoral) or above the pectoral and chest muscles and beneath the breast tissue (subglandular)
• Breast Implant Size: Depending on the type of implant used, the cosmetic surgeon will either insert a pre-filled/pre-sized silicone breast implant or insert the right amount of saline solution into the breast implant after it has been inserted into the body to achieve the desired size
• Breast Implant Shape: Round or teardrop
• Breast Implant Texture: Smooth or textured

There are advantages and disadvantages of every breast augmentation choice, which is why an in-depth consultation and body assessment with a cosmetic surgeon is recommended.

No Surgery is without Risks

During a breast implant consultation, if the cosmetic surgeon does not discuss the potential risks and complications, make a fast get-away. Just like any invasive surgery, breast augmentation has its risks, including:

• Infection
• Pain in the breasts
• Obvious or unnoticeable implant rupture
• Leaking of silicone gel into the body
• Need for additional surgeries
• Capsular contracture or painful hardening of the scar tissue around the implant
• Breast sensation changes

Patients should be aware of these risks and prepared to deal with them if they should arise.