Breast Augmentation Silicone Mammary Prosthesis
Breast augmentation, known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure
made to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast for a number of reasons
such as; to enhance the body contour of a woman who feels her breast size
is too small, to restore breast volume lost due to weight loss or following
pregnancy, to achieve better symmetry when breasts are moderately disproportionate
in size and shape. By inserting an implant behind each breast, it is possible
to increase the breast size by one or more bra cup sizes.
Breast
augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it
won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other
people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think
carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. The
best candidates for breast augmentation are women who are looking for improvement,
not perfection, in the way they look. If you're physically healthy and realistic
in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
The choice of breast implant filler, implant size, shape and other features
will be determined based on your breast anatomy, body type and your desired
increase in size. Breast implants are medical devices with a solid silicone,
rubber shell. The implant shell may be filled with either saline solution
(sterile salt water) or elastic silicone gel. Both saline and silicone gel
breast implants approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Approval means that an implant has been rigorously researched and tested,
and reviewed by an independent panel of physicians for safety. Adult women
of any age can benefit greatly from the enhancement breast implants provide.
It is usually recommended, however, that a woman's breasts are fully developed
prior to placement of breast implants. Saline implants are FDA approved
for augmentation in women 18 years of age and older. Silicone implants are
FDA approved for augmentation in women age 22 and older. Saline or silicone
implants may be recommended at a younger age if used for reconstruction
purposes. You should be aware that breast implants are not guaranteed to
last a lifetime and future surgery may be required to replace one or both
implants.
As
with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific
complications associated with this procedure. The most common problem, capsular
contracture, occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to
tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel
hard. Capsular contracture can be treated in several ways, and sometimes
requires either removal or "scoring" of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal
or replacement of the implant. Excessive bleeding following the operation
may cause some swelling and pain. If excessive bleeding continues, another
operation may be needed to control the bleeding and remove the accumulated
blood. A small percentage of women develop an infection around an implant.
This may occur at any time, but is most often seen within a week after surgery.
In some cases, the implant may need to be removed for several months until
the infection clears. A new implant can then be inserted. Some women report
that their nipples become oversensitive, undersensitive, or even numb. You
may also notice small patches of numbness near your incisions. These symptoms
usually disappear within time, but may be permanent in some patients. Breast
implants do not generally interfere with a woman's ability to breast feed,
or present a health hazard during pregnancy to a woman or her baby. However,
pregnancy and the associated changes to a woman's body may alter the results
of any breast surgery, including surgery to place breast implants. Occasionally,
breast implants may break or leak. Rupture can occur as a result of injury
or even from the normal compression and movement of your breast and implant,
causing the man-made shell to leak. An ultrasound exam or MRI screening
can assess the condition of breast implants; after 3 years it is recommended
that all silicone implants be properly screened.
In your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your health and
explain which surgical techniques are most appropriate for you, based on
the condition of your breasts and skin tone. If your breasts are sagging,
your doctor may also recommend a breast lift. Be sure to discuss your expectations
frankly with your surgeon. Your surgeon should also explain the type of
anesthesia to be used, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed,
and the costs involved. Because most insurance companies do not consider
breast augmentation to be medically necessary, carriers generally do not
cover the cost of this procedure.
Breast augmentation can be performed with a general anesthesia, so you'll
sleep through the entire operation. Some surgeons may use a local anesthesia,
combined with a sedative to make you drowsy, so you'll be relaxed but awake,
and may feel some discomfort.
The
method of inserting and positioning your implant will depend on your anatomy
and your surgeon's recommendation. The incision can be made either in the
crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola (the dark skin
surrounding the nipple), or in the armpit. In addition, a saline implant
may be placed through an incision at the navel. Every effort will be made
to assure that the incision is placed so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous
as possible.
The surgery usually takes one to two hours to complete. You'll want to discuss
the pros and cons of these alternatives with your doctor before surgery
to make sure you fully understand the implications of the procedure he or
she recommends for you.
You're likely to feel tired and sore for a few days following your surgery,
but you'll be up and around in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your discomfort can
be controlled by medication prescribed by your doctor. Within several days,
the gauze dressings, if you have them, will be removed, and you may be given
a surgical bra. You should wear it as directed by your surgeon. You may
also experience a burning sensation in your nipples for about two weeks,
but this will subside as bruising fades.
Your stitches will come out in a week to 10 days, but the swelling in your
breasts may take three to five weeks to disappear.
You should be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the
level of activity required for your job. Your scars will be firm and pink
for at least six weeks. Then they may remain the same size for several months,
or even appear to widen. After several months, your scars will begin to
fade, although they will never disappear completely. For many women, the
result of breast augmentation can be satisfying, as they learn to appreciate
their fuller appearance.
