Beverly Hills Breast Augmentation
By inserting a breast implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to increase a woman's bust line by one or more bra cup sizes. If you're considering breast augmentation, please read on to gain a basic understanding of the procedure, when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. Since a lot depends on your individual circumstances, we highly recommend coming in for a
FREE CONSULTATION.
Breast Augmentation in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles plastic surgeons focus on all cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures; especially in the field of breast augmentation and liposuction.
Did you have a breast augmentation some years ago with silicone implants but would like to change them with larger saline breast implants? Plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles explains this procedure and what it involves.
Breast augmentation in Beverly Hills, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast. Breast augmentation in Beverly Hills may be done for any of these reasons:
* To enhance the body contour of a woman who feels her breast size is too small.
* To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy.
* To balance a difference in breast size.
* As a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.
Replacing breast implants can be a difficult procedure. If there is "capsular contracture,"where the tissue around the implant hardens, excision of the capsule is often required. Sometimes a different incision than your initial surgery---underarm, periareolar(nipple) or inframmary (below the breast) incision---is needed. If you have chronic inflammation of the tissue around the implants, the new implants may need to be placed in a different place (below or above the muscle).
LookingYourBest.com is your online resource for plastic surgery. Find plastic surgeons throughout the United States that offer breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and more. See before and after pictures.
Female Plastic Surgeon Breast Augmentation
What Are Important Factors For You to Consider When Deciding To Have Saline-Filled Implants?
Whether you are undergoing breast augmentation or reconstruction, be aware that breast implantation may not be a one time surgery. You are likely to need additional surgery and visits to your female plastic surgeon over the course of your life.
* Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices. You will likely under go implant removal with or without replacement over the course of your life.
* Many of the changes to your breast following implantation are irreversible (cannot be undone). If you later choose to have your implant(s) removed, you may experience unacceptable dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes of the breast. Ask your female plastic surgeon about replacement issues.
* Breast implants may affect your ability to produce milk for breast feeding. Also, breast implants will not prevent your breast from sagging after pregnancy.
* With breast implants, routine screening mammography will be more difficult, and you will need to have additional views, which means more time and radiation.
* For patients who have undergone breast implantation either as a cosmetic or a reconstructive procedure, health insurance premiums may increase, coverage may be dropped, and/or future coverage may be denied.
* Treatment of complications may not be covered as well. You should check with your insurance company regarding these coverage issues.
What Questions Should You Ask Your Female Plastic Surgeon About Breast Augmentation
The following list of questions may help you to remind you of topics to discuss with your female plastic surgeon. You may have additional questions as well.
1. What are the risks and complications associated with having breast implants?
2. How many additional operations on my implanted breast(s) can I expect over my lifetime?
3. How will my breasts look if I decide to have the implants removed without replacement?
4. What shape, size, surface texturing, incision site, and placement site is recommended for me?
5. How will my ability to breast feed be affected?
6. How can I expect my implanted breasts to look over time?
7. How can I expect my implanted breasts to look after pregnancy? After breast feeding?
8. What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breasts?
9. What alternate procedures or products are offered by female plastic surgeons if I choose not to have breast implants?
10. Do you have before and after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?
LookingYourBest.com is your online resource for plastic surgery. Find plastic surgeons throughout the United States that offer breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and more. See before and after pictures.
Breast Reconstruction Specialists
Breast reconstruction is a procedure to help you if you are facing the loss of a breast due to cancer or other diseases. Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to recreate the contour of your breast, using either a prosthesis or your own tissues. Great strides have been made in this field in recent years, resulting in more aesthetic shape and appearance. It is important for you to realize that your results will not look or feel exactly like your natural breast. While it is not for everyone, many women who have undergone breast reconstruction experience a faster and more complete emotional recovery from the loss of their breast.
Breast reconstruction procedures that are available to you depend on your medical situation, your shape and size, your general health and lifestyle, and your goals. Every woman's situation is unique, and can only be determined through the help of a competent and qualified plastic surgeon.
If you are considering breast reconstruction, your plastic surgeon can provide you with more information that fully explains the risks and complications associated with breast implants, tissue flaps, and with surgery itself. It is recommended that you read all of the information provided before scheduling surgery with your breast augmentation specialist so that you have plenty of time to ask questions and evaluate all of your options for Breast Reconstruction.
Breast Reconstruction Procedures
Breast reconstruction surgery comes in two important forms: Skin expansion surgery and flap reconstruction. Skin expansion surgery is the most common technique. In this technique, your surgeon will insert a small balloon-like implant which is gradually filled with more saline solution. Several visits are required to gradually fill the implant to larger sizes in order to stretch the skin over a period of several months. Once the skin has been stretched, a more permanent type of implant may be inserted, and reconstructive surgery is performed on the nipples to rebuild them.
Breast reconstruction can also be performed through flap reconstruction. This procedure is generally more complicated and results in more scarring on more locations. This procedure uses skin and muscle tissues taken from other parts of the patient's body and moved to the breast area to create a pocket for an implant or enough material to substitute for the implant. The advantage of this procedure is that it can create a more natural looking breast without the concerns of an implant, as the breast can be reconstructed with your own tissues.
LookingYourBest.com is your online resource for plastic surgery. Find plastic surgeons throughout the United States that offer breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and more. See before and after pictures.
Breast Reconstruction in San Diego
Whether you decide to have
breast reconstruction in San Diego depends on your own individual case, medical condition, general health, lifestyle, emotional state, and breast size and shape. You may consider consulting your family, friends, breast implant support groups, and breast cancer support groups to help you in making this decision. Your general surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist should work together to plan your mastectomy and reconstruction procedure to give you the best possible result.
Your surgeon will decide whether your health and medical condition makes you an appropriate candidate for breast implant reconstruction. Women with larger breasts may require reconstruction with a combination of a tissue flap and an implant. Your surgeon may recommend breast implantation of the opposite, uninvolved breast in order to make them more alike (maximize symmetry) or he/she may suggest breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) or a breast lift (mastopexy) to improve symmetry. Mastopexy involves removing a strip of skin from under the breast or around the nipple and using it to lift and tighten the skin over the breast. Reduction mammoplasty involves removal of breast tissue and skin. If it is important to you not to alter the unaffected breast, you should discuss this with your plastic surgeon, as it may affect the breast reconstruction methods considered for your case.
LookingYourBest.com is your online resource for plastic surgery. Find plastic surgeons throughout the United States that offer breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and more. See before and after pictures.
Breast Reconstruction in Beverly Hills
Whether you decide to have
breast reconstruction in Beverly Hills depends on your own individual case, medical condition, general health, lifestyle, emotional state, and breast size and shape. You may consider consulting your family, friends, breast implant support groups, and breast cancer support groups to help you in making this decision. Your general surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist should work together to plan your mastectomy and reconstruction procedure to give you the best possible result.
Your surgeon will decide whether your health and medical condition makes you an appropriate candidate for breast implant reconstruction. Women with larger breasts may require reconstruction with a combination of a tissue flap and an implant. Your surgeon may recommend breast implantation of the opposite, uninvolved breast in order to make them more alike (maximize symmetry) or he/she may suggest breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) or a breast lift (mastopexy) to improve symmetry. Mastopexy involves removing a strip of skin from under the breast or around the nipple and using it to lift and tighten the skin over the breast. Reduction mammoplasty involves removal of breast tissue and skin. If it is important to you not to alter the unaffected breast, you should discuss this with your plastic surgeon, as it may affect the breast reconstruction methods considered for your case.
LookingYourBest.com is your online resource for plastic surgery. Find plastic surgeons throughout the United States that offer breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and more. See before and after pictures.
Breast Implants
Saline breast implants contain an outer shell of silicone within which the saline solution is placed. The new and improved silicone gel implants have the same outer silicone shell within which is a new cohesive silicone gel. Unlike the old silicone implants, which were more like a liquid, the new cohesive gel implants act more like a solid than a liquid holding together uniformly while still retaining the natural give and feel of natural breast tissue. This gelatin - like cohesive silicone gel is much less likely to leak, rupture or tear as compared to the older traditional silicone implants and, the implant does not leak even when cut in half:
Most plastic surgeons and patients agree that the new cohesive silicone gel implants have a more natural feel and are less likely to produce rippling than saline breast implants. The cohesive gel implant, however will require a slightly larger incision to allow placement.
Breast Implants - Shapes and Textures
Saline breast implants and silicone breast implants come in a variety of shapes, surface textures, and sizes. Depending on the desired shape you wish to achieve, you and your plastic surgeon may choose a round or shaped implant. Generally, the larger you want your cup size, the larger the implant the plastic surgeon will consider.
Breast Implant Profiles
Three distinct profiles also exist ranging from moderate profile to moderate plus/mid range to high profile. The moderate profile breast implant has a wider diameter with the least forward projection whereas the high profile implant has a narrower base diameter and the most forward projection. The moderate plus/mid range profile has, for most, the best in diameter and projection. Your plastic surgeon will help each patient choose the most appropriate size, shape and profile best suited for that individual patient.
The surface texture may also vary from smooth to one of a variety of textured or rough surfaces. Textured implants were originally designed to reduce capsular contracture (firmness and hardening of the tissue which heals around the implant). The textured surface allows tissue in-growth which fixes or adheres the breast implant to the surrounding tissues in a steady position. Since the tissues adhere to the breast implant, it is more likely to feel the ripples or waves which are natural in any implant. The smooth breast implant however does not adhere to any tissues and is free to move inside the implant "pocket." With a proper size and the proper creation of the breast implant "pocket," there is less chance of feeling and seeing the breast implants and a more natural feel and movement of the breast. Each type of surface seems to have certain possible advantages and disadvantages.
LookingYourBest.com is your online resource for plastic surgery. Find plastic surgeons throughout the United States that offer breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and more. See before and after pictures.
Breast Augmentation Beverly Hills, or Augmentation Mammoplasty, is the enlargement of a woman's breasts through the placement of implants. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 255,000 women in the United States underwent Breast Augmentation Beverly Hills in 2003, nearly twice the number of procedures done in 1998.
Women undergo Breast Augmentation Beverly Hills for a number of reasons including Small Breasts measuring an "A" cup or less; shrinking, loss of volume and sagging from Pregnancy and Breast Feeding; Asymmetrical or "uneven" breasts; Tubular or "Snoopy" breasts; loss of breast volume due to Weight Loss; loss of breast tissue due to Aging; Ptosis or sagging of the breasts (which is often treated with a combination of Breast Lift and augmentation with an implant to compensate for loss in volume caused by the lift); and Empty Sac Syndrome where there is a loss of breast volume while the breast "envelope" remains intact.
The Saline Breast Implant, which has an exterior sac made of solid silicone and which is filled with a sterile saline solution, is the most commonly used implant. Advantages of this implant include its safety because the saline just gets absorbed by the body if the implant leaks, and a very low infection rate. Another advantage is that it is filled with fluid after being inserted into the breast, and therefore the plastic surgeon only needs to make a very small incision to insert it.
Silicone Breast Implants are filled with a silicone gel. More than 1.5 million American women currently have Silicone Breast Implants. While some people feel that these implants feel more like a "natural" breast, their safety came into question about 15 years ago, due to claims that they caused autoimmune diseases and hardening of the breasts. Today, only women who are enrolled in long-term clinical studies are permitted to use these implants, which are also reputed to have less easily detected ruptures than do Saline Breast Implants.
Implants have various shapes, including
Round, Teardrop or "Anatomic." Round Implants are wider, provide greater cleavage and fill in the upper portion of the breast. Many
plastic surgeons suggest
Teardrop or
Anatomic implants for women who are seeking fullness mostly in the lower breast.
The plastic surgeon has four ways to enter the breast for implant placement. The Peri-Areolar Incision is made like a half-circle at the outer edge of the areola, the colored area around the nipple. This method grants the plastic surgeon the greatest access for precise placement of the implant, and provides better control of bleeding during surgery – thereby reducing the risk of scarring and Capsular Contracture — the hardening of breast tissue. The Trans-Axillary Incision, an incision placed in the armpit, is less desirable because it is far from the central location of the implant, and makes it difficult for the plastic surgeon to position them. The Inframammary Fold Incision is made near the under-breast fold, and like the Peri-Areolar Incision, gives the plastic surgeon good control in positioning the implant. The Trans-Umbilical Incision (TUBA) is a one-to-two inch incision at the edge of the "belly button" through which a long metal tube containing the implant is pushed towards the breasts to place it, also makes precise placement more difficult. Each method has other advantages and disadvantages, and you should thoroughly discuss the best technique for your needs with your plastic surgeon.
You should also discuss the method of implant placement — Subpectoral or Subglandular — with your plastic surgeon. During Subpectoral placement, the implant is positioned under the Pectoralis Major muscle and directly over the rib cage, so that the lower part of the implant is not covered by any muscle, creating a more tear drop breast shape. During Subglandular placement, the implant is placed above the chest muscle, but below the mammary gland, which gives the implant less protection and a higher risk of Capsular Contracture.
You should thoroughly explore implant size with your plastic surgeon, who should give you as much time as you need to "try on" different sizes of implants. You should not only consider breast size, but also what size is proportional with your frame and your height. Breast Augmentation Beverly Hills is major surgery, so you should be highly selective to choose a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and who has performed this procedure many times. The plastic surgeon should show you "Before and After" examples of his or her work, and have an artistic sense that is in sync with the results that you are seeking.
Labels: breast augmentation beverly hills, cosmetic, plastic surgeon beverly hills, plastic surgery
Breast augmentation Manhattan New York
Breast augmentation Manhattan New York is performed to increase breast fullness and volume for women with small breasts or those who have experienced a decrease in breast size due to pregnancy or weight loss. There is a wide variety of implant designs, shapes, sizes, and textures, all of which have certain advantages and disadvantages. A breast implant is basically a soft, silicone envelope with various fillers that is surgically implanted under the tissues of your chest to simulate natural breast tissue. The breast implant used for primary
breast augmentation Manhattan New York is made of a silicone shell filled with a saline solution. Saline filled adjustable implants that are similar to the standard saline filled implants with the addition of a small connector tube through which the surgeon can adjust the size via injection. This implant requires a second incision to remove the injection port in an additional
breast augmentation Manhattan New York procedure. Under certain conditions, including breast reconstruction, breast lift and other secondary breast procedures, silicone gel implants are now approved by the FDA. View
breast augmentation Manhattan New York photos. Breast augmentation Manhattan New York may be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. General anesthesia may be recommended for women desiring implant placement below the muscle. The breast augmentation Manhattan New York surgery consists of making an incision, lifting the breast tissue, creating a pocket in the chest/breast area, and placing an envelope containing a soft, implant material underneath. An incision may be made either in the crease below the breast, around the areola, or under the armpit. The implants can be placed either under the chest muscle or directly under the breasts. Placement considerations include the anatomy of your breasts, breast feeding, and your personal preference. All of the options will be discussed in detail to allow you to make an informed decision. For breast augmentation Manhattan New York contact board certified plastic surgeon Eric Sadeh.
Breast augmentation Manhattan New York 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 Manhattan New York 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.
A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as saline. Because of concerns that there is insufficient information demonstrating the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that new gel-filled implants, at the present time, should be available only to women participating in approved studies. Some women requiring replacement of the implants may also be eligible to participate in the study. Saline-filled implants continue to be available to
breast augmentation Manhattan New York patients on an unrestricted basis, pending further FDA review. You should ask your doctor more about the specifics of the FDA decisions.
Breast augmentation Manhattan New York is relatively straightforward. But 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. As with any surgical procedure, 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. There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse. If, however, you have nursed a baby within the year before augmentation, you may produce milk for a few days after surgery. This may cause some discomfort, but can be treated with medication prescribed by your doctor.
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. If a saline-filled implant breaks, the implant will deflate in a few hours and the salt water will be harmlessly absorbed by the body. If a break occurs in a gel-filled implant, however, one of two things may occur. If the shell breaks but the scar capsule around the implant does not, you may not detect any change. If the scar also breaks or tears, especially following extreme pressure, silicone gel may move into surrounding tissue. The gel may collect in the breast and cause a new scar to form around it, or it may migrate to another area of the body. There may be a change in the shape or firmness of the breast. Both types of breaks may require a second operation and replacement of the leaking implant. In some cases, it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel in the breast tissue if a rupture should occur. A few women with breast implants have reported symptoms similar to diseases of the immune system, such as scleroderma and other arthritis-like conditions. These symptoms may include joint pain or swelling, fever, fatigue, or breast pain. Research has found no clear link between silicone breast implants and the symptoms of what doctors refer to as "connective-tissue disorders," but the FDA has requested further study. While there is no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer, they may change the way mammography is done to detect cancer. When you request a routine mammogram, be sure to go to a radiology center where technicians are experienced in the special techniques required to get a reliable x-ray of a breast with an implant. Additional views will be required. Ultrasound examinations may be of benefit in some women with implants to detect breast lumps or to evaluate the implant. While the majority of women do not experience these complications, you should discuss each of them with your physician to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of
breast augmentation Manhattan New York.
Labels: Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation Chicago Illinois
Typically requested to enhance breast size and shape,
breast augmentation Chicago Illinois can help women enjoy a more proportionate and contoured figure and increased self-confidence. Breast implants come in a range of shapes and sizes, and the
breast augmentation Chicago Illinois procedure can be achieved in a number of ways .
Breast augmentation Chicago Illinois is usually performed as an outpatient procedure with general anesthesia and may cause temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, and numbness. Most patients return to work and normal activities in one to two weeks.
Breast augmentation Chicago Illinois surgery offers a unique opportunity to surgically "customize" the shape of the breast rather than just bra size. You may want to wear an outfit that reveals more cleavage, change your wardrobe style, or simply create the proper balance between your breasts and hips. Advances in breast implant technology and surgical technique are making
breast augmentation Chicago Illinois a popular option among women of all ages desiring a change in the way they look. The decision to undergo
breast augmentation Chicago Illinois may result in a more flattering, better proportioned figure, more clothing options, and may enhance your confidence and self-esteem.
High Profile vs. Moderate Profile Breast Augmentation Chicago Illinois
Breast augmentation Chicago Illinois is a personal decision and that individual goals vary. Your plastic surgeon should bring a combination of experience, surgical skill, and personal attention to every procedure. Your plastic surgeon can help determine if high profile breast implants, which produce more outward projection or moderate profile breast implants, which allow a more conservative shape and appearance, are right for you based on your body type and goals. Make sure you plastic surgeon is experienced working with both high and moderate profile implants to create a balanced, attractive, feminine shape.
Under Muscle vs. Above Muscle
Breast implants may be placed either below or above the pectoralis (chest) muscle. The risk of capsular contracture is nearly eliminated when the implant is placed under the muscle, and the look is much more natural than when it is placed above the muscle. Breast implants are proven safe, and it has been clearly shown that they do not interfere with the detection of breast cancer during mammograms.
Breast Augmentation Chicago Illinois Incision Location
The location of breast augmentation Chicago Illinois incisions influences the size and type of scars that will develop. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages which will be discussed during your consultation with your plastic surgeon. Based on your personal preference, body type, and goals, breast augmentation Chicago Illinois your plastic surgeon can also recommend the incision location that is most appropriate for you.
There are four possible incision locations:
Transaxillary (armpit incision)
Areola (nipple incision)
Inframammary fold (crease incision)
TUBA (navel incision)
Breast Lift Surgery in Bryan Texas
Breast Lift in Bryan Texas - Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman's
breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag.
Breastlift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts--at least, for a time. (No surgery can permanently delay the effects of gravity.)
Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. If your breasts are small or have lost volume--for example, after pregnancy--breast implants inserted in conjunction with
mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size. If you're considering a
breast lift, this brochure will give you a basic understanding of the procedure--when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please be sure to ask your doctor if there is anything about the procedure you don't understand.
The Best Candidates for
Breast LiftA
breast lift 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
mastopexy are healthy, emotionally-stable women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish. The best results are usually achieved in women with small, sagging breasts.
Breasts of any size can be lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.
Many women seek
mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing have left them with stretched skin and less volume in their breasts. However, if you're planning to have more children, it may be a good idea to postpone your
breast lift. While there are no special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example,
mastopexy usually doesn't interfere with breast-feeding), pregnancy is likely to stretch your breasts again and offset the results of the procedure.
Planning Your Surgery
In your initial consultation, it's important to discuss your expectations frankly with your surgeon, and to listen to his or her opinion. Every patient--and every physician, as well--has a different view of what is a desirable size and shape for
breasts.
The surgeon will examine your
breasts and measure them while you're sitting or standing. He or she will discuss the variables that may affect the procedure--such as your age, the size and shape of your
breasts, and the condition of your skin--and whether an implant is advisable.
The Surgery
Mastopexy usually takes one and a half to three and a half hours. Techniques vary, but the most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast.
The incision outlines the area from which breast skin will be removed and defines the new location for the nipple. When the excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved to the higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is then brought down and together to reshape the breast.
Bryan Texas Plastic Surgeon Dr. Malcolm Rude serves the Bryan Texas and College Station areas. Dr. Rude is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and focuses on all aspects of plastic surgery including , , , , , , ( nose surgery ) and more. View Contact Dr Rude today to learn more about .
Labels: boob, breast, breast lift, bryan, college station, cosmetic, plastic surgeon, surgery, texas
What Types of
?
There have been varying viewpoints throughout the years about the best kind of implant to use for
Breast Augmentation, and health controversies about one kind of implant that dominated news reports in the 1990's. Many women who were interested in having fuller breasts were fearful to do so because of these reports. The following describes the different kinds of
breast implants that are available, and addresses some of the concerns regarding differences between breast implant fill material, shape, surface texture, size, manufacture, and use of
breast implants.
Breast Implant
Fill Material:
Although all
breast implants do have a solid silicone shell (bag), they are filled with different substances such as: saline and silicone.
While there are a number of implants available for Breast Augmentation, currently the most commonly used is the saline breast implant.
The saline breast implant has an exterior sack made of solid silicone, which is filled with a sterile saline solution — like the salt-water solution that is administered for intravenous fluids. One of the advantages of this solution is its safety. Should the implant for some reason leak, the saline just gets absorbed by your body, as would the intravenous fluids used during, and after surgery. Yet another advantage of the saline breast implants is a very low infection rate, which is usually less than one to two percent.
Another advantage of the saline breast implant is that it is filled with fluid after being inserted in the breast, therefore requiring only a small incision. This is in contrast to silicone breast implants which are pre-filled. Also, because saline breast implants are filled after insertion, their final volume can be adjusted making it easier to correct for existing breast asymmetry.
Unlike other types of implants such as silicone breast implants, there are no restrictions on the use of saline breast implants; and women do not need to enter any specific national breast study to be eligible for their implantation.
Widespread media reports that saline-filled breast implants can contract fungal contamination were discredited when it was learned that the Canadian laboratory that released this finding relied heavily on implants that had been mailed. As such, there was no guarantee of sterility in the transport of these implants.
There are two main disadvantages of saline breast implants, when compared to those filled with silicone. Because of the liquid nature of saline, saline filled breast implants tend to have a higher incidence of rippling. Although rippling occurs in all saline breast implants, filling them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, submuscular placement of implants, and the existence of thicker breast skin and tissue minimizes a person’s ability to see or feel rippling of saline breast implants. Because silicone gel has a thicker consistency, it tends to ripple much less, but sometimes happens nonetheless.
The second potential disadvantage of saline breast implants compared to silicone breast implants is the difference in how they feel to the touch. Outside of the body, silicone implants have a more natural consistency. In reality, this difference becomes less noticeable when implants are felt underneath the breast and muscle tissue.
Silicone Breast Implants
These are implants that are filled with a silicone gel. More than 1.5 million American women currently have silicone breast implants. Some people feel that the silicone implant results in a more natural appearing breast.
The main disadvantage of silicone breast implants is that their rupture is less easily detected than with the rupture of saline implants. When a saline implant ruptures, the saline gets absorbed by the body, making the breast go flat, which can be easily recognized by a woman. On the other hand, because silicone gel mostly stays within the breast tissue and does not get absorbed, there is usually no noted reduction in breast size after rupture of silicone implants. Tools to detect rupture of silicone implants include Mammograms and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Also, the clean up and complete removal of the leaked silicone gel is difficult. Finally, although there are several studies that attest to the safety of silicone, the controversy about the safety of silicone implants remains.
Cohesive Gel Breast Implants
Cohesive gel breast implants are silicone breast implants that are filled with a thicker silicone gel that holds its shape and form like a "gummy bear." If you cut into a standard gel breast implant, the liquid silicone gel escapes from the implant shell. In contrast, when you cut into a cohesive gel breast implant, the breast implant itself maintains its shape and integrity. These shaped breast implants are designed with a focus upon a natural look, rather than for enlargement. Furthermore, gummy bear breast implants maintain their shape in an upright position that decreases the incidence of folding of the implant shell or rippling. If a cohesive gel breast implant ruptures, it maintains both its shape and integrity.
One disadvantage of cohesive gel breast implants is that they require a slightly larger incision for insertion. Because of this, insertion is usually performed through an incision in the fold under the breast, or occasionally through an incision around the areola. Cohesive gel breast implants are very difficult to insert through an incision in the armpit. Finally, gummy bear breast implants were approved in late 2006 by the FDA for use in the United States, but their use is limited to certain age, and patient require strict follow-up with MRI to look for silent rupture.
Contact a plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon in your area that uses saline breast implants or silicone breast implants for breast augmentation surgery. Contact these surgeons about the breast augmentation procedure, the prices and costs of the surgery, anesthesia, surgery center fees, breast augmentation financing, recovery time, view before and after breast augmentation photos and more.
Breast Reconstruction Information
Breast reconstruction of a breast has greatly advanced since the days of the radical mastectomy.If a woman is a good candidate for
breast reconstruction, she can usually expect a breast mound that will fill a bra cup to her desired volume, along with a nipple and areola, if desired. The opposite breast can be made to match by augmentation, reduction or lifting. These procedures are covered by insurance, as mandated by law. In addition, significant breast symmetry as a result of lumpectomy/radiation or multiple biopsies can be corrected with reconstructive surgery.
The word "can" is used because
breast reconstruction is a matter of choice. Some women choose to wear a breast prosthesis with their bra. Others may choose
breast reconstruction, which is not limited to one's age. The overall health condition and status of the cancer are the issues that determine feasibility.
Consultation with a plastic surgeon prior to mastectomy is part of a comprehensive breast care center program. The patient should be fully informed of her options for immediate versus delayed
breast reconstruction. The technique(s) recommended are based upon her anatomy, medical background and anticipated future cancer treatments.
Decision-making in
breast reconstruction begins with the simple question of whether
breast reconstruction will be part of the woman's recovery process.
Some women know the answer immediately; others need days or weeks to decide.
Once the decision is made to go ahead with the procedure, the next question is which technique to select. In each case, the decision is based upon surgical preference and which technique will be better in the face of any anticipated treatments of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
The two most common types of breast reconstruction are the tissue expander/implant technique and the transverse abdominus musculoctaneous (TRAM) flap. A third technique is the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with a breast implant. The table shown here summarizes and compares these techniques.
With the plastic surgeon's guidance, the most appropriate technique can be selected for breast reconstruction, taking into account the desires, health status and unique anatomy of the individual woman.
The expander/implant technique requires two stages. The first stage of this breast reconstruction is placement of the tissue expander below the pectoralis chest muscle. This procedure adds less than one hour to the mastectomy time with the same overnight hospital stay.
The second stage is the exchange of the tissue expander for the permanent saline or silicone gel filled breast implant. This stage requires general ane sthesia, but is usually less than one hour in duration unless a procedure on the opposite breast is added.
Breast implants are confirmed safe by multiple medical studies. Both saline and gel filled breast implants were released years ago by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used for breast reconstruction and for replacement of older or present gel implants.
The TRAM flap technique uses autogenous, or one's own tissue to create a breast mound. This surgery takes an average of five hours in addition to mastectomy completion with the average hospital stay of five days and an average recovery time of five weeks. The abdominal skin above the belly button is lifted off the abdominal fascia and sutured down to the pubic area skin with replantation of the belly button. The four to five week recovery period is necessary to straighten and strengthen the abdominal walls and muscles. Activity levels usually return to the normal, pre-operative status.
The latissimus dorsi flap with implant is usually used as a salvage technique in the face of previous radiation or surgery. The flap consists of the latissimus muscle with an overlying skin paddle from the back. It usually requires a breast implant to obtain the desired breast shape and volume. The implant is placed below the latissimus muscle after the muscle is passed onto the chest wall through a tunnel at the base of the axilla (underarm). It is a useful reconstructive technique in the face of irradiated breast skin with deformity after lumpectomy and a lack of an adequate volume of abdominal fat.
Nipple areolar reconstruction can be performed at the time of the second stage reconstruction. Or, it can be done as a separate procedure as an outpatient under local anesthesia. The skin on the breast mound is the source of the nipple reconstruction with a full thickness skin graft, usually from the inner, upper thigh skin used for the areolar reconstruction. This skin is usually textured and pigmented resulting in a realistic appearing areola.
An extensive and detailed consultation with the plastic surgeon is mandatory for a patient to be truly informed and guided to make the best decision about breast reconstruction in conjunction with the treatment recommendations from the breast surgeon and oncologist. Mary Powers, MD.
For additional information visit Dr. Powers's website at
www.drmarypowers.com or visit Dr. Powers's listing within
LookingYourBest.com.
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