Body image is an important
part of feeling good, desirable and normal.
Most women compare themselves to a cultural
idea of beauty. Having a cosmetic breast procedure
can greatly improve self-esteem for many women.
It can make a woman feel more like the ideal
and can drastically improve the way she views
herself. There is great variation in the size
of "normal breasts." For women who,
for personal reasons, feel their breasts are
too small, too large, or not properly contoured,
cosmetic breast surgery is possibly the answer.
|
|
Breast enhancement or
augmentation is one of the most frequently performed
cosmetic procedures in the West today. It can dramatically
improve the appearance of a woman's breasts. The enhancement
procedure is used to enlarge small breasts, underdeveloped
breasts, or breasts that have decreased in size after
a woman has had children.
TYPES OF IMPLANTS
AND IMPLANT CONTROVERSY
A breast implant is
a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or
a salt-water solution known as saline.
In the year 1992, because
of concerns that there is insufficient information demonstrating
the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants, the
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) placed certain
restrictions on the use of silicone gel filled implants.
They could only be used in patients requiring breast
reconstruction or in patients who required replacement
of their previous implants. Use of gel filled implant
in cosmetic surgery patients was restricted to those
who were part of research study, or required implants
for post mastectomy reconstruction. Saline-filled implants
continued to be available to breast augmentation patients,
without restrictions, pending further FDA review. The
gel filled breast implants however continued to be used
in Europe and other countries of the world.
In response to this
concern, several leading manufacturers of silicone implants,
with the support of American Society of Plastic Surgeons,
initiated a major study and research about the safety
of gel filled silicone implants. Studies have been conducted
by the Institute of Medicine and experts from all over
the world and have found no connection between implants
and the diseases claimed by so many women. Some prominent
manufacturers of breast implants have recently received
preliminary recommendation from FDA for approval of
their new generation of gel filled implants.
These implants are
filled with a high strength cohesive form of silicone,
which very much resemble a Gummi bear or Jell-O jigglers.
These high-strength gel implants are soft and natural-feeling.
Unlike liquid-filled implants (saline and liquid silicone),
a high-strength gel implant maintain its shape and upright
position, which decreases the incidence of the implant
shell folding and the development of rippling. Also
unlike liquid-filled implants, high-strength gel implants
do not leak if the implant shell is broken. Unlike saline
breast implants, silicone gel breast implants are pre-filled.
Surgeons order them in the requested size and they cannot
be changed in size during surgery. Somewhat longer
incisions is required to place a silicone gel filled
implant than a saline filled breast implant, all other
things being equal.
The alternative
to silicone is saline, and for many women, saline implants
simply aren't good enough. Overfilled, they're hard;
under filled, they wrinkle. Saline implants may also
make a sloshing sound and rupture easily. If a woman
has scant tissue left after a mastectomy, a saline implant
is harder to camouflage.
THE PROCEDURE
Breast augmentation
can be performed with general anesthesia. You also have
the choice of local anesthesia, combined with deep sedation.
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. Every effort will be
made to assure that the incision is placed so resulting
scars will be as inconspicuous as possible.
Working through the
incision, a pocket is created, either directly behind
the breast tissue or underneath your chest wall muscle
(the pectoral muscle). The implants are then appropriately
inserted. The surgery usually takes one to two hours
to complete.
Your surgeon will thoroughly
discuss your implant and incision options with you prior
to your surgery in order to determine which choices
are right for you.
WHAT WILL MY RECOVERY BE
LIKE?
Stitches following breast augmentation
are removed in seven days. Your surgeon will advise
you to wear a surgical compression bra for 4-6 weeks
following the procedure. You should be able to return
to work in 8-10 days and normal activity and sports
in 5-6 weeks.
YOUR NEW LOOK
For many women, the result of breast
augmentation can be satisfying, even exhilarating, as
they learn to appreciate their fuller appearance. Your
decision to have breast augmentation is a highly personal
one that not everyone will understand. The important
thing is how you feel about it. If you've met your goals,
then your surgery is a success.
|