Top 10 questions I am asked about breast augmentation

1. Are the implants safe?
In a word yes. The saline and silicone breast implants used today are safe and approved by the FDA. In addition after years of research the National Institute of Health has determined that silicone gel implants have not been found to cause any diseases or medical illnesses.

2. Can someone tell if I have breast implants?
When the implants are placed under a sufficient amount of breast tissue and muscle it is less able to be seen or felt. A larger implant will obviously be more noticeable.

3. What happens if the implant ruptures?
If a saline breast implant ruptures the fluid will be reabsorbed by the body and the implant will deflate within a few hours or days. The breast will become smaller as the saline is absorbed.
Implant rupture can be treated by replacing the implant. The cost is usually subsidized by the implant manufacturer.

4. Should the implant be placed over or under the muscle?
Studies have shown that submuscular breast implant placement leads to less scar tissue around the implant that can cause capsular contracture or hardening of the breasts. In addition, the chances of wrinkling or feeling the implant shell will be less in the submuscular position.

5. Where should the incision be for implant insertion?
The simplest and easiest approach for breast implant insertion is through the inframammary fold (the crease at the base of the breast). Other incisions include the areola or axilla (armpit). In any case the scar is usually small (3 cm) and while permanent usually improves over time.

6. How big should I go?
The size of the breast implant should be in proportion to the overall size and shape of the body. The base diameter of the breast is measured to determine the width of the implant. The amount of skin available to cover the implant must also be taken into consideration to avoid an unnatural look.

7. Do breast implants last forever?
There is no expiration date associated with breast implants. Some implant will last a lifetime while others may deflate requiring replacement. Generally, if the implants are not causing a problem they do not need to be exchanged.

8. Do I need a lift?
If the breast is droopy oftentimes a breast lift or mastopexy is required at the same time as the breast implants. Inserting breast implants alone may provide a lift to a breast that has lost volume after weight loss or pregnancy if the nipple is not below the breast fold.

9. What are “gummy bear” implants?
Gummy bear implants refer to a cohesive silicone gel implant that when punctured does not leak. The consistency is similar to a gummy bear. The implant is under clinical trials and is not available for general use at this time.

10. Can my breasts look like this picture I brought with me?
While inserting a breast implant will increase the size of the breast and oftentimes improve the shape of the breast it is impossible to guarantee a result from a photo in a magazine.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 20th, 2006 at 2:12 pm and is filed under Breast Augmentation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.