breast enlargement : implants
What is a breast implant ?
A breast implant is a silicone rubber shell filled with either medical grade silicone gel. Long-term experience with medical grade silicone shows that it is the least reactive substance in the human body of any man-made substance that we know. Many people do feel that silicone-filled implants give a natural look and feel to the breast.We only use the highest quality cohesive gel implants manufactured by Allergan.
New Technologies allow breasts to be reshaped and balanced and take into account anatomical variations and personal preferences. They produce shapes that are natural and proportional for each individual woman, using what are known as anatomical breast implants.
Discussing the risks :
Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward. But all surgery carries risks and specific possible complications. The most common problem, capsular contracture, occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This can cause the breast to feel hard. Treatments include the 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 this bleeding continues, a further procedure may be necessary to control it and remove the accumulated blood. Rarely an infection may develop around an implant which, if it is going to happen, usually occurs within a week of surgery. This may mean the implant has to be removed for several months until the infection clears and a new implant can be inserted. Some nipples become oversensitive, undersensitive, or even numb. The small patches of numbness around your incisions usually improve over time, but may be permanent in some patients. There is no evidence that implants affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to feed a baby. If, however, you have been breast feeding in the year before surgery, you may produce milk for a few days after surgery. Although this may cause some discomfort, the condition can be treated with prescription medication.
Occasionally breast implants break or leak as a result of injury or even from normal compression. If a saline-filled implant breaks it 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 surrounding scar capsule does not, you may not detect any change. If the scar also breaks or tears, especially following a lot of pressure, silicone gel may enter surrounding tissue. The gel may then collect in the breast where a new scar will form around it, or it may migrate to another area of the body. This may cause a change in the shape or firmness of the breast. Both types of break will normally require a second operation to replace the leaking implant. In some cases it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel in the breast tissue after a rupture.
Though some women have reported symptoms similar to diseases of the immune system, such as scleroderma and other arthritis-like conditions, research has found no clear link between silicone implants and the symptoms of what doctors refer to as 'connective-tissue disorders'. Again there is no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer, but they may change the way mammography is done to detect cancer. When requesting routine mammograms women with implants should be sure to go to a radiology centre where technicians are experienced in the special techniques needed to get reliable X-rays of implanted breasts. Additional views are required. Ultrasound examinations may help to detect breast lumps in some women with implants or to evaluate the implant. While the majority of women do not experience any complications, you should discuss each of them with the doctor to make sure you understand the risks and consequences involved in breast augmentation.
Your surgeon will initially evaluate your health and recommend which surgical techniques are best for you, based on your age, the condition of your breasts and your skin tone. If the breasts are sagging your doctor may also recommend a breast lift. Discuss your expectations fully frankly with your surgeon. He or she will be equally frank with you, describing your choices and the risks and limitations of each. You may want to ask your surgeon for a copy of the manufacturer's usage instructions that come with the implant so that you are fully informed. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke, and if you're taking any medications, vitamins, or other drugs. Your surgeon will also explain the type of anaesthesia to be used, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the costs involved. Most insurance companies do not consider breast augmentation to be medically necessary and so do not generally cover the cost of this procedure.
Psychological and Physical benefits :
Many women find having larger breasts satisfying, even exhilarating. Regular examination by the surgeon and regular mammograms for those in the appropriate age groups will help ensure that any complications, if they occur, can be detected early and treated. Your decision to have breast augmentation is a highly personal one. Not everyone will understand. The important thing is how you personally feel about it. If you have met your goals, then your surgery is a success.
In the case of breast reconstruction after a cancer or of breast assymetry psychological and physical benefits are very big because implants bring back feminity and self-estime .
How to be prepared ?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed
