Breast augmentation, also called augmentation mammaplasty, involves surgical placement of an implant behind each breast to increase its volume and enhance its shape. Often, after weight loss, childbirth, or as a result of aging, the breasts lose volume and their shape changes. Also, many women choose to have their breasts enlarged in order to satisfy their desire for a fuller bustline. Breast augmentation can be performed at any age after the breasts are developed.

Silicone Breast Implants:
Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel — a thick, sticky fluid that closely mimics the feel of human fat. Most women feel that silicone breast implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue.
They come in different sizes and have either smooth or textured shells.
Silicone gel-filled breast implants are approved for breast augmentation in women age 22 or older and for breast reconstruction in women of any age. They are also used in revision surgeries, which correct or improve the result of an original surgery.

BENEFITS:

• Positive aesthetic results, and data has shown patients often receive a substantial psychological boost.
• It is often possible to return to work within a week, depending on the nature of your work.
• No scientific evidence that breast augmentation increases the risk of breast cancer, autoimmune disease, or any systemic illness.
• No evidence that breast implants affect pregnancy or ability to breast-feed.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

• Every surgical procedure carries some risk. Potential complications may include reactions to anesthesia, blood accumulation that may need to be drained surgically, and infection.
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation may result from breast augmentation surgery, although they are usually temporary.
• When a breast implant is inserted, a scar capsule forms around it as part of the natural healing process. The capsule may sometimes tighten and compress the implant, causing the breast to feel firmer than normal. If the capsular contracture is severe, it may cause discomfort or changes in the breast’s appearance. Additional surgery may be needed to modify or remove scar tissue, or perhaps remove or replace the implant.
• Breast implants can make performing and reading mammograms technically difficult. Placement of the implant underneath the pectoral muscle may interfere less with mammographic examination.
• As with other surgical implants, breast implants cannot be expected to last forever. If a saline-filled implant breaks, its contents are harmlessly absorbed by the body, usually within hours.
• Pregnancy can alter breast size in an unpredictable way and could affect the long-term results of breast augmentation.
• As of May 2000, Federal regulation prohibits breast augmentation for purely aesthetic surgery in women less than 18 years of age

This Information is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa